<div class="image-container float_right" style="width:480px"><div class="image"><img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/521cad82eab8ea2d522ad403-1200-924/college-university-student-graduation-commencement-5.jpg?maxX=480" border="0" alt="college university student graduation commencement" width="480" />REUTERS/Brian Snyder</div></div>Rising tuition and debt loads, combined with an anemic job market have many students questing whether <keyword id="6360288" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="college">college</keyword> is worth it. Focusing on the near term, those hard first years out of school, is exactly the wrong attitude for students. 
The real benefits of college show over the course of a <keyword id="6359968" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="career">career</keyword>, and they're massive, according to <a href="http://blog.theladders.com/?p=3783">a new study</a> by careers site TheLadders.
The early payoff is tiny, even nonexistent. Many students will find themselves earning the same amount as people without a degree. That doesn't last.
"This is what I’ll call the 'Job vs. Career' trajectory. Individuals without a degree move slowly towards their highest earning potential, with somewhat stagnant early years," TheLadders Vice President of Data Science And Analytics <a href="http://blog.theladders.com/?p=3783">Shanker Mishra writes</a>. "Individuals with a college degree may start in the same compensation range, but grow exponentially over the course of their careers"
Ten years after graduation, people with at least a four-year degree see compensation rise about $3,778 a year, versus $369 for non-graduates. The gap is even more massive after 20 years. Graduates earn $25,000 more than those without a four-year diploma.
Here's TheLadders chart breaking it down:
<div class="image-container click-to-enlarge"><div class="image"><a title_source="The Ladders" title_caption="" class="zoomin" href="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/521caaf76bb3f775052ad407-960/ladders%20chart%201.png"><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/521caaf76bb3f775052ad407-977-612/ladders%20chart%201.png" border="0" alt="College salareis" width="610" /></a><a href="http://blog.theladders.com/?p=3783">The Ladders</a></div></div>
Student loan debt is obviously a concern. On average, today's students graduate with <a href="http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2013/08/24/dreams-deferred-denied-crushing-student-debt/2KKknguTiNup62Yp28ENkK/story.html">$28,000 in debt</a>. Average tuition per year <a href="http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=76">is above $21,000. </a>
But for all of the near term hardship, college is very clearly the right long term investment.
And for those recent graduates thinking about graduate school, the initial debt load might be higher, but the long term payoffs are even bigger. 10 years in, those with graduate degrees make $15,000 more than someone with just a four-year degree, and $18,000 more than someone without at least that. 
<div class="image-container click-to-enlarge"><div class="image"><a title_source="TheLadders" title_caption="" class="zoomin" href="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/521cad12eab8ea4b4f2ad408-960/graduate.png"><img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/521cad12eab8ea4b4f2ad408-1124-582/graduate.png" border="0" alt="Graduate" width="610" /></a><a href="http://blog.theladders.com/?p=3783">TheLadders</a></div></div>
There's a lot of variation by industry. If you go into the lower-paying education field, for example, even holding a masters won't reap a huge return. But in three of the four highest paid industries – financial services, biotech, consulting, and and computer science – more than 80% of employees have at least a four-year degree. Without a degree, you can be all but shut out of many of the the highest earning jobs. 
Here's a breakdown from TheLadders of average compensation across industries, measured against education: 
<div class="image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/521cb6916bb3f7fd192ad40e-610-341/biz-insider_grad-sal_pic4.jpg" border="0" alt="Grad salaries" /><a href="http://blog.theladders.com/?p=3783">TheLadders</a></div></div></div>
Working your way up through an entry level job, or struggling to even get one makes a degree seem like a waste. But the long term costs of not getting one are extremely high.

Long-Term Salary Data Shows How Much A College Degree Is Really Worth

There's a mismatch in the skills employers need and what's currently available, but a recent study is shedding some light on the age-old job search question, "Why didn't I hear back?"
According to <a href="http://cdn.theladders.net/static/images/basicSite/PRpdfs/TheLadders_EyeTracking_Study_2013_FINAL.pdf">TheLadders research</a>, job seekers spend an average of 49.7 seconds before deciding that a job isn't right for them, and an average of 76.7 seconds if they feel the posting matches their interest and skills.
In the short amount of time that the study's participants spent on job postings, they were only able to identify good fits at a rate of 38%.
The researchers used a scientific technique called “eye tracking,” which is developed to "record and analyze where and how long someone focuses when digesting a piece of information or completing a task." Participants in the study — all currently employed — were allowed to spend as much time as they wanted with each posting and had to identify whether the position was a good fit for them or not at the end.
The study showed that job seekers primarily paid attention to the job title and company information, but didn't spend much — or any — time on the majority of the posting's information, such as job requirements. Spending little time looking over the actual job requirements is a contributing factor to why recruiters can't find candidates with the right skills for the job.
<div class="image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5182a14feab8eaca6c000002-620-1116/theladders-4.jpg" border="0" alt="The Ladders Heatmap" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;" /><a href="http://cdn.theladders.net/static/images/basicSite/PRpdfs/TheLadders_EyeTracking_Study_2013_FINAL.pdf">TheLadders</a></div></div></div>

Why You Keep Applying For The Wrong Jobs

<img class="float_right" src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/4d6d01364bd7c88a3a0a0000-400-286/theladders-1.jpg?maxX=420&amp;maxY=300" border="0" alt="theladders" width="420" height="300" />Premium job site <a href="http://www.theladders.com/">TheLadders</a> is being sued in a New York federal court on allegations that the company promises users access to exclusive high-paying jobs that don't actually exist.
Law firm <a href="http://bursor.com/news/20130311TheLadders/">Bursor &amp; Fisher</a> filed the proposed consumer protection class action suit on Monday on behalf of plaintiff Barbara Ward. A complete <a href="http://www.corcodilos.com/files/20130311ladderscomplaint.pdf">copy of the lawsuit</a> was posted by recruiting consultant Nick Corcodilos, who often writes about TheLadders on his blog, <a href="http://www.asktheheadhunter.com/articles.htm">Ask The Headhunter</a>.
The suit alleges:
“From its inception until September, 2011, TheLadders scammed its customers into paying for its job board service by misrepresenting itself to be ‘a premium job site for only $100k+ jobs, and only $100k+ talent.’ In fact, TheLadders sold access to purported ‘$100k+’ job listings that (1) did not exist, (2) did not pay $100k+, and/or (3) were not authorized to be posted on TheLadders by the employers.”
“Unlike other online job boards which are free to join, TheLadders charged a premium subscription fee to members for ‘hand-screen[ing] every job post and recruiter so you only see real, open $100k+ jobs in your area.’ In reality, however, its job postings were not hand-screened. They were ‘scraped’ from the Internet without authorization from employers or recruiters, and the employment opportunities were not for ‘real, open $100k+ jobs.’ Moreover, TheLadders had no process in place to ensure that these posted positions ever truly existed, remained open, or that they met its minimum advertised salary criteria of $100k+.”
Business Insider reached out to TheLadders for comment and received the statement below from CEO Alex Douzet:
"We believe the allegations set forth in this complaint to be false. In fact, our employees review job listings before they are posted to our site, as has always been our protocol. Additionally, we have a team of specialists who review resumes and provide individualized critiques. This complaint lacks merit, and we fully intend to take the necessary legal steps to dispose of it quickly. In the interim, we remain steadfast in our commitment to providing the best job-matching experience for employers and job seekers, while serving as the fastest-growing source for career-driven professionals."
TheLadders was founded in 2003 by Douzet, Andrew Koch, and Marc Cenedella and advertised itself as a job board that caters to job seekers looking for six-figure jobs. To get a premium membership, users have to pay a subscription fee of $25 a month, promising them access to "hand-screened" jobs. The site is also accessible to recruiters for a fee.
Other specific counts alleged in the proposed class action include breach of contract, money received, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, violation of the Arkansas Deceptive and Unconscionable Trade Practices Act, and unjust enrichment.
The lawsuit doesn't specify the amount of money being sought by the plaintiffs. However, it does request that punitive damages and all money collected through these premium subscriptions be returned to customers.

New Lawsuit Alleges That Premium Job Board TheLadders Is A 'Scam'

Although we may never know why we didn't get chosen for a job <keyword id="28970" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="interview">interview</keyword>, a recent <a href="http://cdn.theladders.net/static/images/basicSite/pdfs/TheLadders-EyeTracking-StudyC2.pdf">study</a> is shedding some light on <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/8-mind-games-that-recruiters-play-during-interviews-2012-2">recruiters' decision-making behavior</a>. According to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/author/marc-cenedella">TheLadders </a>research, <keyword id="24116" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="recruiters">recruiters</keyword> spend an average of "six seconds before they make the initial 'fit or no fit' decision" on candidates. 
The study used a scientific technique called "eye tracking" on 30 <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ways-screw-up-a-job-interview-2011-6">professional recruiters</a> and examined their eye movements during a 10-week period to "record and analyze where and how long someone focuses when digesting a piece of information or completing a task."
In the short time that they spend with your <keyword id="93698" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="resume">resume</keyword>, the study showed recruiters will look at your name, current title and company, current position start and end dates, previous title and company, previous position start and end dates, and education.
The two <keyword id="6705587" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="resumes">resumes</keyword> below include a heat map of recruiters' eye movements. The one on the right was looked at more thoroughly than the one of the left because of its clear and concise format:
<div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image"><img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/4f8463416bb3f70851000000/recruiters-resume.jpg?maxX=800" border="0" alt="recruiters resume" width="800" /><a href="http://cdn.theladders.net/static/images/basicSite/pdfs/TheLadders-EyeTracking-StudyB.pdf">TheLadders</a></div></div>
With such critical time constraints, you should make it easier for recruiters to find pertinent information by creating a resume with a clear visual hierarchy. Don't include distracting visuals since "such visual elements reduced recruiters' analytical capability and hampered decision-making" and kept them from "locating the most relevant information, like skills and experience."
<h3>Don't Miss: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/executives-reveal-the-biggest-mistakes-they-ever-made-2012-4">22 Executives Reveal The Biggest Mistakes They Ever Made &gt; </a></h3>

What Recruiters Look At During The 6 Seconds They Spend On Your Resume

Although we may never know why we didn't get chosen for a job <keyword id="28970" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="interview">interview</keyword>, a recent <a href="http://cdn.theladders.net/static/images/basicSite/pdfs/TheLadders-EyeTracking-StudyC2.pdf">study</a> is shedding some light on <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/8-mind-games-that-recruiters-play-during-interviews-2012-2">recruiters' decision-making behavior</a>. According to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/author/marc-cenedella">TheLadders </a>research, <keyword id="24116" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="recruiters">recruiters</keyword> spend an average of "six seconds before they make the initial 'fit or no fit' decision" on candidates. 
The study used a scientific technique called “eye tracking” on 30 <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ways-screw-up-a-job-interview-2011-6">professional recruiters</a> and examined their eye movements during a 10-week period to "record and analyze where and how long someone focuses when digesting a piece of information or completing a task."
In the short time that they spend with your <keyword id="93698" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="resume">resume</keyword>, the study showed recruiters will look at your name, current title and company, current position start and end dates, previous title and company, previous position start and end dates, and education.
The two <keyword id="6705587" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="resumes">resumes</keyword> below include a heat map of recruiters' eye movements. The one on the right was looked at more thoroughly than the one of the left because of its clear and concise format:
<div class="image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/4f8463416bb3f70851000000/recruiters-resume.jpg" border="0" alt="recruiters resume" /><a href="http://cdn.theladders.net/static/images/basicSite/pdfs/TheLadders-EyeTracking-StudyB.pdf">TheLadders</a></div></div></div>
With such critical time constraints, you should make it easier for recruiters to find pertinent information by creating a resume with a clear visual hierarchy and don't include distracting visuals since "such visual elements reduced recruiters’ analytical capability and hampered decision-making" and kept them from "locating the most relevant information, like skills and experience."
<h3>Don't Miss: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/executives-reveal-the-biggest-mistakes-they-ever-made-2012-4">22 Executives Reveal The Biggest Mistakes They Ever Made &gt; </a></h3>

<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/531b4a8deab8ea990f342141-730-547/carecom-sheila-marcelo.jpg?maxX=480" border="0" alt="Care.com Sheila Marcelo" width="480" /><a href="http://www.care.com/">Care.com</a>Care.com CEO Sheila Marcelo</div></div>In celebration of International Women's Day, March 8, we bring you the story of Sheila Marcelo.
Marcelo created waves in January when Care.com, the company she founded, <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2014/01/25/care-com-first-many-mass-ipos/Fln2HlId9hgOMfNPSjoydK/story.html">raised $91 million in a successful IPO</a>. 
But to get to that point, Marcelo had to defy her family's expectations and turn away from a lucrative career as a lawyer.
Quoting Malcolm Gladwell, Marcelo says that entrepreneurs should be "disagreeable" and focus on their passion without caring about naysayers.
Marcelo would know the truth of that.
She was raised in a Filipino family with six kids and they all had designated professions: one would be the dentist, one would be the accountant … she was the designated lawyer and she dutifully obtained a JD/MBA from Harvard University.
But when it was time to enter the workforce after school, she followed her heart and turned down the high-paying job offers that come to Harvard MBA lawyers. She joined an early stage startup as their eighth employee instead, a company called Upromise.
She always knew she wanted to be an entrepreneur, not a lawyer.
Six years later, in 2006, after a short time as vice president at career startup TheLadders.com, Marcelo founded Care.com. She's been its CEO ever since.
Care.com helps families find caregivers of all types: special needs, senior care, pet care, housekeeping, tutoring, and so on. Care.com is one of the largest such services, with 9.5 million members spanning 16 countries.
Marcelo's personal experience of having her first son while still in college gave her the idea for Care.com. She says:
"My husband and I were young college students and we had no family nearby to help us. We got lucky finding good care for our sons but it was hard ... harder than it should have to be."
Like a lot of other entrepreneurs, Marcelo says the key to her success was really her "network."
"It takes time (to build your network) and, as I like to say, lots of cups of coffee, but if you believe in what you're trying to build, then it's worth the effort," she explains.
In fact, it was through networking that Marcelo had done earlier in life that she met the people who would eventually become her co-founders at Care.com. She explains:
"Because we had worked together before, we had a shared view of what our ideal culture would be and we set out to define it and then build it."
It was important that the team members were "disagreeable" risk-takers, too, she says.
Managing her priorities has been critical for Marcelo as well. She was frequently told that she would not be able to manage children while pursuing her degrees. But she has successfully juggled being a mom, a wife and a CEO like nobody's business.
In Marcelo's words: 
"Being a parent and building a company are two of the hardest jobs you'll ever have. Be honest about the demands on your time, the choices and sacrifices you'll have to make.
And be open to the idea that how your family works and the roles you and your partner play may be different from stereotypical parenting roles. And that's ok. It only has to work for your family. And that's the only standard for success against which you need to measure yourself."
International Women's Day, March 8, began in the early 1900's as a way to advocate for women's rights. Now it is a celebration of women's achievements in order to inspire continued progress towards equality.
About the author: <a href="http://tedxyouthcityofindustry.com/charu-sharma/">Charu Sharma</a> is the author of a forthcoming book on inspiring women entrepreneurs, a<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kTvhAbtAIY"> </a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kTvhAbtAIY">TEDx Speaker</a>, and a graduating senior at Mount Holyoke College. Follow her on Twitter at<a href="https://twitter.com/charu1603"> </a><a href="https://twitter.com/charu1603">@charu1603</a>.

You Searched For "TheLadderscom" and got 6 results

Long-Term Salary Data Shows How Much A College Degree Is Really Worth

Max Nisen

Why You Keep Applying For The Wrong Jobs

Vivian Giang

New Lawsuit Alleges That Premium Job Board TheLadders Is A 'Scam'

Vivian Giang

What Recruiters Look At During The 6 Seconds They Spend On Your Resume

Vivian Giang

What Recruiters Look At During The 6 Seconds They Spend On Your Resume

Vivian Giang

Care.com's CEO Sheila Marcelo: Entrepreneurs Need To Be 'Disagreeable'

Charu Sharma