Not all degrees are a waste of time: MBA graduates from Harvard, MIT, and Wharton are making over $245,000 just three years after graduating

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In today's fast-paced and ever-changing job market, the rules of professional success are being rewritten. From top graduates earning six-figure salaries to Olympic champions starting new careers at Goldman Sachs, the paths to success are becoming increasingly diverse.

For many MBA students, the return on investment is still hard to beat. According to recent data, Harvard Business School alumni are earning median salaries of about $260,000 three years after graduating, while graduates from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School and MIT's Sloan School are earning $248,000 and $246,000, respectively. These eye-watering paychecks are no surprise, given that an MBA degree often serves as a gateway to some of the highest-paying fields in business, including management consulting, investment banking, and private equity.

However, success is not solely defined by salary. In the Netherlands, workers are redefining the concept of work-life balance by working an average of just 32 hours per week. This is in stark contrast to the United States, where full-time employees work an average of 42.9 hours per week. The Dutch approach is not only better for employees but also for the environment, as it reduces the need for lengthy commutes and increases productivity.

Meanwhile, some job hunters are taking unconventional approaches to finding employment. Samantha Rogers, a millennial manager, used Tinder to land three job interviews in London. She added "seeking work opportunities" to her bio and found that the app was a useful tool for networking. "For a long time, Tinder offered little to no value exchange for me, but just because I didn't find dating successful on the app, didn't mean I couldn't use the platform creatively for other purposes such as networking," she told Fortune.

Olympic champions are also finding new ways to apply their skills in the workforce. Ryan Held, a two-time gold medal Olympic swimmer, started as a risk analyst at Goldman Sachs despite having no financial background. "They just wanted to see me succeed," he said of the company's approach to hiring athletes. Held is not alone, as many Olympic champions are finding new careers at Goldman Sachs and other top companies.

In related news, Goldman Sachs' board has removed formal DEI criteria from director selection, sparking debate about the role of diversity in the workplace. While some see this as a retreat from diversity, others argue that it creates space for a broader and more practical conversation about what kind of diversity boards actually need.

As the job market continues to evolve, it's clear that success is no longer defined by traditional metrics. Whether it's through six-figure salaries, non-traditional career paths, or creative job hunting, high achievers are redefining what it means to succeed.