How useful will a university degree be?
Give me an answer that is concrete. I'm very curious.
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Miram · 31-35, F
I strongly believe that all my siblings should attain a degree. They can have a part time job while doing it if they wish.
The best paying jobs require higher education. Even if one manages to land a good paying job without a formal education or tech training, jobs don't last forever nowadays like they used to. What do you do when you are out of work at 35 or 40 and all you have on your resume to show is your experience in your last job? If you can't find a similar job, you have nothing to show a potential employer.
At 35 to 40, you are competing for management jobs, because no one is going to hire a 35 year old for a entry level position. They higher cheaper paid kids for that. Kids who are probably familiar with all the new relevant tech and concepts.
Even if you are too, as an older worker, they expect you to prove it first. And you may not get the chance. So, you are likely going to be competing against guys with paper.
And whether we like it or not, if we are being realistic, companies aren't going to give a damn about you feeling you are self learnt. They don't have the time to evaluate your skills on an individual basis, so they rely on information about your education and skills. A worker with no degree has little chance against all the competition out there with degrees unless they have good connections in the company they want to work for.
At the very least, one needs some certificates.
I know a guy who didn't have any formal training and is working as a tech for Verizon.
I also know a whole bunch of other guys who didn't have any formal training and are working at fast food restaurants and as janitors.
Another crucial point to mention is that permits for research (funding too) or to start any business in most countries are given to those with a formal training. The higher, the better.
The best paying jobs require higher education. Even if one manages to land a good paying job without a formal education or tech training, jobs don't last forever nowadays like they used to. What do you do when you are out of work at 35 or 40 and all you have on your resume to show is your experience in your last job? If you can't find a similar job, you have nothing to show a potential employer.
At 35 to 40, you are competing for management jobs, because no one is going to hire a 35 year old for a entry level position. They higher cheaper paid kids for that. Kids who are probably familiar with all the new relevant tech and concepts.
Even if you are too, as an older worker, they expect you to prove it first. And you may not get the chance. So, you are likely going to be competing against guys with paper.
And whether we like it or not, if we are being realistic, companies aren't going to give a damn about you feeling you are self learnt. They don't have the time to evaluate your skills on an individual basis, so they rely on information about your education and skills. A worker with no degree has little chance against all the competition out there with degrees unless they have good connections in the company they want to work for.
At the very least, one needs some certificates.
I know a guy who didn't have any formal training and is working as a tech for Verizon.
I also know a whole bunch of other guys who didn't have any formal training and are working at fast food restaurants and as janitors.
Another crucial point to mention is that permits for research (funding too) or to start any business in most countries are given to those with a formal training. The higher, the better.
DrWongKC · 26-30, M
@SimplyTracie But I don't mean education itself, or learning itself. But the degree, the fact that I have to get through a course to earn that degree to get its benefits. I'm wondering if that is worth getting even though Science have said that degree does not make much difference. Their character, attitude and intelligence make significantly more differences.
SimplyTracie · 26-30, F
@DrWongKC I would think it depends a lot on what you’re studying or your discipline. Would you trust me to operate on your child without a medical degree or build you your hotel without a civil engineering degree? Of course not.
However, you could be hired as a head coach of a football team if you’re experienced in football and have leadership skills but have no degree whatsoever.
However, you could be hired as a head coach of a football team if you’re experienced in football and have leadership skills but have no degree whatsoever.
DrWongKC · 26-30, M
That'd work in a world that is filled with intelligent people. I'm in Information Technology and I'd also like to do Business, these are skills that I feel does not require formal education certification as people can prove the capability by doing it.
But I feel that many companies are too busy to judge on an individual basis and always give those privileged enough to have good academic credentials priorities even though business or IT success is not absolutely determined by such academic credentials.
I happen to be the not so privileged.
The other is that companies can use that as a reason to make me do work that'd normally be given to a degree holder, to me and tell me that I am paid less because I don't have a proper certification.
What I realise is, university does not perfectly certify a person as capable. I mean there are so many variables.
But how do I find a way to be successful in the traditional sense without having to have a top university certification?
But I feel that many companies are too busy to judge on an individual basis and always give those privileged enough to have good academic credentials priorities even though business or IT success is not absolutely determined by such academic credentials.
I happen to be the not so privileged.
The other is that companies can use that as a reason to make me do work that'd normally be given to a degree holder, to me and tell me that I am paid less because I don't have a proper certification.
What I realise is, university does not perfectly certify a person as capable. I mean there are so many variables.
But how do I find a way to be successful in the traditional sense without having to have a top university certification?
SimplyTracie · 26-30, F
@DrWongKC I think you can learn basic IT stuff on the job but stuff like coding/programming, data communications, data conversion, storage and retrieval, systems analysis and design, and systems control might require formal training. I really don’t know.
A formal education doesn’t mean you will be successful in your craft but at least you’ll have the knowledge to be successful if you are willing to do the work.
A formal education doesn’t mean you will be successful in your craft but at least you’ll have the knowledge to be successful if you are willing to do the work.