Which College Graduate would get more respect from employers: Three year grad/no work, or six years while working? (skills, school) - Colleges and Universities -Higher education - City-Data Forum

Refugee56 · 10-09-2008, 02:34 PM

If you were an employer what candidate would you be more impressed with: (these are real people)

Candidate #1: Graduated with honors in three years but taking 18 credit hours per semester and summer school, but never worked while in college

Candidate #2 Graduated with a "b" Average but worked full time at a grocery store as a cashier full time but took six years to graduate.

All other aspects of their backgrounds are the same (communication skills, appearance, poise, etc.)

Nemesis15 · 10-09-2008, 02:46 PM

^ Wow, your in quite a decision. Personally, I'd go with candidate 2 because working and going to school is way more of a balance act then taking a course load and summer school.

Rei · 10-09-2008, 03:42 PM

Definitely candidate 2.

Our intern here got his BS and MS in civil engineering in 5 years from USC, and when he graduated it was hard to fine a job b/c he had very little experience (only 2 mths). Employers aren't willing to pay a master's salary w/o the experience, and at the same time fear that if the employee is underpaid, then he/she won't be productive. It's a double whammy...

On the other hand, my sister who also graduated with her BS in civil eng got various offers b/c of her various experience and internships (high-profile projects).

akck · 10-09-2008, 05:06 PM

Regardless of the time to graduation, the candidate with appropriate work experience would have the best shot, then one with any work experience and finally the one with no work experience. Work history that can be verified is most important. In order the no work experience candidate to have a chance, they would need something equivalent, such as an internship or extended volunteer work.

truckingbronco · 10-09-2008, 06:04 PM

Candidate #2 is at a big disadvantage because candidate #1 will already have three years experience on them by the time they graduate.

f_m · 10-09-2008, 07:46 PM

Depends on if the work experience is related to the job. I would probably have considered doing a co-op, which would have taken twice as long to finish, but half the time would have been spent working at related companies.

cpg35223 · 10-09-2008, 08:12 PM

The guy who worked his way through school, hands down. Any idiot can go through school if they don't have to worry about money.

rnc76 · 10-09-2008, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpg35223

The guy who worked his way through school, hands down. Any idiot can go through school if they don't have to worry about money.

Any idiot can graduate in 3 years with honors? Please.

cpg35223 · 10-09-2008, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rnc76

Any idiot can graduate in 3 years with honors? Please.

If all that person has to do is study without having to actually earn money? Absolutely and without question. I graduated cumlaude in four while holding down a full-time job for my first two years, and 30-hour weeks the second two years.

elikhom · 10-09-2008, 09:37 PM

Candidate 1.
In most of the companies I've worked for they just skip candidate 2 regardless of the reason why it took him/her 6 years to finish school.