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The problem I see is if we as a society tell every kid that they should go to college
because that represents success and social mobility...
The #1 reason for these kids to go to college is because so many jobs require a degree to apply.
Note however that the actual work of rather few of these jobs really requires that education.
Quote:
Too many people go to college just because they feel they have to
rather than because of any specific interest in any area of study.
I would rather live in a neighborhood filled highly-skilled tradespeople (plumbers, electricians, etc.) than I would like to be surrounded by stockbrokers, for example.
The #1 reason for these kids to go to college is because so many jobs require a degree to apply.
Note however that the actual work of rather few of these jobs really requires that education.
See above.
As someone who's hired for positions like that, when we upped the education requirement to bachelors our candidates got much better.
Technically you shouldn't need a college degree for that position, but we found the caliber of candidate without it was not good enough. High schools just aren't putting out decent product anymore.
THIS. You have all these people on here pulling numbers out of their ... with nothing to back them up. The proof is in the real numbers. Its rare for skilled trades to make into the six figures. If they do, its temporary due to working crazy back breaking hours. With the top 25% making 70k (from long hours), that means these 100k numbers people are spouting out are probably the top 5%. The top 5% of college graduates make much much more than that.
I hate to break this to you, but 70 percent of American workers make less than six figures. https://www.statista.com/statistics/...ome-in-the-us/
This includes quite a few of the 27 percent of Americans with four year college degrees or higher. The median income for people with a bachelor's degree is $61,000.
As someone who's hired for positions like that, when we upped the education requirement to bachelors our candidates got much better.
Technically you shouldn't need a college degree for that position, but we found the caliber of candidate without it was not good enough. High schools just aren't putting out decent product anymore.
I feel the same way when I am hiring for sales roles. Technically no degree is needed, but I’m starting people at $150K. I expect a certain caliber of person and when I require a degree, the applicant pool gets much better.
That's certainly true. Sales require a certain personality type. And there's far more sales jobs than people actually good at it.
I'm afraid one won't find some silver bullet that just will solve the problems of the job market for everyone. The key is to find the solution that's right for you.
Not everyone is a good fit for the trades, not everyone is a good fit for sales etc.
The problem I see is if we as a society tell every kid that they should go to college because that represents success and social mobility even if that does not suit them at all. Too many people go to college just because they feel they have to rather than because of any specific interest in any area of study.
And in the process they sometimes rack up student loan debt that sets them back years financially.
I feel the same way when I am hiring for sales roles. Technically no degree is needed, but I’m starting people at $150K. I expect a certain caliber of person and when I require a degree, the applicant pool gets much better.
Way back when, I remember applying for a $15/hr accounting tech job in the accounting department of my utility that didn't require a degree. In the interview, the hiring supervisor asked if I had a degree in accounting, I said no, that it wasn't listed in the requirements, and I had 3 years experience doing this exact job description. He said he wanted to hire someone with an accounting degree so they would be "promotable", and since I didn't have one, I didn't get the job. I'm so glad! I got a better position, in a different department, and was promoted 6 times over my 25 year career there, ended my career making the magical $100k. I guess I was promotable after all.
Way back when, I remember applying for a $15/hr accounting tech job in the accounting department of my utility that didn't require a degree. In the interview, the hiring supervisor asked if I had a degree in accounting, I said no, that it wasn't listed in the requirements, and I had 3 years experience doing this exact job description. He said he wanted to hire someone with an accounting degree so they would be "promotable", and since I didn't have one, I didn't get the job. I'm so glad! I got a better position, in a different department, and was promoted 6 times over my 25 year career there, ended my career making the magical $100k. I guess I was promotable after all.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CorporateCowboy
...
That said, I'd be curious to know what 'useless' five degrees he has.
Mech Eng
Civil Eng
International Business / PM / Supply Chain / Contract negotiations
Finance
MBA
Also hold certs in Secondary and Voc-Tech ed, teach at CC and State U's, and for US SBA (in my free time)
All 'Fluff' to me, and VERY (very) EZ to obtain 'degrees' compared to actually WORKING (and all degrees were FREE from a great employer, while working FT), I preferred my careers in Skilled Trades (actually DOING something...) Sure, my US Patents and Invention Disclosures were nice to hang on the wall, and made good walnut wood for hobby projects.
To each their own.
My degrees only serve for tools in my box to open a few doors (BTW: I'm headed back to college for another in the next yr, good to always keep alert to the EDU options around you. I would hope to attend an international U if I am purposed to actually learn any applicable career based content (which I am not).) Still seeking out some international options, as most I consult in SBA are immigrants. (they have the incentive to be successful, very rewarding to mentor)
There are a lot of educated 'fools' out there (especially in USA) and here on C-D.
Many (most) are very destructive to USA productivity and skill gains (it shows).
"When all is said and done,... There is a lot more SAID than Done" (USA management mantra)
Way back when, I remember applying for a $15/hr accounting tech job in the accounting department of my utility that didn't require a degree. In the interview, the hiring supervisor asked if I had a degree in accounting, I said no, that it wasn't listed in the requirements, and I had 3 years experience doing this exact job description. He said he wanted to hire someone with an accounting degree so they would be "promotable", and since I didn't have one, I didn't get the job. I'm so glad! I got a better position, in a different department, and was promoted 6 times over my 25 year career there, ended my career making the magical $100k. I guess I was promotable after all.
Clearly there are outliers. I’m not saying all people without degrees are worthless, but I don’t have the time to sort through all the losers without degrees to find the gems. The hit rate is far better when I require a degree. Degrees are no guarantee either. I mean stealth has 5 of them and I wouldn’t ever hire that guy.
Your situation was a different time. College wasn’t the expectation then. It’s table stakes now 25 plus years later. I’m starting people at $150K. You finished at $100K.
Last edited by SkyDog77; 06-04-2020 at 10:16 AM..
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(and all degrees were FREE from a great employer, while working FT), I preferred my careers in Skilled Trades (actually DOING something...) Sure, my US Patents and Invention Disclosures were nice to hang on the wall, and made good walnut wood for hobby projects
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