Do you really need a degree?
- Thread starter k27
- Start date
![[FnG]magnolia](/styles/overclockers/avatars/9.png){kind=avatar}
Caporegime
- Joined
- 29 Aug 2007
- Posts
- 28,860
- Location
- Auckland
e : whoops, someone posted.
It's okay, he has no idea.
It's okay, he has no idea.
Last edited:
Possibly, but with just 4 years extra work experience over her (and those first 4 years largely being pointless jobs), I earn 25% more than she does.
Finding a career that you both enjoy and are naturally good at is worth more than a generic degree for the most part.
The degree...not a great choice I'll admit. I picked it because it was something I was interested in...not necessarily thinking of career options.
This leads me onto something else .... I think 18 is too early to go to uni. Do you really know what you want at 18? You should have to go into work after school .. gain experience and work out what you want so when / if you do go to uni you can get the most out of it.
This leads me onto something else .... I think 18 is too early to go to uni. Do you really know what you want at 18? You should have to go into work after school .. gain experience and work out what you want so when / if you do go to uni you can get the most out of it.
That's a fairly meaningless stat, though...
Well I earn more than her without any student debt, I feel I made the right choice about not going to uni, ymmv.
Don't far more people with degrees end up with jobs that barely relate to them than the other way around?
I wish that I had taken a gap year because then I'd have been slightly more mature when starting my degree. But my choice was sound*.
*well I can't say this with much hindsight because I only graduated last summer, but I am certainly happy with where I am going.
That stat is skewed by people who do a degree that they are interested in for the purposes of illustrating their skill set to to potential employers in a way which wouldn't be achievable otherwise. For example doing a degree in chemistry is an excellent way into accounting/finance because it requires many aptitudes to get a chemistry degree which are relevant to being an accountant.
Last edited:
Indeed, of my peers I'm the least formally educated but earn considerably more than all of them.
It helps, but it's not always needed.
But - if you don't have a degree, then makes sure you spend the time teaching yourself a desirable skill (in my case business analytics's, predictive modelling, statistics, maths & coding/SQL/SPSS/programming).
Overall I think my university educated friends are in similar positions, but a few years behind on the ladder - not to mention many seem unwilling to join a great company (with excellent promotion prospects) if it means starting at the bottom.
If you don't have a degree, then make sure you have something which makes you stand out against the masses, either diverse technical skill-sets, or an excellent interview technique.
Last edited:
How is that conversely? It's the same as my example.
My brother technically failed his A-levels, but went on to self-study a stupid amount about computers and networking, and now earns a bucketload.
Caporegime
- Joined
- 29 Aug 2007
- Posts
- 28,860
- Location
- Auckland
Is this ... is this a joke?
I worked in IT as an apprentice for 2 years but I decided to get a degree in networking as I don't want to be doing helpdesk the rest of my life and having the degree as well as Cisco qualifications etc. will be a good stepping stone in to a graduate job that will progress to something more.
Right now I'm working as an 'ICT Intern' doing what I did before and more but for the same money, can't really complain though as work is hard to come by, at least I'll be doing some AD and networking stuff which they wouldn't let me touch as an apprentice. Experience is very important in IT but having a degree on top of it should make me stand out when I go for the big jobs!
Right now I'm working as an 'ICT Intern' doing what I did before and more but for the same money, can't really complain though as work is hard to come by, at least I'll be doing some AD and networking stuff which they wouldn't let me touch as an apprentice. Experience is very important in IT but having a degree on top of it should make me stand out when I go for the big jobs!
I edited, (it's actually already edited in the bit you quotedHow is that conversely? It's the same as my example.
My brother technically failed his A-levels, but went on to self-study a stupid amount about computers and networking, and now earns a bucketload.
) - I misread the last line you posted.Totally agree about the last point - as you say, he spent the time to learn a skill-set - very important.
My formal education was in art/music so not worth the paper it's printed on (for jobs).
Nope went to the University of Birmingham but back in good old Hertfordshire now
What I am getting at is that a degree increases your prospects, but it doesn't guarantee you a well paying job.
Loads of people get a degree, the associated debt, and end up in menial, dead-end jobs.
Aptitude and drive are a more defining factor in the success of one's career.
I really feel sorry for people who spend 3 years of their life and lots of money doing a non-subject like psychology or english literature. Why on earth would you get a degree in something like that and not something useful like a trade. They can't find a job because all they aren't actually qualified to do something.
OP feels as though a lot of time and money has been spent on studying when really on the job experience is more valuable
OP is not sure why is speaking in the third person