Comments on: Degree-less and Doomed??? You have got to be kidding.

By: Duncan Mathison

Duncan Mathison — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 15:30:13 +0000

First of all – it is great to see you are getting the degree – shortcomings and all. Why? Because it is a factor in hiring and you want to be more competitive. That said, it is true that fresh out of school candidates in technical professions that use industry generated tools are often behind the current state of affairs. But as you point out, picking these tools up just takes a little bit of hustle – college grad or not. You also have demonstrated the art of learning the management techniques required in today’s companies. I would take an exceptional learner such as yourself over a fresh out of school college grad any day. But are you the exception? Over time, when a college grad with your experience vs. a non-college grad with your experience is competing for a job, the college grad will tend to win. The head start gained through early experience becomes less of a factor. This is particularly true with technology careers where the cutting edge work done 4 years ago is now quaint. You have shown your ability to learn as you go. So, use college time to build breadth in learning. Education is about learning from other people’s experience (dead or alive) without actually having to live the experience. Why is this important? Many of the greatest leaps in business, culture, technology, and science occurs when there is a cross fertilization of ideas from other technical or non-technical disciplines. Think even of how many times lessons from history, art and literature can be applied to challenges in today’s workplace in the same way technology leaps influence history, art and literature. Get the most of your college experience. If you can, avoid taking classes where you are already an expert. Have fun with school and know it puts you even further ahead in the game.

By: I.T. grown and growing

I.T. grown and growing — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 11:48:14 +0000

I myself am a self taught I.T. Administrator and Application/Database Developer who earned several certifications in the field, spent many years working with upper management reading books that target my challenges and putting things into practice while learning new techniques that have been very successful and have built a portfolio over time, which college heads were not able to do. In our try before you hire session, at my company we ended up getting rid of a few college grads because their knowledge was so far behind and seem to be spoiled. I think experience and character overrides College by far, remember in college courses you just read a little try to memorize till test time pick and choose teachers who most of time has spent little time, if any, in the field they are teaching. What is the difference between this and jumping on Google and reading the latest information about a subject, then putting it into practice. People that hire based on degrees are just selfishly looking out for themselves, because perhaps they have a degree, and end up hurting themselves and their company by passing up someone with more knowledge, certifications, character and experience, remember results is why you hire, not because you might have read something in a outdated textbook. That being said, I am working on a degree although as I take the classes it is confirming what I feel to be true.

By: latisha

latisha — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 20:46:37 +0000

Normally don’t do this type of thing, but I just read this book and it was fantastic. Its called “You Have A College Degree, Now What?” and I now feel as if I’m in the right frame of mind for success to take place. I’m graduating from college in May and thanks to this book I now feel prepared. Here’s where I found it at. http://www.amazon.com/You-Have-College-Degree-What/dp/0578044048/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1270658049&sr=1-1

By: Kathy

Kathy — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:38:55 +0000

THANK you! I am degreeless, but have sucessfully performed roles requiring an MBA for a new hire…so I was feeling a bit doomed. I appreciate this post more than you know.

By: Tweets that mention No College Degree and Looking for a Job? | Unlock the Hidden Job Market -- Topsy.com

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 15:39:47 +0000

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