[ILUG] OT: A university degree is required. Why?

[Declan Moriarty]

On Thu, 2006-05-04 at 00:34 +0100, Steven Satelle wrote:
> On Monday 01 May 2006 23:01, Declan Moriarty muttered:
> > On Wed, 2006-05-03 at 10:34 +0100, Thomas Bridge wrote:
> > > On 5/1/06, Declan Moriarty <junk_mail at iol.ie> wrote:
> > > > On Tue, 2006-05-02 at 18:35 +0200, Rory Browne wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Realistically, many
> > > > personnel demons (excuse me all HR staff present :) types operate like
> > > > this:
> > > >
> > > > 1. Check for exact education level required.
> > > > 2. Check for 2 years experience doing exactly what they want you doing
> > > > now.
> > > > 3. If enough candidates pass these tests, junk all CVs that don't.
> > >
> > > Which is fair enough and understandable.
> > >
> > > If you're finding you're being filtered out too often as a result of
> > > these filters, then you two options.   Either change career, or go and
> > > get some educational qualifications.   As has been pointed out, the
> > > degree from a good college/university does say something positive
> > > about you, and you have to deal with the fact that particularly on
> > > "soft skills" which HR types care about, it's a huge plus.
> >
> > I'd quibble with none of that in general. The application is somehow a
> > little different in practise. Let's take my example.
> >
> > I can't go for Batchelor of Engineering because among other things, I
> > lacked honours Math. So the career path for me by that reckoning is
> >
> > Leaving Cert --> 4 year Engineering Degree to get the piece of paper
> > that says I might be able to do what I am already doing. By that stage
> > my hardware experience is seriously out of date, as other skills have
> > been neglected to get a piece of paper. What is my family going to live
> > on for five years while I do this? Engineering is a pretty full time
> > degree.
> >
> I'm 3 years into an OpenU honours degree in computing. I work full time and am 
> supporting (with the other half) a 2 child family - one of whom is under 5. 
> It is not impossible to work and study
> 
> Very important point about moaning about HR Staff. 99% of them do not know 
> what they are recruiting for, they don't know what 90% of the required levels 
> are, so cant differentiate between experience and formal qualifications.
> It is only when you get past them that you get to speak to somebody who 
> actually understands  what the job is about.
>
> Stop moaning, I'm 3 years in and have another 4 years to go before I am free 
> to watch telly in the evening again, or read a book

I will think about that course. I do have 3 evenings, and Saturday
morning tied up with voluntary work which I was hoping to retain. I've
got to keep it for a few months at least. I'm also a slightly different
case from the others here, as my expertise is in hardware.  If you're
studying, I imagine you're reading plenty of books!
	

-- 
        With Best Regards,

        Declan Moriarty.