Dedrater

In regards to IT, as long as the person was in full time work while doing the Open Uni course and can demonstrate competence, not show work done i.e. by answering IT related questions at the interview, like "what is memristor technology" or any other questions relevant to the job, sometimes it can only take a few to know the person you are speaking to doesn't have a clue.

finalzero

No free ticket for grads then... oh well, means they actually have to work from the bottom up like the rest of the world and earn their stripes.

Degree qualifications are ten a penny now, I would rather hire someone who didn't speak BS and had experience than someone who knows the buzzwords and flashes his/her qualification around (but always nice to find someone with the best of both, bright academic achievements and common sense approach to work).

Matteeboy

Basic fact of life:

Those with a degree think you MUST have one.
Those without think you don't need them.

Peanuts

iTrader: (15)

I have a degree and its proved totally pointless in my application.
I think I may have even been higher up the food chain if I had started my career path a few years earlier.

MissyV

It's true...I've just graduated...don't know why I bothered...could've started my career earlier!

Oh yeah and there's nothing wrong with Media Degrees it's just that everyone is doing them now thinking it will be a fast track to a high paid job! All these talentless pretenders are shrouding the ones with genuine talent

Matteeboy

I work in Media (run a PR firm) and TBH, I favour non Media degrees when looking for freelancers. They just seem to be a waste of time and don't seem to teach people the stuff that really matters. Good writing, good sales skills, creativity and extremely good organisational skills. Oh and decent IT skills too.

finalzero

You have to go beyond the degree though, not rely on it to open doors...

I have no formal qualification, left school with a handful of GCSE marks if that but I got job, not the best in the world but a start and that was my career in IT.

I admit, sometimes I do envy the university life, having worked on a 1 year consultancy contract for a university I was fortunate to get involved in the lifestyle and its something that should be experienced.

But, I don't care because I like having the extra competition, I like the thought of knowing I beat 20+ people to a high profile job, probably 18 of whom were of an academic profile.

But yeah it does bite you sometimes, I am pretty sure I have in the past missed out on promotions and particular jobs because I lacked a degree.

Yes I could still get one but I tried it and with 3 kids and a demanding job I just don't have the time but I don't really care now as I am considered an asset to the company and I have made a name for myself so that counts in my book.

My advice to the grads worried after reading that news, don't be. You need a game plan and stick to it, don't expect stuff to be handed out to you, go and earn your place in a company because it's a difficult time now.

MissyV

I have all of those skills...can I have a job please