Lisawrx

iTrader: (1)

Give me a job Lee.

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

+1.

Only thing I would add (and it's been said previously), it's not as easy at it once was to simply get out there and gain experience. 20-30 years ago maybe but now it's a different matter.

I think having that degree or trade to start with gets you in the door and then the personality thing kicks in.

One thing to note as well... does it matter where you got your training or degree? As I'm at Corus doing my trade currently and they are recognised as the best in the area for apprenticeships etc., would that surely not benefit me if I applied for jobs elsewhere. What I mean is this (sorry if it sounds patronising)...

Bloke A and B go for a job interview (both have similar outlooks on life, good personalities, barely seperable).

Bloke A went to college and trained to say an NVQ level 3 in mech engineering.
Bloke B went to corus and did an apprenticesip to the same NVQ level 3 in mech engineering.

Both the same age etc, but the guy at Corus doing the apprenticeship got hands on experience on plant, better facilities and equipment to use etc.

Again both guys really want the job and are pretty inseperable. Who gets it?

MMT WRX

Are you a '***** Waver'?

MMT WRX

The Corus route seems a more traditional route to me. I would think you will gain skills/practical experiences more demonstrable in an interview process. IMHO you would have an advantage, the rest being equal.

Richy P1984

But would you have the acedemic skills and general transferable skills previously mentioned in this thread? Companies are always looking for the best of both worlds, someone with on the job experience who can use their initiative, and someone who can master the acedemic side of the job as well (budgeting, researching, organising, planning, writing reports, analysing reports data / results, interpreting information and compiling recomendations).

You usally have to be able to demontrate both skill sets in an interview, although they may prefer someone with more on the job experience if you are going to be working on a factory floor.

MMT WRX

I assumed (maybe I shouldn't have) from cob's post that he was doing a more traditional type apprenticeship where he did 'on the job' real world environment training, coupled with academic training at college.

V's

Somebody who's receiving all their training exclusively at college with no exposure/experience of a workplace.

When I did my apprenticeship, a long time ago, you did either the first example while employed by a company, generally resulting in continued permanent employment when you'd finished.
Or you did the second option because you were on some YT scheme which the apprentice invariably ended up back on the street on completion.

COB do you go to college for academic/theory training?

andy97

iTrader: (1)

A relative has a degree and good professional qualifications and earns an income which is in the top 1% in the country.

scoobiewrx555

You have to be honest and ask yourselves this....

Regardless of how many of you left school with bugger all exams or have little to no further education to speak of but have done relatively well for yourselves, would you be happy in your heart of hearts, for your kids to leave school with very few or no exam passes and no prospect or desire for further education??

Answer honestly

paulwrxboro

I can answer that ...no, i pushed them hard on the exams and am pushing them to get a trade( sparky )

dan69royal

i have no real education and have one of the best jobs in the world. paid for my car out right, bought my missis and still have funds to feed my drinking habbit

skoobidude

During the last 4yrs salary has shot up. No degree, just HNC in Mechanical Engineering. I'm a Project Manager at large blue chip company. Part of big increase was to help me "come to terms" with our department expanding into Europe . So I travel a bit now.

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

Hello mate, I'm exclusively at the HETA training centre at Corus itself.

When I started it was classroom lessons on varying subjects such as maths, materials science, physics science, business management etc. This would be about 2 days of my week out of the 5. The others would be on the workshop floor. Since exams have been sat and passed in these subjects, it's mainly workshop stuff now.

Definitely hands on apprenticeship and the very best in this area. Before my "year" started last September it was a year at college then onto Corus. Too many ********* got onto the apprenticeship and used the college year to **** about, so it was deemed necessary to kit out a part of one of the old mills and turn it into a start of the art training centre - at great cost to Corus.

HETA (Humberside Engineering Training Assosiation) train us but we're Corus apprentices' on Corus' grounds.

Sorry for going off on a tangent

Peanuts

iTrader: (15)

Thai Bride?

dan69royal

i wish. no. but im punshing well above my weight

Dingdongler

?????

http://www.virginmedia.com/images/tingtong.jpg

Leslie

Lovely jubbly!

Les

dan69royal

means shes very fitout my league kind of thing

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

I am trying to get my eldest to apply himself in the science subjects at school, loads of engineering openings in the Nuclear and other industries, there are a lot of old stagers coming up to or beyond retirement so new blood is needed, you can get in anywhere if you think about it and want it enough, read trade journals, work for free, take every opportunity that presents itself, learn after hours, it amazes me how many people in my industry (IT) have no interest, learn to do one thing then just keep turning up.

As has been said, its that spark of intelligence, someone who wont do something stupid, will either make an informed decision or ask for help, those who give a few extra percent above the bottom line, those who arent "Problems", someone you can give a couple of bits of information to and they know what to do, not those that need constant supervision.

I do think sometimes the equality that they were keen to get into the Higher Education realm has resulted in people who werent suited to going to Uni have done, it should be the top few percent in terms of intelligence and aptitude, those who will excel, not just something to do for a few years.

Ethel

Depends what you do the degree in, doesn't it? If it's something that is leading directly to a professional job (medicine, accountancy, law etc.) and you have the stamina to keep studying for the extra qualifications that you'll probably have to do after that, then go for it, you'll probably earn back your student debt and then some, over the years. If you're doing media studies, possibly less so. I don't know what the difference in earnings between an arts graduate and a non-graduate is, but I suspect it's not massive. I don't know if it's worth going £20,000 into debt for, especially if you want to buy a house or get married/have kids before you're 28 or so.

I have a degree, earn decent money by your criteria but I know people who left school at 16 who now earn more than I do. I have recruited to jobs and been really shocked at how graduates with apparently good degrees couldn't spell and thought the world owed them a living just because they had a degree (major generalisation I know, but I have come across it). Like Geezer says above, I would always value experience over bits of paper. My own opinion is that intelligence (which is different from academic success), a good attitude and the ability to get on with people will usually see you OK in the end.

Definitely do the maths before you commit either way though.