Do you need a degree to get on?

meher

studentphil wrote: »

If you are a young person now entering employment nowadays, do you need a degree ( and maybe a Masters degree) to get on in your career considering that many professions and management jobs now require a degree?

Surely you must be knowing that certain professions need the qualification – to work in any areas of health and to practice the law. In business and management on a junior level I suspect a degree on any discipline would do. To answer your question I might not be too wrong in thinking you could work even without a degree provided you prove that you have leadership qualities and have that personal integrity alongwith the efficiency, skills such as analytical aptitude, flexibility & adaptability to think of a few transferable skills. But I suppose you’d need the exposure to prove yourself.

MBA and other management students do sandwich placements in companies and firms – Phil haven’t you ever considered looking into applying for placements to begin with – you get paid from £250 a week as well or more depending on the firm and that’s tax free. Forgive me if the suggestion is not feasible for I’m aware it could be exclusively for Business studies or related practice – but if I'm right students from other disciplines too are offered placements. Perhaps that’s a way to start?

nearlyrich

studentphil wrote: »

But how is your A level person going to get a Manager's job if you come up against a person with a nice polished MBA when your MBAer will know all the fancy management stuff and your A leveler won't?

Because sometimes the interviewer can see that experience beats paper in practice, my lack of a degree hasn't held me back at all;)

studentphil

After all the stress of university I would like a stress free job for a bit and just to rebuild my confidence a little too.

lellie

Well go out and get a job instead of wasting time here? You really need some experience!

Voyager2002

studentphil wrote: »

After all the stress of university I would like a stress free job for a bit and just to rebuild my confidence a little too.

Fine, but a stress-free job is rarely the foundation for a high-flying career, or even a means of "getting on". You (and all of us) need to find out what kinds and levels of stress you can handle comfortably, and find a job that provides just the right amount -- and no more! But high-flyers are generally people who can handle demands and situations that others find unbearably stresful.

Gemmzie

Maybe this is a stupid question but if you want to go into business wouldn't a business degree have been more useful?

And also, stop looking for validation on every little thing you do. Jeez, I'm younger than you and I'm working towards becoming a supervisor in my job - that means I deal with day to day running.

Study business - learn the KITA theory and do it!

Morglin

studentphil wrote: »

After all the stress of university I would like a stress free job for a bit and just to rebuild my confidence a little too.

Most jobs involve some stress - but we need some stress to get motivated and learn.

Confidence will come with learning the job (any job), and realising that you can do the job.

It comes from earning your own wage, being your own person, and realising there's a big world out there, and you can do anything you like, providing you work at it.

I think you need to get out an about more, socialise more and then you will feel more confident.

The net is great - but people shouldn't hide behind anonymity and "faceless friends" all the time.;)

Lin

VickyA_2

studentphil wrote: »

Just on paper with a BA compared to someone with a MA/ PhD you look very inferior.

I have to disagree. It depends on other experience. DH was interviewing for a new team member and the HR department nearly over looked one candidate because he "only" had 1 year of work experience, rather than letters after his name (but very little work experience). The bloke with the work experience and no degree got the job. It's not what you've got, but what you can do with what resources you have (ie your brain).

When I first graduated the first time, back in 2001 I got a job as a "Management Trainee". The title should have been "skiv and gopher". I did everything from filing, typing up new systems (but working under more experienced people), to sweeping the factory floor because other people had gone home and they needed an extra pair of hands. After 9 months, due to my "dedication" and willingness to get on with any job thrown at me, I moved on to another department where I was given even more responsibility etc etc until I left 3 years later.

It was NOTHING to do with qualifications, but all to do with sheer hard work and pushing to get through the next door. It's all about convincing those in leadership positions that you're capable of doing the job.

Speaking of qualifications, to move up in his field DH is having to take further exams (a requirement due to the specialist nature of his geekyness). It's not a degree and it doesn't require degree knowledge. However, he is studying for it himself when he gets home at the end of each working day. He has already been told by others that the fact that he is showing determination HIMSELF and not relying on his company to put him through this qualification that he is more employable than someone who has the qualification through traditional employer-paid route. He has shown the DETERMINATION to get there through sheer hard graft.

kelloggs36

It depends on what employment you want - some professions require a degree, so in that respect then the answer would be yes you do. BUT there are many of jobs that don't require a degree and experience counts for more. I worked for the Institution of Civil Engineers as an Admin Assistant and they told me that I couldn't be a Committee Administrator because I didn't have a degree - there was no real reason as I am quite capable of doing the job; the degree doesn't even have to be related - any old degree would do, so they were just being snobby imo.

studentphil

Gemmzie wrote: »

Maybe this is a stupid question but if you want to go into business wouldn't a business degree have been more useful?

And also, stop looking for validation on every little thing you do. Jeez, I'm younger than you and I'm working towards becoming a supervisor in my job - that means I deal with day to day running.

Study business - learn the KITA theory and do it!

If needs be you can easily pick up a Management qualification -Diploma in management studies, Professional Management certificate, PG Cert/ Dip in management-- and soon be upto the level of a business grad as a result.