How was Eric Snowden making $122,000 a year?

[Mai72]

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckra...d-end-up-with-top-secret-clearance-at-the-nsa

He was able to attain a job as a NSA contractor making $122,000 a year. He didn't have a degree, no training, and he even flunked out of high school. He got his GED at a latter date.

This goes against everything they tell you in high school and college. They say that you need a bachelors degree. Then they tell you that a BA isn't enough, so you need to go back to school to get your MA. Then you need to get your certifications. If you do all of this you might make half of what Eric made. At least in education.

Was he a quick learner? Did he know people on the inside? It's a fascinating story.

 

[darkxshade]

For every Eric Snowden, there are probably thousands of others who wants to know if you want fries with that

 

[Mai72]

http://money.msn.com/now/post.aspx?post=c87a8895-856a-4018-a06c-e78af35e5bd1

Actually in this link they say that he was making $200,000.

 

[norseamd]

because this was after he had already worked as a employee of the cia and nsa. you realize that the holding of a formal degree is more or less meaningless. bill gates never finished his degree either.

 

[Mai72]

For every Eric Snowden, there are probably thousands of others who wants to know if you want fries with that

I guess. When he went in for the interview they didn't ask to see his resume? Experiences? Reference Letters?

He spent time in the Army but that doesn't mean anything. Or maybe it did. Did he network with the right people. He is an introvert, so I doubt that he had a wide circle of friends.

 

[Mai72]

because this was after he had already worked as a employee of the cia and nsa. you realize that the holding of a formal degree is more or less meaningless. bill gates never finished his degree either.

True. A traditional degree is fine, but the value of a BA has dropped over the years. Evan a MA doesn't guarantee success.

MA and PHD grads who are now getting food stamps: http://chronicle.com/article/From-Graduate-Schoolto/131795/

 

[JManInPhoenix]

I wonder how much Edward Snowden made?

 

[ussfletcher]

Who is Eric Snowden?

 

[Jay5]

the sad part about edward snowden is,theres going to be alot more of them if things dont change soon.this is to be expected with a goverment trying to get rid of privacy

 

[norseamd]

True. A traditional degree is fine, but the value of a BA has dropped over the years. Evan a MA doesn't guarantee success. MA and PHD grads who are now getting food stamps: http://chronicle.com/article/From-Gr...hoolto/131795/

suppose what i mean is that a degree is nothing but a way to tell people what you should know

 

[norseamd]

the sad part about edward snowden is,theres going to be alot more of them if things dont change soon.this is to be expected with a goverment trying to get rid of privacy

edit: did you change your quote?

no liberals did this or that or such with conservatives either

 

[Jay5]

typical response.i guess you can continue being spoonfed whatever the liberals on cnn want you to hear then

 

[norseamd]

typical response.i guess you can continue being spoonfed whatever the liberals on cnn want you to hear then

reading your edit is now propagandering against snowden. the gif now still has a valid purpose

 

[Mai72]

the sad part about edward snowden is,theres going to be alot more of them if things dont change soon.this is to be expected with a goverment trying to get rid of privacy

This thread was made so we could discuss his salary, and how he was able to obtain such a sweet job with only a GED.

I guess most people who post here are going to college or have a degree in computer science. What made him different then everybody here? He didn't have certifications. He didn't have a BS degree.

Was he really talented?

 

[Mai72]

suppose what i mean is that a degree is nothing but a way to tell people what you should know

A degree will give you a chance to interview for a position that 2,000 other applicants want as well. That's it.

The rest is up to you. You need to sell yourself so you can stand above the other 2,000 applicants.

 

[Wreckem]

I guess. When he went in for the interview they didn't ask to see his resume? Experiences? Reference Letters?

He spent time in the Army but that doesn't mean anything. Or maybe it did. Did he network with the right people. He is an introvert, so I doubt that he had a wide circle of friends.

He barely spent any time in the army. He never past the recruit stage and never completed any training.

To me it looks like no one actually vetted him properly. There are serious red flags that should have never allowed him to get the security clearance he got. Hindsight is 20/20 though.

 

[Wreckem]

This thread was made so we could discuss his salary, and how he was able to obtain such a sweet job with only a GED.

I guess most people who post here are going to college or have a degree in computer science. What made him different then everybody here? He didn't have certifications. He didn't have a BS degree.

Was he really talented?

He definitely was a good liar. He made a lot of claims/half truths(like attending John Hopkins, etc)

I am honestly not sure how he got hired by the CIA originally. Originally he was just a lowly security guard and had nothing to do with IT.

 

[disappoint]

They'll be thinking twice about promoting security guards up to IT from now on I'll bet. Until they forget all about this incident in a few years and history repeats itself as it often does.

 

[Seriouz-Bizniz]

A degree will give you a chance to interview for a position that 2,000 other applicants want as well. That's it.

The rest is up to you. You need to sell yourself so you can stand above the other 2,000 applicants.

Well said. I feel as a degree is nothing more than a masking tool for human resources or a hiring manager to see that you have the ability to learn and the ability to complete tasks that you have started. A degree will definitely give you a better chance of getting your foot in the door, but clearly you have to be the differentiator from the other applicants.

As far as Mr. Snowden obtaining a $200,000 salary with little to no education? I would assume that he knew someone who is/was well-positioned. A $200,000 salary without a formal degree, no student loans, and little military experience? What a lucky man although, I am curious to what the hiring credentials were for the position he held.

 

[Imp]

They also taught us that you couldn't blow you way to the top and kissing ass wouldn't get you far.

 

[iamwiz82]

You are talking about a fairly high cost of living area and a contract position. It's really not a fair comparison. It's not really that sky high of a salary.

 

[master_shake_]

didn't a family member get him a job with the security contractor he worked for?

 

[Mai72]

You are talking about a fairly high cost of living area and a contract position. It's really not a fair comparison. It's not really that sky high of a salary.

I wonder if his housing was taken care of. Wasn't he doing work for the government?

 

[JEDIYoda]

I am honestly not sure how he got hired by the CIA originally. Originally he was just a lowly security guard and had nothing to do with IT.

of course you have links to back up your diatribe.....

 

[JBT]

120 on a security contract is nothing for that area. 200 would be pretty good though.