Its official, 4 year degree needed even for file clerks, minimum wage jobs

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pcgeek11

Lifer
Jun 12, 2005
22,391
5,004
136
If you had your choice of candidates wouldn't you pick the ones with degrees over the ones without? Even if the job didn't require a degree. There are so many people unemployed or underemployed that it is easy to find people willing to work for less, even though they have a degree.

No, I would not. I have met more idiots with a "College Degree" than I care to remember.
 

IndyColtsFan

Lifer
Sep 22, 2007
33,655
688
126
I simply don't see it. Will it happen on the marketing/Media level? Yes!!!

In reality, no way in hell.

Anyone in the real world will tell you that 4 year degree means NOTHING. I'm on my 3rd career and over 15 years of professional experience (I have no degree) and these kids that are coming out of college are no different than high school graduates these days. I've hired/worked with many.

Heck, most companies look at your work experience LONG before they look at your college degree/school.

At the end of the day it will always be WHO the person is (how they present themselves, who they are, how they get along/fit in etc) AND their willingness to learn. That's something that no college can teach.

But yes, our society/banks and media's goals are to extract 4 years of college tuition from each and every member/family. Don't buy into that crap too much. If you want to do a certain trade and college is the way to get there, do it. Just keep in mind MANY trades don't require college.

Our government should really outlaw worthless degree programs....and stop handing out loans left and right to everyone and their mother (read: work for the banks).

The last two companies I've worked for have required 4 year degrees at a minimum and wouldn't even look at your résumé if you didn't have one or weren't working on one. I'd also say that 90% of the job postings I see require one as well.

Also, as others have stated, not all 4 year degrees are equal. You probably wouldn't hire a guy with no degree to design control systems; you'd hire a guy with an engineering degree in all likelihood. A BS in engineering is more rigorous than most Masters programs in other areas so it isn't fair to compare a lame, fluff 4-year degree in Women's Studies or Sociology to an engineering or science degree.
 
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Texashiker

Lifer
Dec 18, 2010
18,811
198
106
The last two companies I've worked for have required 4 year degrees at a minimum and wouldn't even look at your résumé if you didn't have one or weren't working on one. I'd also say that 90% of the job postings I see require one as well.

A buddy of mine got a 2 year degree after we finished high school in 1986.

And now, he is having to compete against kids out of college with a 4 year degree. Even though he has 20+ years programming experience, the jobs will barely consider him because he does not have a 4 year degree.

Lately I have been considering going back into the welding field. Instead of welding I thought about getting a welding inspector certification. After all, with 15 year experience it should not be that difficult. Some of the jobs out there want a masters degree in metallurgy and/or masters degree in welding for a welding inspector job. The experience requirement was only something like 3 years.

I have met 1 person with a masters degree in welding technology. Even engineers working for chemical plants usually only have a 2 year degree in welding, then a 4 year degree in a related engineering field.

There has to be a line where the degree is not worth the time or money. A 4 year degree for a file clerk? Things are getting rather silly.
 

sourceninja

Diamond Member
Mar 8, 2005
8,805
65
91
A lot of times people see the degree requirement on a job (or any skill really) and that drives them away from applying. I don't have a 4 year degree yet I have not had any trouble getting job offers and interviews.

Every job I've ever had, and my current job listed 4 year degree as a minimum requirement.
 

Vdubchaos

Lifer
Nov 11, 2009
10,408
10
0
A lot of times people see the degree requirement on a job (or any skill really) and that drives them away from applying. I don't have a 4 year degree yet I have not had any trouble getting job offers and interviews.

Every job I've ever had, and my current job listed 4 year degree as a minimum requirement.

That's correct, I apply for those jobs as well.

My on job experience is worth more than a 4 year degree. Apparently many companies that hired me agreed.
 

mnewsham

Lifer
Oct 2, 2010
14,539
428
136
Okay, I am job hunting on craigslist right now and this is getting retarded

High volume ice cream store seeks part time manager for nights and weekends.
College degree required. Apply with resume.
 

Saint Nick

Lifer
Jan 21, 2005
17,722
6
81
Haha thanks, as a 19 year old who can't afford school I am working on it.

Just got a call for an interview tomorrow afternoon, so yay...
You should be able to qualify for Pell Grants or at least government subsidized loans?
 

OverVolt

Lifer
Aug 31, 2002
14,278
89
91
network like a mother fucker.

Your ability to network is often related to your PARENTS class, and doesn't have much to do with how suave you think you are, or whatever it is you think networking comes from.

Like when my parents had money, I was friends with kids who also had money, whose parents turned out to be engineers at Intel, or directors at hospitals and shit like that. Now that my parents don't have money I end up as friends with a royal farms cashier etc. Luckily I still have the old friends too. But its like night and day the people you can hang around depending on your family's class.
 

Ns1

No Lifer
Jun 17, 2001
55,420
1,600
126
Haha thanks, as a 19 year old who can't afford school I am working on it.

Just got a call for an interview tomorrow afternoon, so yay...

jesus christ how do 19 year old kids without jobs afford such nice rigs.
 

mnewsham

Lifer
Oct 2, 2010
14,539
428
136
jesus christ how do 19 year old kids without jobs afford such nice rigs.

I have had a job since the day I turned 14 (had the job lined up). So I have 5 years+ work experience as a cashier which is how I afford my nice shit, but I haven't been buying as much nice stuff since I got out of highschool :p
 

OutHouse

Lifer
Jun 5, 2000
36,410
616
126
To be honest, for a legal file clerk I don't see the issue here. A 2 or 4 year degree - just shows that this person took the time to invest in themselves and should therefore be more trustworthy to entrust tasks to than some schmuck that doesn't give a shit about their future.

Wtf, a piece of paper automatically makes a person trustworthy?
 

CountZero

Golden Member
Jul 10, 2001
1,796
36
86
Wtf, a piece of paper automatically makes a person trustworthy?

That's been true for a long time. It used to be a high school diploma but in the age of "everyone is special" a high school diploma is not worth much as it really just proves you probably showed up at least 80% of the time. As helicopter parents that insist their kid is super special invade college campuses in larger numbers a bachelors is going to become increasingly meaningless.

I find it kind of funny they want career minded people, what is the upside from file clerk? Unless you have a desire to go to law school and want to experience life in a firm I don't know what a career minded person does as a file clerk.
 

Aikouka

Lifer
Nov 27, 2001
30,383
912
126
To be honest, for a legal file clerk I don't see the issue here. A 2 or 4 year degree - just shows that this person took the time to invest in themselves and should therefore be more trustworthy to entrust tasks to than some schmuck that doesn't give a shit about their future.

Or they went to college to party and managed to pass some random classes such as underwater basket weaving. :p
 

sze5003

Lifer
Aug 18, 2012
14,320
683
126
This is one.of the reasons I wont get my masters. I'm working in a good job but paying off undergrad loans. Learning a lot more working than I would in a class. Even if my company does reimburse me then taxes the shit out of that reimbursement.