Poll of the Day > It's not true what they say about all but STEM degrees being useless

(+) Yeah! (+)

I have a STEM degree, and it's useless too

We're quickly approaching the point where a university degree is simply the new high school diploma... Albeit a very expensive diploma.

The trades are an obvious exception to this, but even companies looking for a secretary these days often want to see some post secondary schooling. Or at the very least, they'll gloss over those that don't have some in favour of those who do (assuming the one who doesn't have a degree also doesn't have much relevant experience).
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Dynalo posted...

The trades are an obvious exception to this, but even companies looking for a secretary these days often want to see some post secondary schooling. Or at the very least, they'll gloss over those that don't have some in favour of those who do (assuming the one who doesn't have a degree also doesn't have much relevant experience).

In my experience work experience counts a lot more for administrative positions than education unless it's a kind that needs special training (medical records, paralegal, etc.)

This prevailing wisdom that STEM is the only worthwhile education path has led to a glut of degree holders, devaluing the degrees for everyone involved
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Doctor Foxx posted...

In my experience work experience counts a lot more for administrative positions than education unless it's a kind that needs special training (medical records, paralegal, etc.)

It's why I put the caveat there. Work experience will always trump generic education. But the problem is, a lot of companies are being given a choice of an 18 year old, no experience, high school diploma and a 22 year old, no experience, bachelor's degree, and willing to work for the same salary. Should you put that 22 year old against a 20 year old with no degree and 2 years of experience... Well, the 20 year old is probably getting the job, all other things considered equal.

So it's getting to the point that you need a random degree in anything just to compete with others who are applying for positions that don't need a degree and don't really benefit from having a degree, as getting the required experience without a degree is getting increasingly difficult.
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ooh NY Times has been doing a related series of articles on this:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/01/education/edlife/stem-jobs-industry-careers.html
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work for yourself, and your boss will never tell you that you are under-qualified.
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Troll_Police_ posted...

work for yourself, and your boss will never tell you that you are under-qualified.

unless your boss is depressed and has self-esteem issues
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the h1b1 visas are more then enough to fill the empty spaces available

that's like 10/6 every year and each year it gets bigger and bigger

also when they say "computer jobs"
half of those are free lance lol
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RCtheWSBC posted...

unless your boss is depressed and has self-esteem issues

...which mostly come from my inability to get a decent job, so maybe being my own boss is the answer. Except I have no idea what I would produce, and it takes a significant amount of risk and investment to make it work, the kind of risk I wouldn't want to take unless I was already gainfully and happily employed.

I've always felt like I'm just one more job away from making it over the hump (both career-wise and confidence/self-esteem-wise), but that's proven to be so elusive that I'll never get there :/

Which stem degree did you get? Because some of those are less useful as well but really only if you didn't start preparing yourself for careers before you graduatrd. Internships and such are important.

I agree on the bachelors basically being a HS diploma now. However, in the workforce employers value experience above anything else. Unless you go work for a college or something, then they value that diploma above anything else.