Bollocks.
For many jobs you won't get past the first round of job agency monkeys because your CV doesn't fit the employers' minimum requirement that the applicant is degree qualified. The 'recrutment consultant' doesn't give a fuck if you're experienced, computer says no. They'll probably have plenty of applicants with a degree AND experience anyway in which case you're fucked.

On a similar note, there's a couple of guys I work with who have 15+ years experience in our industry but no degree. I have a couple of years of relevant experience and a BSc. Myself and the other younger guys with degrees are getting paid more than the guys with much more experience than us for the same job. Its unfair and wrong IMO, but that's company policy. When we recruit now, you only get in with a degree as a minimum.

Older guys with experience will have worked their way up into management (like my immediate team leader) over the last 20-odd years and obviously experience is everything once you've had a couple of jobs.

However, now you need a degree to get in at ground level, what chance does someone in their teens or early twenties have to prove themselves without a degree? Slim to none in many industries, when universities are churning out graduates by the thousand.
(The man with the flan swashed his buckle on, Sun 14 Nov 2010, 21:59, 1 reply)

White-collar agencies weren't interested in whether or not I had a degree, the fact was I had almost no experience and so I couldn't even register with them.
And when it came to industrial work, the 4-5 year gap in my work history counted very much against me. You can argue to the contrary as much as you like, but that's what happened.
( The Mock TurtIe ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Sun 14 Nov 2010, 23:15, closed)

So how is a kid straight out of school with no experience any better?
They're not. Or are you seriously telling me that industrial employers will take on a 16 year old with GCSEs and no experience over a 21 year old with a degree and no experience for a technical position?

Everyone suffers the 'no experience' problem when they enter work, but having a relevant degree can hold the doors open to get that when that's all employers have to go on.

All the jobs I've ever had have had or been interviewed for have a minimum BSc. requirement, whether it was really needed or not. That situation is increasingly common for many positions where 20 years ago you'd get in with A-levels.
(The man with the flan swashed his buckle on, Mon 15 Nov 2010, 7:09, closed)

Technical positions just didn't exist for the most part, I was going for actual obtainable jobs that would pay the bills.
And in those situations, an over-educated 22 year old with nearly no experience is usually on a par with an untried school-leaver with absolutely no experience.

Even when technical positions did exist, graduate-employers couldn't have been less interested if they'd tried. I asked for feedback every time and never once got an acknowledgment, so I've still no idea what I was doing wrong.
( The Mock TurtIe ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 0:36, closed)