90% of the jobs do not require a degree....
Right this thread is in chat because its meant to be a casual chat thread only. trollings are tolerated.
I was having a conversation with my manager and she said "Actually 90% of the jobs do not require a degree". Most graduates can be trained on the job and nothing they learn from university will ever be used in their field.
Exception for few profession that requires accreditation like lawyers, doctors, engineers, biochemist etc etc ( quite obviously)
If that is the case, what is the point of going to uni then?? why would employers put out ads with "2:1 and above" on "normal" jobs.
I was having a conversation with my manager and she said "Actually 90% of the jobs do not require a degree". Most graduates can be trained on the job and nothing they learn from university will ever be used in their field.
Exception for few profession that requires accreditation like lawyers, doctors, engineers, biochemist etc etc ( quite obviously)
If that is the case, what is the point of going to uni then?? why would employers put out ads with "2:1 and above" on "normal" jobs.
Scroll to see replies
Original post by HucktheForde
If that is the case, what is the point of going to uni then?? why would employers put out ads with "2:1 and above" on "normal" jobs.
If that is the case, what is the point of going to uni then?? why would employers put out ads with "2:1 and above" on "normal" jobs.
It's to narrow down the very, very, very large pool of applicants.
Original post by HucktheForde
If that is the case, what is the point of going to uni then?? why would employers put out ads with "2:1 and above" on "normal" jobs.
Because they can.
Your boss is right, there's no need for a degree in the overwhelming majority of jobs.
And now, if a job doesn't say you need a degree, it suddenly appears as though it's for simpletons. They feel like they have to put that requirement down to justify the salary.
Original post by HucktheForde
Right this thread is in chat because its meant to be a casual chat thread only. trollings are tolerated.
I was having a conversation with my manager and she said "Actually 90% of the jobs do not require a degree". Most graduates can be trained on the job and nothing they learn from university will ever be used in their field.
Exception for few profession that requires accreditation like lawyers, doctors, engineers, biochemist etc etc ( quite obviously)
If that is the case, what is the point of going to uni then?? why would employers put out ads with "2:1 and above" on "normal" jobs.
I was having a conversation with my manager and she said "Actually 90% of the jobs do not require a degree". Most graduates can be trained on the job and nothing they learn from university will ever be used in their field.
Exception for few profession that requires accreditation like lawyers, doctors, engineers, biochemist etc etc ( quite obviously)
If that is the case, what is the point of going to uni then?? why would employers put out ads with "2:1 and above" on "normal" jobs.
maybe to see who'd more qualified to do the job?
Original post by HucktheForde
Right this thread is in chat because its meant to be a casual chat thread only. trollings are tolerated.
I was having a conversation with my manager and she said "Actually 90% of the jobs do not require a degree". Most graduates can be trained on the job and nothing they learn from university will ever be used in their field.
Exception for few profession that requires accreditation like lawyers, doctors, engineers, biochemist etc etc ( quite obviously)
If that is the case, what is the point of going to uni then?? why would employers put out ads with "2:1 and above" on "normal" jobs.
I was having a conversation with my manager and she said "Actually 90% of the jobs do not require a degree". Most graduates can be trained on the job and nothing they learn from university will ever be used in their field.
Exception for few profession that requires accreditation like lawyers, doctors, engineers, biochemist etc etc ( quite obviously)
If that is the case, what is the point of going to uni then?? why would employers put out ads with "2:1 and above" on "normal" jobs.
1. For elite services companies (i-banks, consulting firms, law firms etc), the name brand of their employees' alma maters is often used to 'sell' the firm.
2. Some jobs (including the above firms) require a modicum of intelligence that companies use degrees (usually from top unis) to signal for. They want people smart enough to drink from a firehouse of information, disseminate it and then apply what they've learnt - which, is kind of what you do in most degrees. These are what we dub as 'transferable' skills and qualities.
3. As others have said, the 2:1 filter trims down the applicant pool significantly. Some, even go as far as to use UCAS points gained whilst at sixth form to even further trim things down.
4. It's basically the 'modus operandi' of sorts nowadays to hop into uni, then go job hunting. A very large contingent of the population has degrees already so it would seem slightly odd not to have one. In comparison to the mid - late 20th century where only c.10% of students went on to higher education and working straight away was never taboo.
There are a few other reasons, but the above come to mind for me at least.
Original post by HucktheForde
Right this thread is in chat because its meant to be a casual chat thread only. trollings are tolerated.
I was having a conversation with my manager and she said "Actually 90% of the jobs do not require a degree". Most graduates can be trained on the job and nothing they learn from university will ever be used in their field.
Exception for few profession that requires accreditation like lawyers, doctors, engineers, biochemist etc etc ( quite obviously)
If that is the case, what is the point of going to uni then?? why would employers put out ads with "2:1 and above" on "normal" jobs.
I was having a conversation with my manager and she said "Actually 90% of the jobs do not require a degree". Most graduates can be trained on the job and nothing they learn from university will ever be used in their field.
Exception for few profession that requires accreditation like lawyers, doctors, engineers, biochemist etc etc ( quite obviously)
If that is the case, what is the point of going to uni then?? why would employers put out ads with "2:1 and above" on "normal" jobs.
Not true in the slightest. Many high-salaried jobs these days require a Masters, which often teaches you things that you cannot just 'learn on the job'. Can't get a Masters without an undergraduate degree.
Original post by HucktheForde
Right this thread is in chat because its meant to be a casual chat thread only. trollings are tolerated.
I was having a conversation with my manager and she said "Actually 90% of the jobs do not require a degree". Most graduates can be trained on the job and nothing they learn from university will ever be used in their field.
Exception for few profession that requires accreditation like lawyers, doctors, engineers, biochemist etc etc ( quite obviously)
If that is the case, what is the point of going to uni then?? why would employers put out ads with "2:1 and above" on "normal" jobs.
I was having a conversation with my manager and she said "Actually 90% of the jobs do not require a degree". Most graduates can be trained on the job and nothing they learn from university will ever be used in their field.
Exception for few profession that requires accreditation like lawyers, doctors, engineers, biochemist etc etc ( quite obviously)
If that is the case, what is the point of going to uni then?? why would employers put out ads with "2:1 and above" on "normal" jobs.
A few answers to this based on the economics of education literature:
(Disclaimer: I do not agree with any of these points completely but believe that together they provide a reasonably solid answer)
1. Signalling: by getting a 2:1 you signal to employers that you're perhaps harder working or more intelligent than others. This is useful for employers because they can use their time more wisely only interviewing supposedly higher ability individuals (and waste less time with lower ability individuals).
2. Brand Image: many top firms (e.g. McKinsey, BCG, Goldman Sachs) have built their reputation on the image of having the most intelligent employees who can deliver the best results. For a firm, being able to say "all of our employees are from Oxbridge, or all of our employees are graduates who've scored at least a 2:1" indicates to the firm's clients that they are in safe hands, they should trust the company because of their intelligent staff and basically pay the firm **** loads of money!
3. Network: going to university, you meet loads of other super talented individuals.
(Harvard for instance has seen 52 billionaires study at their University. That's not to suggest that Harvard "made" them billionaires btw)
Anyway, point is, as a student at Harvard (or any good Uni) you meet lots of super talented people, these people become part of your network (you can use them for contacts, favours and advice).
For a firm, it's very useful to have graduates like this who know other graduates because they can exploit their networks to make use of their contacts, favours and advice to promote the firm's growth and find new opportunities/relationships.
4. Going to Uni does make you a more rounded person. You develop lots of new ways of thinking, learn to socialise with a diversity of personalities and become more independent in how you organise your studies and social life. (Even if this is true, I personally believe there are much better ways to learn these skills like travelling around the world or starting a business but yeah, Uni can also help)
5. You actually enjoy your subject. I love economics, seriously I think it's fascinating... so I'm studying it at Uni. This is the best reason to go uni! (But unfortunately the least common reason in my experience)
6. The obvious one. There are genuinely some practical skills (data analysis, practice of medicine, lawyer-y stuff, engineering shiz) that is actually valuable to a job and therefore justification for firms to go after candidates who have degrees in these subject fields.
Let me know what you think^
(edited 8 years ago)
Original post by Copperknickers
Not true in the slightest. Many high-salaried jobs these days require a Masters, which often teaches you things that you cannot just 'learn on the job'. Can't get a Masters without an undergraduate degree.
Do they, though?
They might ask for them, but do they really need them? If you can't learn something on the job or from other experiences then I'd really question the value of what it is you're learning.
Original post by thinkecon
A few answers to this based on the economics of education literature:
(Disclaimer: I do not agree with any of these points completely but believe that together they provide a reasonably solid answer)
1. Signalling: by getting a 2:1 you signal to employers that you're perhaps harder working or more intelligent than others. This is useful for employers because they can use their time more wisely only interviewing supposedly higher ability individuals (and waste less time with lower ability individuals).
2. Brand Image: many top firms (e.g. McKinsey, BCG, Goldman Sachs) have built their reputation on the image of having the most intelligent employees who can deliver the best results. For a firm, being able to say "all of our employees are from Oxbridge, or all of our employees are graduates who've scored at least a 2:1" indicates to the firm's clients that they are in safe hands, they should trust the company because of their intelligent staff and basically pay the firm **** loads of money!
3. Network: going to university, you meet loads of other super talented individuals.
(Harvard for instance has seen 52 billionaires study at their University. That's not to suggest that Harvard "made" them billionaires btw)
Anyway, point is, as a student at Harvard (or any good Uni) you meet lots of super talented people, these people become part of your network (you can use them for contacts, favours and advice).
For a firm, it's very useful to have graduates like this who know other graduates because they can exploit their networks to make use of their contacts, favours and advice to promote the firm's growth and find new opportunities/relationships.
4. Going to Uni does make you a more rounded person. You develop lots of new ways of thinking, learn to socialise with a diversity of personalities and become more independent in how you organise your studies and social life. (Even if this is true, I personally believe there are much better ways to learn these skills like travelling around the world or starting a business but yeah, Uni can also help)
5. You actually enjoy your subject. I love economics, seriously I think it's fascinating... so I'm studying it at Uni. This is the best reason to go uni! (But unfortunately the least common reason in my experience)
6. The obvious one. There are genuinely some practical skills (data analysis, practice of medicine, lawyer-y stuff, engineering shiz) that is actually valuable to a job and therefore justification for firms to go after candidates who have degrees in these subject fields.
Let me know what you think^
(Disclaimer: I do not agree with any of these points completely but believe that together they provide a reasonably solid answer)
1. Signalling: by getting a 2:1 you signal to employers that you're perhaps harder working or more intelligent than others. This is useful for employers because they can use their time more wisely only interviewing supposedly higher ability individuals (and waste less time with lower ability individuals).
2. Brand Image: many top firms (e.g. McKinsey, BCG, Goldman Sachs) have built their reputation on the image of having the most intelligent employees who can deliver the best results. For a firm, being able to say "all of our employees are from Oxbridge, or all of our employees are graduates who've scored at least a 2:1" indicates to the firm's clients that they are in safe hands, they should trust the company because of their intelligent staff and basically pay the firm **** loads of money!
3. Network: going to university, you meet loads of other super talented individuals.
(Harvard for instance has seen 52 billionaires study at their University. That's not to suggest that Harvard "made" them billionaires btw)
Anyway, point is, as a student at Harvard (or any good Uni) you meet lots of super talented people, these people become part of your network (you can use them for contacts, favours and advice).
For a firm, it's very useful to have graduates like this who know other graduates because they can exploit their networks to make use of their contacts, favours and advice to promote the firm's growth and find new opportunities/relationships.
4. Going to Uni does make you a more rounded person. You develop lots of new ways of thinking, learn to socialise with a diversity of personalities and become more independent in how you organise your studies and social life. (Even if this is true, I personally believe there are much better ways to learn these skills like travelling around the world or starting a business but yeah, Uni can also help)
5. You actually enjoy your subject. I love economics, seriously I think it's fascinating... so I'm studying it at Uni. This is the best reason to go uni! (But unfortunately the least common reason in my experience)
6. The obvious one. There are genuinely some practical skills (data analysis, practice of medicine, lawyer-y stuff, engineering shiz) that is actually valuable to a job and therefore justification for firms to go after candidates who have degrees in these subject fields.
Let me know what you think^
Those are all reasons why it's helpful to go to uni - something nobody would disagree with - but none of them are reasons why you need to go to uni.
Original post by Drewski
Those are all reasons why it's helpful to go to uni - something nobody would disagree with - but none of them are reasons why you need to go to uni.
Sure totally agree. There's no reason you really need to go to Uni, I was just explaining why employers ask for 2:1s, there are lots of very practical reasons behind it.
But I can easily think of a much better use of three years that could still help employers filter through applications, benefit from student networks etc. (unfortunately I'm just an apolitical mortal).
Original post by HucktheForde
Exception for few profession that requires accreditation like lawyers, doctors, engineers, biochemist etc etc ( quite obviously)
There are a lot of lawyers without law degrees, the accreditation comes later.
A degree, particularly one where the field has little real world application still shows that the applicant can apply him/herself for 3-4 years and is able to learn. Hell even engineering/mathematics/economics degrees can be interchangable for some jobs as it shows that the applicant has a grasp of numbers and will be able to pick up the methods used in the workplace even though the degree itself is somewhat specialised.
Original post by CAElite
A degree, particularly one where the field has little real world application still shows that the applicant can apply him/herself for 3-4 years and is able to learn. Hell even engineering/mathematics/economics degrees can be interchangable for some jobs as it shows that the applicant has a grasp of numbers and will be able to pick up the methods used in the workplace even though the degree itself is somewhat specialised.
But again, that's not a reason why a degree is required, that's just justification why one is nice to have.
I mean you'd hope maths degrees have carry-over to jobs other than "mathematician."
Original post by HucktheForde
trollings are tolerated.
huehuehue
I like this OP
Original post by SmashConcept
I mean you'd hope maths degrees have carry-over to jobs other than "mathematician."
Tbh they don't have direct carry-over to much else. Obviously the analytical kind of skills you develop are useful in a range of professions, but maybe 0.5% of people actually use the maths they learnt in their degree
Original post by StrangeBanana
Tbh they don't have direct carry-over to much else. Obviously the analytical kind of skills you develop are useful in a range of professions, but maybe 0.5% of people actually use the maths they learnt in their degree
Well yeah, that's the point of the OP, which I agree with. Not many degrees have direct carry over to many jobs, and even then the majority of graduates of those degrees probably don't end up doing those jobs.
My degree (Geophysics) is a niche subject and pretty much every module I've taken from second year onwards is a module that is totally relevant to employment (theory and practical based knowledge e.g. how to operate equipment used in industry) and without intimate knowledge of the topics you would struggle to be successful in your workplace. I guess this falls in the 10% category.
In hindsight my uni journey was more about learning how to be independent and learning how to talk to real life people. I was a social recluse back when I was in school (and obviously unemployable with that sort of characteristic) Now I'm passing interviews, internships and networking with people from all sorts of backgrounds with relative ease. UoE honed me well I suppose. I'm grateful 
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