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Do you have a good job because of your university education

168 replies

zippitippitoes · 28/10/2005 14:00

like the government says people do?

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MissChief · 28/10/2005 14:03

guess so, but I graduated in prior to mass-expansion of uni education. I question the validity of some courses now widely available -
usual culprits, media studies etc - and quality of tuition from some of the newer unis. IMO now far less meaningful to be a graduate than 10 yrs ago.

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HerRoyalLovlinessMaloryTowers · 28/10/2005 14:03

This reply has been deleted

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HerRoyalLovlinessMaloryTowers · 28/10/2005 14:06

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FangAche · 28/10/2005 14:06

Nope!
Graduated with a degree in Marine Biology in July 1998.... here's my work history since:

At graduation I worked in an Art Gallery and Framers as a Framing Advisor. £3.81 per hour.

1999-2000 Data Inputter at an Energy firm Agency job £5.20 per hour

2000-2001 Technical Clerk, Chemical Plant. (basically admin), Agency job £8p/h

2001-2003 Technical Clerk... worked up to Assistant Planner.

Now a Planning Analyst for a major bank!!

NOWT to do with my degree!!!!!

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paolosgirl · 28/10/2005 14:07

Both DH have good jobs because of our degrees (well, his his better than mine!). A good degree gets you higher up the ladder in certain secotrs, and obviously there are some jobs you just can't do without them, but I personally think there is too much emphasis on "getting a degree", when there is just as much call (if not more) for plumbers etc. I think also some of the weird and wonderful degrees have degraded the overall value of them to an extent.

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Enid · 28/10/2005 14:07

so why arent you a marine biologist? I would think that was a proper cool job

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HerRoyalLovlinessMaloryTowers · 28/10/2005 14:07

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paolosgirl · 28/10/2005 14:09

Although they didn't help my spelling - as you can see, LOL!!

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zippitippitoes · 28/10/2005 14:10

I think it depends when i have an English degree amonst other and PGCE and after my probation there were no teaching jobs

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FangAche · 28/10/2005 14:11

Enid - I couldn't afford to do a Masters which is what is really needed to go on to be a Marine Biologist as a career. Bad decision on my part!

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fruitful · 28/10/2005 14:13

Ooh yes. Met my husband at uni, now I'm a mum.

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compo · 28/10/2005 14:13

yes. Did an English degree first which wasn't very helpful but then did a professional diploma after that which has landed me a good job. Without that I wouldn't have a good job

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compo · 28/10/2005 14:14

I know people who have worked themselves up in my profession but it has taken them 20 years to do so. But because i had the qualifications I went straight to the near top

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RottenRhubarbWitch · 28/10/2005 14:14

No.

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popmum · 28/10/2005 14:15

my hubby has an excellent job despite his degree - he got a 3rd but in the 80s this was ok to get on to grad accountancy training with a bank and has done really well. These days he would be laughed out of the interview (in fact would not even be considered) i think for these schemes with that class degree.
I did well with mine - my employers would only consider peoplewith degrees although the desgree subject made no difference

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Gomez · 28/10/2005 14:17

Yeah both me and DH have done well from Uni - but both have maths degrees so they open lots of doors and people think you are way brighter than you really are (Is true for me anyway, DH actually is clever I think I just talk a good game)

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FangAche · 28/10/2005 14:18

I heard 2 girls talking on the train yesterday. They obviously had attended the same school, but hadn't seen each other for a couple of years. One was in her 3rd year doing Law (she said it SOOOOOOO loudly just so everyone heard).... the other one was doing......



........wait for it.....



a degree in......



Community Arts WTF???? Is that like Graffiti and stuff?

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Lucyfercat · 28/10/2005 14:18

The people that I went to school with and left at 16, got on the property ladder earlier so have teeny mortgages and big houses, they seem to have REALLy flexible working hours i.e 9.30 to 2.45ish (to go and pick kids up!)and they don't seem to that much less than I did when I was a teacher! It seems to be what you do AFTER uni that is important rather than the degree aspect, some of my Uni friends went into finance etc and earn fortunes, having said that my Uni days were fab, met my dh and I wouldn't swap the experiences I had there for the world.

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Lucyfercat · 28/10/2005 14:19

earn much less that I did!! see I wasn't 'allowed' to do typing at school

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Marina · 28/10/2005 14:20

Yes. Am using both subjects of my degree on a daily basis and enjoy my work greatly (academic librarian). I think I am very fortunate to have stumbled on this line of work 20 years ago as it is hugely underrated in terms of perceived job satisfaction. Can be very family-friendly as so much of the workforce is female. Pay = not stunning, but not miserably low either.

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compo · 28/10/2005 14:20

For FangAche:
"What is "Community Arts " ?

The Community Arts course is the only degree in Scotland which offers a grounding in arts forms and arts management, with the opportunity to specialise in music, art, dance or drama in work with young people and adults, with a bias towards those discriminated against by society.

Placement experience in Years 1, 2 and 3 is an important feature of the course. Industry placements allow students to gain practical experience of arts delivery across a range of arts activities. Students can then relate Faculty-based learning to practice in the field. Placement agencies include local authorities, outreach arts workers, community drama and dance companies, the arts in hospitals, the arts in prisons, disability groups, community artists and art galleries with community links. The length of placement is increased in each year of the course and there is some choice in Year 3."
Be wary of dismissing things you probably don't know much about!!!

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3PRINCESSES · 28/10/2005 14:25

No, but have an English degree, so as everyone says, what did I expect?

If things are still the way they are now, I won't be encouraging my dd's to go to university. Academic degrees don't equip you for anything specific, and vocational ones (or Mickey Mouse ones as dh calls them) equip you for something specific that you no longer want to do five minutes after you graduate.

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FangAche · 28/10/2005 14:25

I seeee compo! Why only Scotland?

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compo · 28/10/2005 14:27

that was just one example. Tbere are loads of courses all over the UK

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homemama · 28/10/2005 14:30

I couldn't do my job without it, but not necessary for half the population!
Instead of the government pushing for 50% graduates by 2010 (or something like that) they should be bringing back trades for kids that want and alternative but equally rewarding career. We've just had builders in and he told me he knew a female plumber in N. London who averages £1200 per week. Time for a career change, I think!

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