I have a client who had a bunch of 30 year+ guys retire. Very old school, several of them Vietnam vets. The got promoted up to the specialist positions.
The client thought it would be an opportunity to upgade, so they recruited from a college very well known for producing degree holders (“engineers”) in this field.
Very bright young people. Eager.
Problem was they didn’t know how to do the field work or what they were looking at. One still there out of 7. And he’s not doing well.
If you don’t start out the bottom, there’s no depth.
Everybody wants to be famous. Nobody wants to do the work.
One employer said in the survey: “The talent shortage will just get worse because high schools and colleges produce no talent.”
I disagree with this guy I think. It is certainly not the purview of high schools to “produce talent” for industry. They can’t. Teach reading and math.
As for colleges? I don’t think it’s there either. There can be a bit more specialization, but not “produce talent.”
Employers aren’t training their employees anymore. Where are the apprenticeship programs? Continuing education (done correctly)?
“I don’t have time to train them!”
You don’t have time not to.
And then they let them walk over a dollar an hour.
My oldest daughter enlisted in our beloved Army not because I did but she wanted to serve and go to college. Mission accomplished.
A cousin enlisted in the ( eesh) Air Force, served as a flight nurse with 3 nursing degrees after years as a reservist retired as an O3 with pension and benefits.
Another cousin enlisted into the USMC, served in GW 1, was a reservist went to engineering school and works for the DOD for development of equipment. She worked on the MRAP and Oshkosh M-ATV vehicles.
Oldest son enlisted at 17, Benning, injured in jump school, crewed on a Bradley, served in a NG Light infantry unit, went to school, now a successful businessman.
Youngest daughter worked her way through two undergrad and an MFA degree.
Todays youth? They’re lost and ■■■■■■■ lazy pieces of chewed bubblegum.
Well, it looks businesses are recognizing that much of what is “learned” in universities adds little to nothing of value to the productivity of the worker and are rightly devaluing college degrees:
I wonder, which degrees are worth their while in higher education? Is there an elimination formula? Which professional degrees are not worth pursuing? Who decides?
That change is especially true for the Tech Industry, which has dealt with talent shortages for years. These companies are responding to the problem by eliminating the four-year bachelor’s degree requirement in medium or high-skilled positions.
My point is this. If you wish to pursue an advanced degree it is on you to decide. Never expect a job. Whether it is “worthwhile” is a personal decision.
If all one wishes to do is to procure knowledge for one self with no concern of future employment, then it’s much more cost effective to use the plethora of free online resources, wouldn’t you agree?
I did not say that an advanced degree might not lead to a job. If you’re interested in studying field geology, there’s little substitute for training by an expert. Moreover, if one is does well at university, it opens up professional opportunities in other fields.
When I entered graduate school in 1974 I received a letter from the university that my degree could not guarantee me a job. My experience ultimately helped me to find a job in a different field. University is what you make of it.
The type of degree is much more significant today than it was in the 1970’s. Furthermore, the cost of that piece of paper has gone up exponentially since then.
