A degree holder but no marketable skills
By scheng1
@scheng1 (24649)
Singapore
January 8, 2016 8:03am CST
I pity some parents who use all their savings to send the children to universities for further study.
They are happy when the children graduate with top honors.
However, there is a difference between marketable skills, and a paper qualification.
A degree holder with no marketable skills will find it hard to get a job.
A degree course does not teach marketable skills, because it focuses on theories, and assumptions.
That means you learn about all the theories about how things work, but you do not get hands-on experience to do it.
It is better to get marketable skills than to get a paper qualification.
3 people like this
4 responses
@Mbalie (316)
• South Africa
8 Jan 16
In South Africa its better to have a qualification because big companies and the government offer paid Graduate Programs after you complete your degree. These are normally 1 year contracts and the companies offer permanent employment for top achievers during the programs.
There are also paid learnership programs where one can get marketable skills. Its always better here to have a qualification if you want to move up the corporate ladder. Some higher paid positions require a degree as requirement for entry.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
8 Jan 16
Two of my children have university degrees. They both participated in co-op programs. They took a year longer to earn their degrees, but came out at the end with lees debt, and marketable experience.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
8 Jan 16
That is why I always think a hands on trade will be better to find work. Just a thought about it.
