College degree or not

[Steve Pope]

The question is, what does it take to get a job in today's
market? When there are hundreds of resumes per opening, the
first most important factor is who you know, second runner up
are "resume hot spots" (like degrees.) Skill doesn't comes in
handy until the interview/testing stage.

The good news is that there are not hundreds of resumes per
opening in today job market. The market is reasonably healthy
right now.

But you're right; during (one of) the recession(s) we'd place
job ads in the San Jose Mercury News and get literally hundreds
of resumes per opening. Those without college degrees from
known good colleges/universities in the field were ditched.
Those who changed schools or majors or who were not on a steady
career path were ditched. Those who had worked with a group we
were familiar with (and could therefore obtain references that
meant anything to us) were the ones selected for interview.

Steve

 

[Phlip]

But you're right; during (one of) the recession(s) we'd place
job ads in the San Jose Mercury News and get literally hundreds
of resumes per opening. Those without college degrees from
known good colleges/universities in the field were ditched.
Those who changed schools or majors or who were not on a steady
career path were ditched. Those who had worked with a group we
were familiar with (and could therefore obtain references that
meant anything to us) were the ones selected for interview.

Translation: I want anyone else (a school, another team) to tell me what I
can't figure out for myself, if someone's any good.

 

[Greg Comeau]

There are some online universities that seem to offer exactly that, so
that someone fairly knowledgeable could walk in and out with a degree
in a week or two. I really don't think that's preferable to either
going to a real school for a real degree or getting real
certifications.

So it's like a college GED?

 

[Steve Pope]

Steve Pope wrote:

Translation: I want anyone else (a school, another team) to tell
me what I can't figure out for myself, if someone's any good.

I take exception to your exact wording, but I'll cotton to some
of the underlying thinking. If I can get a reference on an applicant
from someone I *already know*, that counts more than ten random
references.

On the other hand, I've hired people without checking references,
and knowing nothing of their prior associates, and had it worked
out fantastically -- just on strength of interview. The gotcha
is in a slow job market, such applicants may not have made it through
the stack to the interview.

Steve

 

[Christopher Benson-Manica]

I don't know of any. There are non-accredited "universities" that will
give you degrees for "life experience", but you're just buying a piece
of paper.

Actualy online universities require you to go through the classwork,
but doing it remotely.

Western Governors' University, http://www.wgu.edu, claims to be
completely competency-based - you can take the classes if you want to,
but if you can ace all the exams you can get a bachelor's degree in a
rather short time. Again, I wouldn't recommend this approach to (m)any
people, but the school is "regionally accredited" and the degree you get
would seem not to be totally worthless - if only because part of the
coursework involves getting your certs.

 

[Christopher Benson-Manica]

So it's like a college GED?

Certainly in some cases it's no better, but see my reply to Brian.

 

[Default User]

Western Governors' University, http://www.wgu.edu, claims to be
completely competency-based - you can take the classes if you want to,
but if you can ace all the exams you can get a bachelor's degree in a
rather short time. Again, I wouldn't recommend this approach to
(m)any people, but the school is "regionally accredited" and the
degree you get would seem not to be totally worthless - if only
because part of the coursework involves getting your certs.

Hmmm, their accreditation doesn't look too bad.

http://www.wgu.edu/about_WGU/accreditation.asp


That might be a viable choice.




Brian