Kids need college

[micksterlee]

I am 53 years old with a high school education and have 18 years of retail management experience.All my manangement years were spent with two retailers so I have not been bouncing around from company to company.My last position was general manager for a store that averaged 3 million in sales per year, with sales increasing each year that I was there.

To make a long story short, thanks to company cut backs I no longer have a job with this company. The problem is I am finding that all of the retailers I have visited so far looking for a new position don't even want to talk to someone without a college degree about upper management slots.The bigger problem is that I really can't afford to take a clerk position at $7.00 an hour and make ends meet. Lucky for me my wife has her own business and I have been able to work with her and help bring in a little more revenue but the biz is mortgage driven and who knows where that is headed.

I am not posting this as a feel sorry for me thing but just pointing out how important a college education can become. I have a 16 year old daughter who is headed for college in a couple of years and I stress the importance evry day.

 

[eliza61]

I totally agree. College graduates make 53% more over the life of the career than non college graduates (according to time magazine). At my company the entry level jobs require bare minumum of an associate degree.
My 17 year old H.S. Jr. is on a college tour this easter holiday sponsored by his H.S. They will hit 8 colleges in 4 states over the next week. Hook or crook they're going.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I'm sorry you are struggling with that.

You are right, a college diploma today is in many ways what a High School diploma used to be.

 

[tmarquez]

I agree with you 100% about kids need to go to college.

That being said, I know a guy that was in a position similar to yours. He is a pilot. He couldn't get hired by a "major" airline without a degree. So he got one from one of those universtities (sorry can't remember the name) wghere you basically pay them, write a few essays and claim your "life experience" as credits. He got his "degree" in no time and got his job very soon after with a major airline.

Nobody seems to care how you got your degree, or what it is in...just that you have one.

 

[pearlieq]

I tend to agree too. But some things about it always struck me as a little nuts.

I have a BA in psych, so I write database logic for a living. In college I took classes about renaissance art, the Bible, and squirrel counting.

I'm wondering what exactly I did at college that somehow made me a better employee than I would have been without going?

Was it just that I successfuly managed to learn and regurgitate information on several different topics? Because I sure don't remember a whole lot about squirrels now.

Was it that I was able to navigate the bureaucracy, jump through hoops, and complete the degree program? Because I think anyone who makes it through the DMV can also claim those skills.

I have never once been confronted with a problem or situation at work and has my first reaction be "Oh yeah! I know what to do. We covered this in class." Can anyone seriously imagine saying that in a meeting?

I don't dispute that a 4 year degree is pretty much essential to get in most professional jobs. But I really wonder what exactly the value is supoosed to be.

And I have the very strong suspicion that whatever it is could definitely be accomplished for much less money!

 

[micksterlee]

I too sometimes question the value of some college degrees.I had several assistant managers that I hired trained and some were promoted to other positions.Honestly several of those people didn't have much common sense and most of them had little work ethic.It seemed like a lot of the people fresh out of college had a feeling that they should start at the top and do as little as possible while on the job.Retail is not rocket science but there are aspects of the job that require more than"book smarts".

 

[rockyroad]

Yes, college is important.

I hope that something opens up for you soon.

 

[foltzy]

I'm a SAHM, until my kids go to school, at that time I'm going to go back to work, I am taking my college courses online while I'm being a SAHM because I know I will not get a good job without that degree.

I hope you can find something.

 

[KelNottAt]

I, too, believe a college degree is essential in today's world. The only exceptions (IMO) would be the skilled trades. A good, honest mechanic/plumber/mason/carpenter will always be in demand and can make excellent money.

It broke my heart a few years ago when my sister lamented DGM would be leaving inheritance to the great-grands in the form of a 529 plan. My sis was quite dismayed because, "DBIL and I never finished college and we turned out OK. I have no interest in pushing my kids to something that isn't totally necessary." (They're a Boston Market GM, and an insurance fraud investigator.)

Well, fortunately, DSis came to her senses. My niece will grad HS in June and is heading to college, with support and encouragement from her parents. Both her parents are now very grateful for that 529 account, too.

DGM is still alive and kickin', btw.

 

[Worfiedoodles]

College is important -- and depending on what you end up doing, you may use your degree.

My BA and MA are in history, and I do use them -- Analyzing and writing proposals are critical job functions, and without all those papers I wrote as an undergrad, and learning to discern patterns and trends, I would be lost.

Most people don't use their degree as directly as I do, but I bet they do use it even if they don't realize it is helping them formulate their thoughts, evaluate a situation, deal with people in authority, etc.

 

[loveabargin]

I absolutely agree with you that college is important. I quit with a year left (13 years ago) and have always regretted it. I have many years of sales and marketing experience, but have never been able to land a pharm. sales job (that I would love) because I don't have that degree. I've always complained that "I have so much more experience" and "why won't they even interview me?"...but the cold hard fact is, because I didn't finish that degree, it leads people (hiring managers) to think I cannot complete something, I don't have drive, etc.

My husband doesn't have a degree, but does make good money. Unfortunately, he doesn't see to value in the degree (maybe years of paying on my student loans have gotten to him)...but he doesn't want to push our children to go to college. He was never pushed, and had no desire for a higher education. I just don't want my kids to think there is any other option.

I absolutely think that college is an invaluable experience in life. I don't regret one bit of time or money I spent on it. I think it teaches you to question things and think. I, personally, see a clear difference in speaking to friends who have been to college and those who have not. I'm not saying it makes you a better person, but it makes you look at things in life differently. Not always a good thing, as I tend to overanalyze things at times (now, for one, right?)

 

[penn19]

I tend to agree too. But some things about it always struck me as a little nuts.

I have a BA in psych, so I write database logic for a living. In college I took classes about renaissance art, the Bible, and squirrel counting.

I'm wondering what exactly I did at college that somehow made me a better employee than I would have been without going?

Was it just that I successfuly managed to learn and regurgitate information on several different topics? Because I sure don't remember a whole lot about squirrels now.

Was it that I was able to navigate the bureaucracy, jump through hoops, and complete the degree program? Because I think anyone who makes it through the DMV can also claim those skills.

I have never once been confronted with a problem or situation at work and has my first reaction be "Oh yeah! I know what to do. We covered this in class." Can anyone seriously imagine saying that in a meeting?

I don't dispute that a 4 year degree is pretty much essential to get in most professional jobs. But I really wonder what exactly the value is supoosed to be.

And I have the very strong suspicion that whatever it is could definitely be accomplished for much less money!

I totally agree. I am a SAHM mom and everyday I think "why did I not go to college?" The only thing I have ever done is retail, and have been out of that for 8 years now. I know I am/was smart enough to go, but just didn't think it was something I could do. I missed so much by not going, and now I am stuck. 41, and no degree, so what can I do?
My husband (who of course graduated from college) said it just proves that you stuck it out for 4 years to get your degree, it doesn't mean you are any smarter.

 

[fkj2]

I agree attending college is important. Having said that, I tried to sign up with two temp agencies two summers ago. I had just finished caring for an elderly mom, and wanted to work at my convenience just for a few extra spending $$$.

I scored well on their evaluation "tests." One called me for a temp-to-hire job, which I clearly indicated during my original interview I wasn't interested in; the other, which had assured me they'd be calling me, I never heard from at all. I don't know if I was "over-qualified," or if my age was against me. I think that when someone hits late 40s, early 50s, that they're less employable.

 

[ticktock]

I agree with you 100% about kids need to go to college.

That being said, I know a guy that was in a position similar to yours. He is a pilot. He couldn't get hired by a "major" airline without a degree. So he got one from one of those universtities (sorry can't remember the name) wghere you basically pay them, write a few essays and claim your "life experience" as credits. He got his "degree" in no time and got his job very soon after with a major airline.

Nobody seems to care how you got your degree, or what it is in...just that you have one.

This is my problem with the whole "you NEED a college degree thing". Unless you are in a field that requires additional training that you can't get better on the job, like an engineer or a doctor,in other words the hard sciences, a college degree is just an expensive piece of paper.

To the OP, do you really think the people with degrees know any more about your field than you do after your years od experience? No. College is not actually neccesary for many of the positions that they want one for now. I wonder who decided everyone needed to spend lots of money on an education that is mostly usless in real life?

 

[jenm2878]

Both DH and I use our degrees every day. I'm a CPA and he's a software developer. That being said, I have a BIL that has a high school education and was working as an auto worker pulling in waaay more money then DH or I. He always scoffed/mocked DH and I for going to school, and he let his GI bill go to waste. A couple years ago he lost his job when auto plants started closing and was sincerely shocked that he couldn't make the same sort of money in another field. Guess who wants to go to school now?

 

[corndog]

This is my problem with the whole "you NEED a college degree thing". Unless you are in a field that requires additional training that you can't get better on the job, like an engineer or a doctor,in other words the hard sciences, a college degree is just an expensive piece of paper.

To the OP, do you really think the people with degrees know any more about your field than you do after your years od experience? No. College is not actually neccesary for many of the positions that they want one for now. I wonder who decided everyone needed to spend lots of money on an education that is mostly usless in real life?

Every job I've ever had --CPA, MBA, Attorney-- I could have done right out of high school.

As far as I'm concerned, the real value of college comes from time spent outside of the classroom, not within it. The importants parts of college are social maturation, social development, relationship development, self-awareness, etc. Books, shmooks. This is why I put no stock part-time, evening or web-based courses--those folks are missing out on the important, and most valuable, part of the experience.

 

[Mocharilla]

I agree. My grandpa had the same thing happen to him, where his company downsized. So, he lost his job and was actually told by the company "Well, if you had a college degree, we'd find you another job within the company."

 

[jacobsmom]

I think it's more about continuing educating yourself. There are good books that everyone should read that you will never read in college. "How to Win Friends and Influence People", "Why we want you to be Rich", "The Slight Edge" etc. It doesn't matter how much education you have--- right now most of the jobs going overseas are white collar jobs. If people want to protect themselves they need to build their own businesses instead of expecting a company or the government to take care of them. We have more friends who finished college, have huge debt and cannot get a job in the real world now yet they want a J.O.B. to protect them. Those days are long gone.

 

[Tigger2252]

While college is important, and usually required for many fields it is not for everyone. As one previous poster said, there are many important trades that require no college, just OJT or trade school. There was just a report the other night on the news about the lack of skilled tradesmen (steam fitters, pipe fitters, machinists, etc.) in U.S. companies. Unfortunately it seems that many young people are discouraged from training in a skilled trade. My father had to have a plumber come and change part of his faucet recently. After I saw the bill I told him if I had a son I would send him to plumbing school!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I totally agree and have had this conversation with my DS12 who says he doesn't want to go to college.

I've got a 2 year accounting degree from a vocational school and specialized in Advertising Accounting. When I went thru my first layoff (ad agencies routinely lay folks off when they lose big accounts), I had a very difficult time finding another job because I didn't have a 4 year degree despite my 8 years of experience and excellent references. Most people wouldn't even interview me.

I did get lucky and found another advertising accounting job and was able to network my way into several other jobs after layoffs but if I tried to get another one now it would be tough since I've been out of the work force for 4years and don't have a 4 year degree.

I tell every kid who will listen that it's really important for anyone to get a 4 year college degree.

Good luck to you. Hopefully, you'll find something soon.