Who here has a diploma?

[Adam]

Okay, so I start my new job Monday, and part of this, I get to do a diploma in Business Analysis. It will take a while as there are a few components to the course, but should be worth it. I am hoping from here, to move on to better things. I have never really thought that university degrees or higher education really was worth it, but now, I think this could be quite good as it is specific to my field of work. Has anyone else done a diploma? If you have what in, and what work do you do now? Did it help getting a job? Thanks

[Goldney]

Nice typo. I don't have a diploma yet, but I do plan on becoming a doctor, so in my opinion University and Further Education is certainly worth it. More and more people are going to university nowadays so all the "good" jobs will be taken by them over someone who doesn't have a degree.

[Adam]

ha-ha Fixed! A doctor! A hospital doctor or GP?

[Mes Tarrant]

It must be different in England... but in the states you can hardly get anywhere worthwhile without a university degree. Just finishing my bachelors in economics!

[Adam]

Nice typo. I don't have a diploma yet, but I do plan on becoming a doctor, so in my opinion University and Further Education is certainly worth it. More and more people are going to university nowadays so all the "good" jobs will be taken by them over someone who doesn't have a degree. What would you class as a good job though? There are plenty of people in my company that move up, and get jobs with their experience ahead of those with a degree.. I mean a degree doesn't really prove common sense, replace valuable industry knowledge or give you the edge over someone who is already moving up internally within a company.... Unless of course it is a specific degree to that job. We had a girl come into our team, who thought she was great because she just got her degree, and she lasted about a month or two before she quit because she couldn't do the job, she just didn't have the right mentality... I know so many people who went to university just to get a degree, and now they are all doing half ass jobs and struggling to fight above all the other people who have industry knowledge and qualifications.

[Umbrasquall]

I mean a degree doesn't really prove common sense, replace valuable industry knowledge or give you the edge over someone who is already moving up internally within a company.... In many cases in the working world, you get paid for what you know, not for what you can do. If you don't have a certain diploma, it doesn't mean anything in companies that require one in order for you to get a promotion. There are exceptions of course, but that's the general rule. It must be different in England... but in the states you can hardly get anywhere worthwhile without a university degree. Just finishing my bachelors in economics! Hey I'm majoring in econ too!

[Adam]

In many cases in the working world, you get paid for what you know, not for what you can do. If you don't have a certain diploma, it doesn't mean anything in companies that require one in order for you to get a promotion. There are exceptions of course, but that's the general rule. Maybe in the US.... But certainly here in England, in my experience at least its what you can do that's important... It's pretty dumb to employ someone for what they know, rather than what they can do IMO. Although usually this should come hand in hand. Example, I have been at my company for 7 years now, working with Mortgages, Investments, Pensions, Life Assurance, General insurance, pretty much anything to do with money. I have passed my Financial Planning qualifications and Project Management qualifications, so I know a lot about my company, the industry and the internal workings of the company products and systems. You telling me if you was a manager at my company you would hire someone external with no practical knowledge, no experience, but a piece of paper saying he has a degree over someone without one, but 7 years experience? Yes I think in some circumstances a degree is important, if you are going to be a doctor, and accountant or something specialised, but there are so many more opportunities in very good, well paying jobs which just don't require you to have this, if you have the experience. A friend of mine went out to India to train some people there, for his company, and they are all graduates, and he said not one of them had an ounce of common sense, or general application of knowledge, because they know theoretically how things should be done, but applying the theory in a practical environment was something outside their capacity. Anyway that being said, I am doing a diploma now, 7 years later than my friends, lets hope it is worth it lol. Just out of interest Umbrasquall what did you want to do with your degree when you graduate? Do you have an industry or ideal career path in mind? A few of my friends didn't when choosing their degrees and now cannot really apply them, do you know what you want to do yet? (another reason I didn't do a degree when I finished college was because I didn't know what I wanted to do)

[KuRoSaKi]

Yeah I got my High School Diploma Huzzah! Yeah like Mes said if you don't go to a college or university in the states then you pretty much can't get a good job anywhere. In Janauary I am going college for Graphics Design, and Astronomy. Should be pretty fun. Looks like you can get by in Europe without one though I guess. Or at least in the Great Britian area?

[Mes Tarrant]

Hey I'm majoring in econ too! Woot! How do you like it? Most people seem to try to avoid it like the plague but it's been quite a good fit for moi. Hey Brandon! Heat! Astronomy is awesome!! It's not easy though. But yeah, really cool stuff.

[Adam]

Yeah I got my High School Diploma Huzzah! Yeah like Mes said if you don't go to a college or university in the states then you pretty much can't get a good job anywhere. In Janauary I am going college for Graphics Design, and Astronomy. Should be pretty fun. Looks like you can get by in Europe without one though I guess. Or at least in the Great Britian area? Aggghhhh... Best get my diploma then, if I am to get a decent job over there!!! Astronomy sounds like a good course to take, I was a right geek when I was at school was into my astronomy, computers, maths etc...

[Goldney]

What would you class as a good job though? There are plenty of people in my company that move up, and get jobs with their experience ahead of those with a degree.. I mean a degree doesn't really prove common sense, replace valuable industry knowledge or give you the edge over someone who is already moving up internally within a company.... Unless of course it is a specific degree to that job. We had a girl come into our team, who thought she was great because she just got her degree, and she lasted about a month or two before she quit because she couldn't do the job, she just didn't have the right mentality... I know so many people who went to university just to get a degree, and now they are all doing half ass jobs and struggling to fight above all the other people who have industry knowledge and qualifications. I don't know exactly what I mean by a "good" job. Maybe one you enjoy/good pay just generally a good job; one that is ideally suited to you. However, I don't think there's any point going to university for the sake of going to university. Unless you have a clear-cut idea of what you want to do career-wise (eg. me-doctor) then I can't see how it would help you. You may get a degree in one thing and then go in a completely different direction as a job. I'm definitely going to med-school because I don't know any other way to become a doctor. Dr. Goldney. It's got a nice ring to it, no?

[Umbrasquall]

Ah, I'm not sure what it is like elsewhere. Other than Asia and the US. I also thought you had just graduated from college for some reason. If you have a lot of experience that's definitely a plus to getting hired. I'm majoring in econ because it gives me a wide choice of what I can do after college, because I don't really know yet. I could go to grad school, law school, get a MBA, or find a job somewhere. I actually am not crazy about econ, Mes. I'm was actually considering majoring in Astronomy too at one time. But I wasn't sure if I wanted to do that for a living, in the end I just took some Astronomy classes as a hobby. They ended up being really interesting.

[nina]

lol @ diploma I have a DEGREE in Science in Digital Design. Some places care about degrees, some places care about experience. Just depends.

[kichu]

Some places care about degrees, some places care about experience. Just depends. Exactly. And not being a complete moron, being articulate and being charming go a long way too.

[Adrenaline Junkie]

Hmmm, you see, this is what puts me off University, there are so many people going now that they take all the good jobs when the leave which then means that lots of people are left without jobs when they leave Uni due to the competition. I really don't know if i should go to University, the student Fees would be way high when i go i think it was either £8000 or £18000 in student fee's, i'd be screwed. I realy don't know about this Dr Goldney, can i make you my GP? The one i got at the moment thinks that the solution to everything is ibuprofen!

[Adam]

lol @ diploma What's funny? It's the same thing, it's a document issued by an educational institution, such as a university, testifying that the recipient has earned a degree or has successfully completed a particular course of study. Unless it's uncool to say diploma?

[ClouD]

I'm trying to get as many diplomas as i can... Then i can die greater than everyone else. Yay to me.

[nina]

What's funny? It's the same thing, it's a document issued by an educational institution, such as a university, testifying that the recipient has earned a degree or has successfully completed a particular course of study. Unless it's uncool to say diploma? Wow...easy now lol. I just never hear anyone say "diploma" so I found it funny. No need to get all defensive.

[Mes Tarrant]

It must just be a bit of a linguistic difference. In the states, when we wear our graduation robes and hats and all and walk down the stage, we get a rolled up piece of paper called a diploma which we can then hang on our wall or something. Then later when you are talking about your university experiences or being interviewed or whatever, you say, "I got my degree..." or "I got a degree in XYZ..."

[Adam]

Wow...easy now lol. I just never hear anyone say "diploma" so I found it funny. No need to get all defensive. Sorry I thought I was saying something wrong lol

[meggyfayephotography]

In about seven weeks I will have my Associate of Science in Professional Photography

[bro]

It certainly is good to get as many qualifications as you can, in my opinion as we now live in very competitive times. It seems like now a 4 year college degree is a MUST for any hope at a 5 figure income...anything less than that, at least where I live, where everyones got everything together and iis zooming along, means flipping burgers or pumping gas...it's a shame, but true. Continued education is a must.

[Mes Tarrant]

It certainly is good to get as many qualifications as you can, in my opinion as we now live in very competitive times. It seems like now a 4 year college degree is a MUST for any hope at a 5 figure income...anything less than that, at least where I live, where everyones got everything together and iis zooming along, means flipping burgers or pumping gas...it's a shame, but true. Continued education is a must. Agreed. Unfortunately. I'm even feeling VERY pressured to go to grad school. I feel like a bachelor's isn't enough. Which sucks.

[Michael]

I have a hustla's diploma. Wat else is needed? Srry... alcohol... Need to go to college though

[Amethyst Star]

Agreed. Unfortunately. I'm even feeling VERY pressured to go to grad school. I feel like a bachelor's isn't enough. Which sucks. If there was one thing my parents could do to annoy me during this last year of college, it was to bring up grad school. I had/have no desire to continue going to school right now. My goal now is to get rid of my student loans as quickly as possible... and figure out what I really want to do with my life Anyway, I just graduated from university in May.