Almost following on from the last blog entry, I wish to speak a little about the futile exercise that is gaining a University Degree. Yes, most of you reading this will have, or will be gaining, a degree ranging from Firsts to Thirds, with many many 2nd class degrees in the middle. Does it mean anything though?
Do you know how many people last year applied to University last year? 635,000. With 480,000 actually getting a place. A figure which has increased by 10% this year. Are we in trouble? Yep, you bet your arse we are.
Let me put this in two ways. The first is painting a picture of, lets say a Journalist, when you come fresh faced from Uni. Provided you have done a three year course, you'd have been studying with people who will have made connections within the industry allowing them to move straight from University to the fancy work of a Journalist with no problem. However, was that their degree that got them there? Nope, it was their connections. The fact that they have a degree means squat, because they are known personally by an industry insider. Don't get me wrong, I adore the course I'm doing and it's invaluable, but in the long run I believe the connections we make to be much more valuable.
So, you don't have any connections. No problem. You gained a 2:1 in Journalism from a reputable University. You put that on your CV, making sure it takes price of place above your A-Levels, GCSE's and the part mentioning your summer experience doing aid work with the underprivileged kids of Rochdale, cleaning up their crack dens. Yeah, you're confident. When you get an interview though, you are mortally crushed, your soul shattered into a million pieces, because the interrogator barely even recognizes your degree, the thing you've slipped into conversation about 30 times. The reason behind this though, is simple. It's the job equivalent of hair. You wouldn't walk into a law firm and ask for a job on the basis that you have a pair of testicles. Although that might have worked once upon a time, all it does now is set you apart from half the other applicants, a sub-species of Man known as Woman.
So what's the second way of explaining it, I hear you asking. It's even easier. The job market is the Titanic. When you throw your CV out there, you're setting sail from Southampton, allocated to whatever class you are. First class, Upper Second Class, Lower Second class and Third Class. When an interview comes along, BAM, ICEBERG DEAD AHEAD! Now is sink or swim time, with your future perched pecariously upon what class you are. First class? Well done, you can pat yourself on the back and know you're headed to New York, you will be fine, your hard work paid for a seat in that lifeboat known as a job, and you shan't worry.
Second class, there isn't much separating you two, but lets face it, you're a deck apart and who can race up the stairs to the boats fastest? Thats right, Upper's take presedence.
Third class? Well, you managed to get her by the skin of your teeth and EVERYTHING is riding on this. Pity then, because you're going down with the ship, especially as 480,000 people are above you.
And therein lies the problem. Degrees mean nothing in most places, especially the ones with no value in the real world. Those of you with no REAL degree are the University equivalent of Tortoises. Cute, but screwed when you're on your back and helpless. Ironic, because most people doing those courses spend most of their time on the backs. I speak of course, of Sociology. Sorry for anyone doing it, but it's true.
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