Job Opportunity: BA, BS required

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I used to joke- back when I first moved to Alexandria (that’s about a quarter century ago)- that jobs were getting scarce because companies were demanding college degrees for no good reason.  It was making folks go to college just to get a subsistence job, which is why so many poorly qualified or even unqualified people, were demanding the right to enter colleges.

Of course, my associates just considered this to be the ranting of an academic.  One who had to deal with students in his classes that could not determine the tax on a garment they were purchasing from a store (back when the sales tax was a straight 5%), couldn’t divide a gross of pens equally among 9 lab partners.    But, were sitting in a class room where the course matter was chemistry, anatomy, or microbiology. Well, this was not funny.  Not then- and not now.

Here in Alexandria, we have a school that has failed to meet standards for a decade.  In spite of everything that has been thrown at it.  So, now the Commonwealth of Virginia is threatening to take over the school. (Sorry, Michigan, you are not the only authority that attempts takeovers.)   I don’t have an opinion on this specific matter- other than to register my fright at the conditions of the students who’ve endured this school for the past decade or so.

But, the real issue remains.  The college degree is now being demanded for jobs that have no such requirement, in principle.  But, given the unemployment rates, the shortages of jobs- it’s the new reality.  Employers (read companies) believe that those who went to college are more career-oriented; that they are looking for real opportunities.  This is the inflation that is ravaging America- “degree inflation”. That’s correct.

Tell me why a delivery person, who brings divorce filings from the office to the courthouse, from your office to another lawyer’s, needs to have a college degree.  Really? We are not talking about a law clerk, who may eventually graduate from law school and pass the bar.  We’re talking about a courier.

But, it’s not just law firms that manifest such behavior.  We are talking about dental hygienists, clerks, cashiers, cargo agents.  Don’t believe me? Go look at the two pages (if there are even that many) of the classifieds in your local paper.  Check out Craigslist.

This may explain why the unemployment rate for those who lack a college degree is so high.  Nationally, it’s about 8.1%- versus 3.7% for college graduates.  Oh, I know that some jobs are tougher to obtain, more demanding now- but, still!

When Bicarbolyte Transportation, Inc. was around, it was managed by a crusty, crafty fellow.  Oh, Don Larsen had to deal with eggheads like me who brought computer algorithms, toll analysis, diesel fuel consumption, and delivery scheduling to the table.  But, he understood the nuts and bolts of the trucks, of the drivers, and of the needs of the customers.  We didn’t need a college-educated logistics specialist.  We needed him.  And, he was wise enough to take my counsel (or not, on several occasions) to get the job done- well.

But, given the buyer’s market for employers, it’s understandable that these conditions can exist.  Where employers can judge someone who never went to college as without ambition, without capabilities.  As opposed to the fact that their families need money- or, because, they get turned on by making computer/smartphone games- and there’s no real educational programs that would teach one how to do that better, after obtaining a  college education.  (Kind of like the kid who has fantastic skills and ability as a basketball player- does college help him make more money?  Or does it leave someone, like Nerlens Noel, with the possibility of a mortal injury that ruins his chances for that lucrative NBA career for life.)

Tell me what a degree in women’s studies, fashion design, or Indian philosophy does to make you a better clerk at KMart?

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32 thoughts on “Job Opportunity: BA, BS required”

  1. There are many in college that area attending because local government pays them to attend, they do not study, they don’t have any idea what a belt is so their pants only come up to their knees and they learn just enough to go on getting those checks. The hollowed halls have disappeared and that is sad. But then, I spent all my life as a professional Chef and now the hamburger flipper at Micky D’s is a Chef, and there are no more garbage collectors, there are a lot of Sanitation Engineers. And the local Jr. College (if they are still called that) offers a course in Housekeeping 101, that is 18 months long and teaches those interested, how to fold cloths. Everything is getting watered down.

    1. I love that comment about the belt, Chef William!
      Those junior colleges are now called “community”, but, yes, I noticed some of their offerings, as well.
      Maybe the Federal Reserve will try to control this “inflation”, as well.

  2. I worked for a company that had a similar mentality about 10 years ago. The idea was, any degree would do. So, they had people running departments in a manufacturing facility who had degrees in English lit or other completely unrelated fields. Meanwhile, there were guys on the shop floor that had been in the industry over 20 years and were far more qualified to run that department, but they did not have piece of paper to hang on their wall (or thousands of dollars in debt that go along with that paper). Some jobs require it. I would not want a Doctor who never went to med school. But, lets be real. I don’t need a drywall installer with a PHD either. Great post Roy.

    1. That mentality always amazes me, Bill.
      We had a moderate sized medical production facility; our plant managers did have degrees (in chemistry, mechanical engineering, or chemical engineering). But, that was because the FDA looked askance, if that were not the case. But, our Vice-President of Quality had a two year degree, with vast experience. (Yes, the FDA was not thrilled, but in the executive offices, there were plenty of academic heavyweights that would argue his case.) Our warehouse managers had no degrees- with degreed folks working for them. Our truck drivers were college educated (BA), ex-state troopers (AA degree), and seven that never went beyond 11th or 12th grades. But, they managed to not only deliver, but to keep the customers satisfied (part of their job descriptions).

  3. I read somewhere that the trade industry is hurting for workers because everyone thinks they have to go to college. Skills like welding, plumbing, and such are in great demand. I believe these skill can be learned in trade schools, not four year colleges. Especially now with the inflation of college tuition, employers should really be looking at the skill set their employees need, rather than their college careers.

  4. Look, I am commenting. Clearing Firefox cookies worked. And even with my college degree it took me a long time to figure this out. I guess that’s why I get paid the big bucks.

    1. OK. I’m rolling on the floor laughing- literally, right now.
      It’s amazing how that little piece of paper taught you all about Firefox and it’s idiosyncrasies… when Firefox didn’t even exist when that parchment was signed!

  5. I so agree Roy! Its something my husband preached to our kids. Our oldest is a computer genius went to college long enough for an associates degree started working for a company and had to quit school because he didn’t have time for it. He makes a very nice living and never plans on going back to school. My daughter got a degree in Biology and works in a doctors office but does their paperwork.

    1. I’m with your husband.
      Don’t get me wrong- I’m an intellectual snob. But, that does not mean i need to see someone’s pedigree. It means that I need to see/hear their ability to be informed, knowledgeable, and creative with the issues.

  6. My husband has encountered this problem when he looks at “computer tech” kind of job posts. He has an associate degree that he recently earned for Computer Tech-IT Help Desk, just so he would have a “college degree” to go with all of his practical experience. Yet because he doesn’t have the bachelor degree, nobody is interested…yet, anyway!

    1. K’Lee..
      That is so bizarre! I don’t get it either. I thought the plan was to get the most qualified folks in the positions available; a BS degree is no assurance that they are more equipped to handle the IT help desk…

  7. I believe that there are areas geographically where you probably couldn’t get a job at Burger King without a degree (or maybe there are college grads who can’t get a “real job” that are working at BK). But I feel that a good vocational schooling and learning a skill is the way to go around here. A ton of college debt and no guaranteed job at the end of that seems pretty scary. We are in great need of skilled welders, mechanics, nurses aids, etc. Those who have the desire can take a skill and become a business owner. Sure some business management and accounting would help but common sense doesn’t seem to be taught along with these classes anyway….

    1. I agree, Alessa…
      Not only the examples you mentioned- but some hospitals are refusing to hire LPN’s with state licenses and years of experience- and special certifications, because they don’t have that baccalaureate. Plenty of other examples exist, too.
      So, how DO we stop the practice?

  8. My husband had the mentality that degrees were good better best. Personally, I think some old school apprenticeships would be fairly awesome in a return to the value of having a skill, a real skill, and not a paper that says you paid a lot of money. Now, not of course for things like doctors that are going to operate on my heart, but most def many other things. Some people coming out of college really scare the pants off me with their lack of reasoning and sense. And the degrees they get O_O wow…just…wow…Great post Roy!

    1. I am also an intellectual snob, Lisa…But, that does not mean that I demand all positions be filled with those who have earned PhD’s, SM’s, MS’, and the like. Yes, I want my physician to be well trained- but I want the person to whom I entrust my vehicle’s repair to be capable of insuring that I am not driving a death trap!

  9. My son, who is in his 20’s, chose not to go to college. He loves to work with his hands and never had patience for academics. He is going to have an uphill battle in life, I fear, due to his decision – and why should it have to be that way? There was no vocational track for him to take in higher education. Why are hard working young people like him not valued?

    1. Alana:
      I fear all our children- whether they are skilled in a craft, earned a PhD, computer mavens, and the like- will all have a difficult time in the future.
      Our government (and, we the voters) have allowed corporations to demand full loyalty with no return of the favor; where workers are not valued, and where demands that were once deemed illegal are the norm.

  10. It is a difficult subject. I suppose that it depends which degree you have. Science/maths/economy grads seem to find jobs reasonably easily. The problem is more for the ‘other’ degrees. There is, in fact, a proportion of students that shouldn’t have gone to university but chose an ‘easier’ degree. In doing so, the whole system loses credibility…

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