American college grads are unemployable??

[Darthvader]

What are your thoughts?


http://www.informationweek.com/blog/...OSKH0CJUNN2JVN

[Super T]

My thoughts are, my company has a shartload of work in the Middle East - including India - b/c they don't trust their own engineers or contractors to be able to design something of quality or actually build to the design. The clients basically told us that they're incompetent. It doesn't get any more "real-world" than that. I don't know that most US students really want to spend $100,000 on an education so that they can go work at the Dell help desk...

[lafrad]

I think so.

After going to school and interacting with the students there... College wasn't about increasing your mind, getting a carrer, improving life as we know it. It was about: I want the piece of paper so I can go be the boss of my friends that didn't go to school. that way I can afford a medium house and a boat to go "up north".

In a country where graduating with *any* level of college degree usually nets you a job that you can live above the poverty line... there is little inspiration for people to really push themselves to "get ahead". Only those that have an internal drive will excel. being a "College grad" then means nothing if you are looking for "someone exceptional"

[JJS]

I think so.

After going to school and interacting with the students there... College wasn't about increasing your mind, getting a carrer, improving life as we know it. It was about: I want the piece of paper so I can go be the boss of my friends that didn't go to school. that way I can afford a medium house and a boat to go "up north".

In a country where graduating with *any* level of college degree usually nets you a job that you can live above the poverty line... there is little inspiration for people to really push themselves to "get ahead". Only those that have an internal drive will excel. being a "College grad" then means nothing if you are looking for "someone exceptional"

True. A few decades ago, getting more than a high school diploma actually meant something...as time has progressed, a college degree has become the high school diploma of today with advanced degrees necessary to stand out (and even some of those have gotten mundane).

[Darthvader]

I do think there are far too few Americans graduating in the area of science,math and applied engineering to name a few. There seems to be to many BA,Lawyers,communications and bean counters.

[EmagdniM]

If my college wasnt already paid for I wouldnt even be bothering with it. Im getting ready to finally start classes right now, but honestly I do better than most of my friends who already have a degree and all I have for experience is high school/military. It doesnt help that most American companies outsouce overseas so they can pay lower wages and increase profits to pay executive bonuses that are ridiculous, but until our govt. restricts them from doing so it wont change. Add that to people not taking college serious and taking crap classes and getting crap degrees in generic fields and you see them all working worse jobs than someone who didnt even bother to take the college loans. Funny thing is they all bitch about it thinking that just because they have college they are owed something.

[Darthvader]

Oh so true!

If my college wasnt already paid for I wouldnt even be bothering with it. Im getting ready to finally start classes right now, but honestly I do better than most of my friends who already have a degree and all I have for experience is high school/military. It doesnt help that most American companies outsouce overseas so they can pay lower wages and increase profits to pay executive bonuses that are ridiculous, but until our govt. restricts them from doing so it wont change. Add that to people not taking college serious and taking crap classes and getting crap degrees in generic fields and you see them all working worse jobs than someone who didnt even bother to take the college loans. Funny thing is they all bitch about it thinking that just because they have college they are owed something.

[Hemi31]

The world needs ditch diggers too

[grinner]

College else where is all about education. Here, college is where young people go to find out who they are. Both of these are fine but who would you rather hire?
In my industry, college is in no way required. Many young artists and filmmakers don't see this and they believe a job is owed to them upon graduation. They'll boast a degree as if that means something then get mad when the guy with the better reel is hired.
I'm glad I went but I in no way think it was a requirement for what I wanted to do. It was fun.

[NYCSRTATE]

I think so.

After going to school and interacting with the students there... College wasn't about increasing your mind, getting a carrer, improving life as we know it. It was about: I want the piece of paper so I can go be the boss of my friends that didn't go to school. that way I can afford a medium house and a boat to go "up north".

In a country where graduating with *any* level of college degree usually nets you a job that you can live above the poverty line... there is little inspiration for people to really push themselves to "get ahead". Only those that have an internal drive will excel. being a "College grad" then means nothing if you are looking for "someone exceptional"

Well said, get a college degree and make $35k a year. Garbage men make more and most of them dont even have a high school diploma.

[Hemi31]

Well said, get a college degree and make $35k a year. Garbage men make more and most of them dont even have a high school diploma.

Would you ride on the back of a NYC garbage truck in the middle of Summer for less than $50k a year?

[grinner]

I think we all would, depending on circumstances.

[NYCSRTATE]

Would you ride on the back
of a NYC garbage truck in the middle of Summer for less than $50k a year?

If I told you what some of the guys I know make throwing garbage you would freak out, I tell you I would swim in the back of that garbage truck.

[Hemi31]

If I told you what some of the guys I know make throwing garbage I tell you ide swim in the back of that truck.

I know what they make....I grew up down there remember.But I bet you wouldn't unless you were paid well....hell,I can't even drive behind some of them.

[bklynmag]

I have to agree strongly with the article on some points. I was in public accounting for ten years and am still in the industry albeit on the private side now where there is a high turnover ratio so we are always hiring/training new people. It is a consistent feeling among many that as each generation of college grads comes through, there is a growing sentiment of entitlement among them where they expect to work on the best clients, the best projects, the least overtime, and be up for promotions in no time flat. Now obviously there are always exceptions and this doesn't describe many grads who are willing to put in the effort but it is a real problem.

I can't count how many times I have had, "discussions" with new hires explaining to them what was expected and that it is not ok to walk out the door at 5:01 PM when your colleagues and supervisors are there till much later. That it is not ok to walk into a meeting without a pen and pad to take notes, that you need to take ownership of your work, etc. . . . .

Now on the flip side . . we had a group of new hires from India come to our offices to train. They were always in early, always asking well thought questions (meaning they listened to me when I explained things the first time), helping each other learn, always asking if they could help and overall progressing much faster than the average in house worker. . .and that was despite the language barrier they were up against.

Our education system needs a swift kick in the a$$ if we are going to continue to compete globally.
That article was dead on in that grads need to be prepared for the real world when they get out there and be grateful for opportunities they are given.