10-01-2009, 09:10 PM
(This post was last modified: 10-01-2009, 09:27 PM by Basket Weaver.)
Barcotta & Gary,
Great responses and I agree with you both on most points. Having a degree is better than not having one at all, that's a given, it's just not a guarantee towards more pay which was the gist of my post. I am currently pursuing a new job and I can tell you this irrefutable truth; employers are taking full advantage of the nation's very poor economy. As Gary stated in his post, there are all kind of jobs at the federal level that require a doctorate just for a GS-11 position. My current state has a whopping 7 jobs requiring a Masters degree...that's the entire state mind you...one of which is for a social worker. Additionally, this position requires the job applicant to be state certified...the punchline is that it starts off at $15.00 an hour; I'm sure that will make someone elated to have spent all that time pursuing their degree. Check out the link:
https://www.arjoblink.arkansas.gov/ada/s...and=109915
I agree as well with the degree opening the door (getting one in the dance, good analogy) by filling the initial requirement. I feel as though the problem is that many employers are simply not paying what was once the going rate for a degree. With a flooded labor pool of educated applicants to choose from, the degree requirement has been watered down to the point that it is almost a given that you have one. You probably won't get paid much more for it yet you'll be required to have one regardless. This is the reason that I posted to be sure and research exactly what degree you are pursuing, what you are going to use it for, and most importantly; is it even needed.
As far as the MBA goes, I think it is something that will help you if you are already in a career field where it will give you a step up. Not many jobs make it an initial requirement other than medical/professional fields. How many here are pursuing these types of bachelors degrees? Without a bachelor degree in these fields it is often difficult to be accepted into a graduate program without repeating a good portion of you undergraduate degree. Again, an excellent reason to research first.
As to the Excelsior diploma, I will not mount mine in a professional environment, actually its still in the folder it came in. I think its tacky, ill conceived and provides fodder for critics of distance education. There are several posts on IC already about this, one of which I started, so I won't go into another rant about the kindergarten gold seal they slap on . I've had training courses put out better looking diplomas. Sorry, but that's how I feel about it.
Great responses and I agree with you both on most points. Having a degree is better than not having one at all, that's a given, it's just not a guarantee towards more pay which was the gist of my post. I am currently pursuing a new job and I can tell you this irrefutable truth; employers are taking full advantage of the nation's very poor economy. As Gary stated in his post, there are all kind of jobs at the federal level that require a doctorate just for a GS-11 position. My current state has a whopping 7 jobs requiring a Masters degree...that's the entire state mind you...one of which is for a social worker. Additionally, this position requires the job applicant to be state certified...the punchline is that it starts off at $15.00 an hour; I'm sure that will make someone elated to have spent all that time pursuing their degree. Check out the link:
https://www.arjoblink.arkansas.gov/ada/s...and=109915
I agree as well with the degree opening the door (getting one in the dance, good analogy) by filling the initial requirement. I feel as though the problem is that many employers are simply not paying what was once the going rate for a degree. With a flooded labor pool of educated applicants to choose from, the degree requirement has been watered down to the point that it is almost a given that you have one. You probably won't get paid much more for it yet you'll be required to have one regardless. This is the reason that I posted to be sure and research exactly what degree you are pursuing, what you are going to use it for, and most importantly; is it even needed.
As far as the MBA goes, I think it is something that will help you if you are already in a career field where it will give you a step up. Not many jobs make it an initial requirement other than medical/professional fields. How many here are pursuing these types of bachelors degrees? Without a bachelor degree in these fields it is often difficult to be accepted into a graduate program without repeating a good portion of you undergraduate degree. Again, an excellent reason to research first.
As to the Excelsior diploma, I will not mount mine in a professional environment, actually its still in the folder it came in. I think its tacky, ill conceived and provides fodder for critics of distance education. There are several posts on IC already about this, one of which I started, so I won't go into another rant about the kindergarten gold seal they slap on . I've had training courses put out better looking diplomas. Sorry, but that's how I feel about it.
[SIZE="2"]Associates Degree, Aviation Maintenance Technology, Community College of the Air Force[/SIZE]
[SIZE="2"]Bachelors of Science, Liberal Studies Degree, Excelsior [/SIZE]
[SIZE="2"]MBA Human Resource Management, California Coast University[/SIZE]
[SIZE="2"]Bachelors of Science, Liberal Studies Degree, Excelsior [/SIZE]
[SIZE="2"]MBA Human Resource Management, California Coast University[/SIZE]