Why you should try to avoid shopping at Amazon

[Wozza]

 

[kevo]

I'm not sure it's quite as clear cut as you suggest, and I think that dismissing the history/politics types in this way is not only a bit patronising, but might mean that employers are missing out on real talent.

I speak from experience. Most of the people I recruit, for highly technical professional consulting roles are educated to Masters level or higher (about half have doctorates). What we're looking for, however, is not the detailed specialist knowledge of the technologies they'll be working with (we will train them in that), but rather very high level analytical skills and the ability to apply those skills. If they have those abilities, they'll be fine. My experience suggests that the subject matter of the degree/masters/PhD doesn't always correlate with this ability. So we've got some people who've come through an arts or social science or humanities route at university who are just as good as those who've come through a maths, science, engineering route: it's the ability to think, analyse and learn that's important. The only caveat I would make to this, is that it does seem to be the case that quantitative/mathematical ability IS fairly important -- so, for example, if they've come through the arts etc route, I would still normally expect them to have done well at GCSE/O Level or indeed A level maths. The kinds of people who say they really "struggle with numbers" tend also to struggle with kinds of analytical skills we're looking for.

Can you give me a job?

 

[soistes]

Can you give me a job?

Nah... just had a quick look at some of your posts. Some would give me some worries about your analytical skills, judgement, and ability to weigh the evidence. e.g. I see you're part of the knee-jerk "Conway is s**t" brigade. From where I was sitting on Saturday (and on every previous occasion I've seen him play), I've thought that on balance his contribution was positive.
Sorry about that.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I'm not sure it's quite as clear cut as you suggest, and I think that dismissing the history/politics types in this way is not only a bit patronising, but might mean that employers are missing out on real talent.

I speak from experience. Most of the people I recruit, for highly technical professional consulting roles are educated to Masters level or higher (about half have doctorates). What we're looking for, however, is not the detailed specialist knowledge of the technologies they'll be working with (we will train them in that), but rather very high level analytical skills and the ability to apply those skills. If they have those abilities, they'll be fine. My experience suggests that the subject matter of the degree/masters/PhD doesn't always correlate with this ability. So we've got some people who've come through an arts or social science or humanities route at university who are just as good as those who've come through a maths, science, engineering route: it's the ability to think, analyse and learn that's important. The only caveat I would make to this, is that it does seem to be the case that quantitative/mathematical ability IS fairly important -- so, for example, if they've come through the arts etc route, I would still normally expect them to have done well at GCSE/O Level or indeed A level maths. The kinds of people who say they really "struggle with numbers" tend also to struggle with kinds of analytical skills we're looking for.

Good points which I support. The field I work in you would expect most people to have a mathematical background but I am quite amazed at some of the seemingly incompatible degrees people have. A degree shows certain talent and skill sets; talent and skill sets which are usually transferable. Jakata's attitude seems very narrow-minded and stuck in the past which is the last thing you need in my industry.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Oh, Social Anthropology - why didn't you say so in the first place?

That trumps having good knowledge of Chemistry, Physics, Biology and Mathematics, let alone any of the specifics such as Toxicology, Mechanics and Statistics, all of which as you say may not be relevant in the future.

I do apologise and I'll offer that lady with the History and Politics degree a job immediately, I'm sure she will find it a breeze.

Chemistry, Physics, Biology and Toxicology are of no direct use to me and my work. Shall I dismiss these just like you are dismissing subjects which do not apply to your particular field?

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Please don't tell the University I do part time lecturing for, I'm sure it would be grounds for dismissal.....

Which uni do you lecture at out of interest?

 

[The Antikythera Mechanism]

Indeed. Does an 80 hour week benefit the family? Financially, probably. Socially? Hard to imagine.

We sometimes win Contracts that require 24/7 working. Recently we had 8 guys (4 on 12 hour days and 4 on 12 hour nights) working in Newcastle for 3 months, so 84 hours a week. However we pay 16 hours for a dayshift and 24 hours for a nightshift, with operatives averaging £13/hour, so £208 and £312 per shift respectively. In addition we provided decent hotel accommodation and £15/day meal allowance. We're able to do this as we price it all into our Tender. We have a hardcore of guys who would do this all the time if they could. Conversely we have guys that won't work long shifts, weekends or away from home, so we try to accommodate all. Not all companies are out to exploit their employees.

 

[The Large One]

Nah... just had a quick look at some of your posts. Some would give me some worries about your analytical skills, judgement, and ability to weigh the evidence. e.g. I see you're part of the knee-jerk "Conway is s**t" brigade. From where I was sitting on Saturday (and on every previous occasion I've seen him play), I've thought that on balance his contribution was positive.
Sorry about that.

That must be a first - declined a job interview on the back of a review of a game of football.

Actually, on balance, it's possibly the finest and most pertinent way to get to know someone's qualities.

 

[jakarta]

Which uni do you lecture at out of interest?

Greenwich University although the Masters courses are all distance learning with 90% of the students being non-UK based so I don't have to go in too often.

Aside from that I also volunteer to mark written examination papers for my Professional Body (doing that right now as I didn't get them finished over the weekend) and sit on their Examining Board for viva exams.

I am also mentoring some students doing their Occupational Medicine degrees who want to look at the reality of the Industrial Workplaces.

Aside from that I am probably guilty as charged when it comes to being anti-intellectual.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Greenwich University although the Masters courses are all distance learning with 90% of the students being non-UK based so I don't have to go in too often.

Aside from that I also volunteer to mark written examination papers for my Professional Body (doing that right now as I didn't get them finished over the weekend) and sit on their Examining Board for viva exams.

I am also mentoring some students doing their Occupational Medicine degrees who want to look at the reality of the Industrial Workplaces.

Aside from that I am probably guilty as charged when it comes to being anti-intellectual.

Your narrow minded view and application of financial/job value to degrees does imply and certain level of anti-intellectualism though does it not?

And going back to your comment about dismissal....why dont you pop into the Politics and History department of your university and explain how you feel to the head?

 

[jakarta]

Your narrow minded view and application of financial/job value to degrees does imply and certain level of anti-intellectualism though does it not?

And going back to your comment about dismissal....why dont you pop into the Politics and History department of your university and explain how you feel to the head?

I am certainly not against anyone doing any sort of further education. I must admit that when I retire I might go and do a degree in something I am interested in, like History and Politics - perhaps I'll look to see if they do it at Greenwich.

 

[Justice]

Nah... just had a quick look at some of your posts. Some would give me some worries about your analytical skills, judgement, and ability to weigh the evidence. e.g. I see you're part of the knee-jerk "Conway is s**t" brigade. From where I was sitting on Saturday (and on every previous occasion I've seen him play), I've thought that on balance his contribution was positive.
Sorry about that.

This has to be a wind up? using this board is a leisure activity surely, if you look closely enough everyone on here has talked some bollocks including you.

 

[kevo]

Nah... just had a quick look at some of your posts. Some would give me some worries about your analytical skills, judgement, and ability to weigh the evidence. e.g. I see you're part of the knee-jerk "Conway is s**t" brigade. From where I was sitting on Saturday (and on every previous occasion I've seen him play), I've thought that on balance his contribution was positive.
Sorry about that.

That's OK. Judging by your response above, I wouldn't want to work for you anyway.

He was absolute kak on Saturday - did nothing but give the ball away. Until I'd actually posted that, of course, when to be fair he went on a couple of decent runs. I can't see him being near the first team once we have a full squad available.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

This has to be a wind up? using this board is a leisure activity surely, if you look closely enough everyone on here has talked some bollocks including you.

Speak for yourself. Or have I just proved your point?

 

[kevo]

This has to be a wind up? using this board is a leisure activity surely, if you look closely enough everyone on here has talked some bollocks including you.

Exactly. Thanks for that.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I wouldn't want to work for you anyway.

You should really end this with "neeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr"

 

[Lord Bracknell]

I appreciate that this might swing the argument either way, but ...

Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, has a degree in Social Anthropology.

 

[Guinness Boy]

Google don't even think a degree is necessary. 14% of some of their teams have never been to university. They also believe it is far less relevant the older an employee is. I didn't go to University, and while I have Maths at GCSE pass level I didn't do it at A level. Yet I hold down a senior position in an IT company and regularly meet, discuss and test functions with programmers, actuaries and accountants.

What you are able to do at 18 / 21 is absolutely NO indicator of what your abilities and aptitude will be at 40, 50 or 60.

http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/...insights-from-google-on-recruiting-and-hiring

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/20/b...not-be-such-a-big-deal.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1

 

[Nibble]

There are clearly more in and outs to it than this but it's very hard to disagree that there is simply no earthbound reason why everyone who has a job of any description shouldn't enjoy a decent standard of living without help from the benefit system, whatever one's level of education. I'm not talking about everyone being millionaires or even having the holy grail of 250 a week to spend on pizza and Hagen Dasz but enough not to have a constant financial strain. That may sound idealistic and perhaps it is but I personally find it hard to see just why so many working people are having to struggle. If you are willing to go to work as a warehouse worker or a lecturer in quantum dynamics, while one will clearly earn more than the other both deserve a level of financial and job security.

 

[Dusty_Fryer]

http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/01/amazon-prime-air-drones/