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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to be angry/upset that because I do not have a degree I can't even apply for a part time, internet based job?

29 replies

wannaBe · 11/01/2008 10:07

The other day someone mentioned that they had worked for

aqa

so, given that I have endless amounts of free time, consider myself to be vaguely inteligent and spend most of my time on the computer anyway, I thought I would apply. Nothing lost and all that.

so today I received the application form/test which has to be completed, along with a job description. and one of the points in the job description is that "applicants must be educated to degree level or equivalent". fgs it's a job where you do the research to find answers to questions, you get a test so surely if you weren't up to the grade you would fail the test. why oh why does it matter whether or not you have a degree?

I don't have a degree btw, so no point even completing the application form is there?

OP posts:

littlerach · 11/01/2008 10:08

I worked for them for a few moths, and hardly earned anything, if that's any consolstion.

cheechymunchy · 11/01/2008 10:12

It's all bo**ocks, the degree request. Makes me SO mad. I've got one, but it's in such a useless subject. However, my last employer thought me perfect for the job just because I had these letters after my name.
My last boss (spits on the floor) would only interview candidates for jobs who had degrees. Recruiting for my maternity cover, I found quite a few people perfect for the position but No, Boss wouldn't get them in for a chat merely because they didn't have a degree.
See if you can apply anyway and prove them wrong!

Shaniece · 11/01/2008 10:14

YANBU - We are living in a degree nation. If you haven't got one you can't get a job these days unless its crappy jobs.

Tell them to stick it and look elsewhere.

flowerybeanbag · 11/01/2008 10:16

That's such rubbish! I am so disappointed employers still do this. Particularly with the new age discrimination laws, they are leaving themselves a bit vulnerable as young people are more likely to have a degree.

If a manager wants to put a degree as a requirement I always insist they can say what degree is necessary to do the job. There is no way just a random degree can be necessary - obviously for some jobs a specific degree might be, but if they just say 'degree' I always insist they get rid of the requirement, identify what skills the person needs and put that instead.

That doesn't help you really, does it, but

Oblomov · 11/01/2008 10:22

flowery, loads of companies specify for a degree, for what seems to be no reason.
dh is currently applying for postions as Operations Manager. He sees loads. Makes me cross.

Shaniece · 11/01/2008 10:24

Yeah, so if someone has a degreein History, why would that benefit someone applying for IT or similar work? . Its ludicrous.

Oblomov · 11/01/2008 10:24

I have a BA and an MA, which as much use as a gnats ......
Dh doesn't have one, and it is such a hindrance. But he is twice as bright and a brilliant manager. Much better than me.
The world has gone mad, hasn't it.

twelveyeargap · 11/01/2008 10:25

YANBU, particularly since a "degree" in this country can be a shite "studies" of some description from a glorified polytechnic. It's a load of crap caused by the Labour government using the number of people in third level education as a measure of their success in education.

I only got my admin-based job in the City because I started in the company as a temp, and they didn't insist on temps having a degree. (Incidentally I had left a degree course in Ireland as there was no financial help for single parents and I couldn't afford to stay.) Had I applied for the same job on a permanent basis;, they wouldn't have looked at my CV. It's a complete joke.

I used to have to correct and re-write emails and business letters for the graduate recruits on the trading floor (traders etc), because they couldn't spell, punctuate or appropriately word client correspondence. It infuriates me.

If it bothers me this much, I can only imagine how it feels to have worked yourself to the bone to get a "good" degree only to be lumped in with numpties doing a "studies" degree for job applications. Remember the twins from the last Big Brother? They were on a degree course. Need I say more?

MoreSpamThanGlam · 11/01/2008 10:26

I went for a job this week as a Health Care Assistant on a Midwifery ward.

I was well dressed, clean and precentable, took my refs, past the test with 100%. I also have a very active interest in VBAC and breastfeeding assistance and support.

Guess who got seconded? A woman that stank of fags, her phone rang during the test )and she answered it!!), had black teeth....but! She had previous experience as a cleaner on a Mat Ward.

life isnt fair and I just think there is a better job out there for you and you were not meant to have this one.

Original poster

wannaBe · 11/01/2008 10:27

I can see degree requirements for graduate jobs, although not for management jobs as management comes with experience and not education IMO, but fgs this was a "job" that involves sitting at your computer googling for information to answer questions where someone has probably texted in from the pub! It doesn't have promotion possibilities, they pay you 30p per answer for fucks sake so it's hardly on the ladder to a fantastic career is it? .

I didn't want to make a fortune, I didn't expect to earn vast sums of money, I just want to do something with my time and finding a part time job that ties in with school hours/school holidays is virtually impossible, was hoping to study to be a counsellor but was rejected for that too .

OP posts:

helsy · 11/01/2008 10:27

Agree, it does seem offputting. If you're not too annoyed with them you could aply because sometimes "or equivalent" can mean they would be flexible about it. IMHO it's just a lazy way of asking for someone with a decent standard of education.

HairyIrene · 11/01/2008 10:29

its crap
but if any consolation i couldnt get a face to face interview with learn direct because I do have one..
its a bit screwed up i agree

Shaniece · 11/01/2008 10:29

Tell them to stick their job where the sun don't shine.

Why were you turned down for Counselling WannaBe?

Original poster

wannaBe · 11/01/2008 10:36

I have no idea. I completed the introductory course, the tutor there said he had no qualms about putting me forward for the next stage and thought I could even progress on to make a career of it, (obviously was aware it's hard work/lots of commitment/self discovery etc). So after some delays re lack of tutors etc I eventually was invited for interview for the stage2 course, we went in, they told of the course, they gave us a senario to discuss as a group, which we did, we then had to write down our thoughts and then we were told we would be informed in writing whether we would be offered a place or not. I was there for about half an hour, with about 12 other people.

about three days later i received a very harsh letter saying that "we will not be offering you a place on this course. we require certain types of people, that should have good communication skills and be able to display sensitivity to others." . every single person i have mentioned this to has been shocked, some have said they think I've been discriminated against because I am visually impaired, but there's no way of proving it so that's that really.

obviously not meant to be and all that.

OP posts:

Shaniece · 11/01/2008 10:41

I don't think the fact you are visually impaired would be the reason you didn't get through tbh.

It sounds as if there was too much competition, like everything these days.

Maybe the people they put through have not got any people skills whatsoever but somehow got through. It is so annoying.

TheIceQueen · 11/01/2008 10:43

YANBU

And on the other side I hate the way that some degree (or equivlanet) managers/people assume that because someone doesn't have a degree (or equivalent) that they (the manager) is somehow "better" and "cleverer" than the degreeless person.

I had this at work - I'm no brainbox, and would never win a Noble prize for anything, but I did have a place at University (a decent one too)- which after deferring for a year I decided not take up and instead got married and started a family.

I could have done a degree - and (I think) I'd have got through it ok and passed reasonably well - yet because I don't have those letters after my name my manager saw fit to treat me like someone who had dropped out of school at 14 and was completely stupid.....

I know of others who've had the same thing happen to them too and it makes me so

Original poster

wannaBe · 11/01/2008 11:02

agreed QoQ. Just because one doesn't have a degree doesn't mean you couldn't have got one.

I too could have gone too uni but didn't know what I wanted to study, then parents came home from south africa so i came home too and I just never went to uni. doesn't mean im any thicker than someone who did a degree in soap operas though .

OP posts:

batters · 11/01/2008 11:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CountessDracula · 11/01/2008 11:04

oh fgs

Just lie
they won't check and if they do what have you lost?

geekymummy · 11/01/2008 11:44

oh wannaBe YANBU, I am in the same kind of pickle. Jobs that once just required 5 A-C GCSEs now "need" a degree. It's crazy! Having been a manager pre-maternity leave, I saw some applications from graduates and despaired at some of the grammatical errors on the application forms.

I didn't finish my course for many reasons, but I have loads of experience. All I get are offers for retail which I cannot bear to do again.

I am willing to study again one day, but I would rather do a course for the love of learning rather than for a career, but it looks like I may have to reconsider this

BritTex · 11/01/2008 11:54

It kind of works the other way too! I applied for a part time customer service job with RBS and they had me complete a 'personality' questionaire and did a phone interview but never asked for my CV. I have over 12 years customer service management experience and they did not want to know about it [hmn]!

geekymummy · 11/01/2008 11:57

BritTex - it's crap isn't it?

BritTex · 11/01/2008 12:00

very strange. and it goes one step futher DH is having to do his MBA as a degree just does not cut it anymore if you want to get into management.

pol27 · 11/01/2008 13:45

I know what you mean... I'm searching for a part time job. I'll work all weekend and any day but Mon or Tue. Can I find anything?? NO.
Will anyone give me an interview? NO.

Employers are poop.

sabaidii · 11/01/2008 13:57

I'm on here with Sabaidii who can't speak English very well. We're in Laos. Anyway, I know a few young people who are really experienced and clever, but have never been to uni. I know some really ignorant and lazy people who have gone to uni and haven't learned anything.

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