Why do most jobs require GCSE or equivalent?

[nickinickers]

I find this quite soul destroying as someone with no education or ability to learn.
I would be so good at so many jobs but because I’m academically challenged I can’t even apply.
AIBU to think this is so unnecessary and cruel?

What sort of jobs do you think you would be able to do?

Most employers want someone with an ability to learn - to learn the job, to progress, etc. a basic education level shows that.

Very few jobs require you to learn nothing at all I guess.

Could you pay for private tuition and try to get the qualifications, at least Maths and English?

police officer or something

A lot of jobs involve reading instructions, writing and/or speaking to customers/colleagues which is English skills like comprehension. Many jobs also involve some maths (not necessarily GCSE but functional skills at least )eg dealing with percentages and some multiplication or time calculations.

You think that job is doable with no education and no capacity to learn?

I think becoming a police officer requires quite a high level of education and training. There are graduate routes into the police force, or colleges offer courses on uniformed services. You would need to have qualifications in English and maths as a minimum.

Surely showing an ability to learn is an important asset for a job? And it’s important to show you have a grasp of basic English and maths. Isn’t that what most employers require in terms of qualifications?

Can you not go to nightclasses to pass English and Maths? I know it seems overwhelming if you’ve been out of education for a while but colleges will have adult learning staff and offer plenty of support.

I'm not expert, but I'd say it is a "benchmark" of being able to study, absorb and understand information and follow "rules" in order to make that information useful, for example in maths or chemistry.
Also, discipline and the ability to apply yourself.

Can you go to college to do English and Maths?
I met a woman who was working in a sports shop last week and said she's doing English & Maths at college so she can try to get a job working with children who have disabilities.

Maths and English GCSE are widely considered to be the most important ones and most jobs do require them. It's basically proof that you can read/write and have basic literacy skills and also numeracy skills.

Why don't you have them op if you don't mind me asking? I'm sure there are adult education courses for those who need to gain these qualifications. Maybe have a look at your local adult education college.

What does ‘academically challenged’ even mean? Did you just mess about at school, not get any qualifications, and are now regretting your choices?

To be a police officer I assume you have to study the law as well as how to interact with people in volatile situations eg people who are high or mentally ill. There’s probably lots of other studying and learning that has to be done (I assume that you’re physically fit)

Its widely considered the minimum standard, thats why. BETCs and functional skills qualifications exist too, but less employers understand them.

You can work your ways toward a police role via alternative qualifications, but regardless they'll want someone who can show they can learn, understand policies and write clearly.
Police officer | Explore Careers | National Careers Service share.google/oMUY11s9SyDk3SWaW

You don’t think police officers require an education? Goodness me. I think you need to get back to college, do your maths and English then all options will open up to you.

If you fail Maths and English I think it’s free to resit indefinitely. It’s quite basic stuff to learn.

I’ve been on more maths courses and other level 1 courses than I can remember but I don’t pass them.
I just can’t learn in a classroom setting but I’d be able to do something with my hands, I’m an active person.

I know most employers want someone who can learn but if you can’t learn and no employer wants you where does that leave you in a world where nobody wants people on benefits?
I’m not on benefits btw but I have been unemployed since I left school and I’m now in my 40s.
My children are growing up and I keep hitting a brick wall with employment.

GSCEs are a straightforward way to determine that someone has a particular level of literacy and numeracy. But the word 'equivalent' is important here. If you want to go into the police then you could serve as a PCSO and then look to expand on this experience by applying for an apprenticeship, as all applications are managed on a case by case basis.

Don't forget John Major made it to Prime Minister with three GCSEs...

There’s lots we can argue is wrong with the GCSE system, but they are agreed to be the baseline level of education/knowledge young people should leave school with.

What makes you feel you don’t have a capacity to learn? Most people do have a capacity to learn it’s just finding the right thing/the right way. It would help to know a bit more about your experience of school to advise?

@nickinickers could you do some volunteering to get your confidence back and also get work experience??

Police officer, no but I don’t see why a builders labourer, a binman or a lawn mower for the council or whatever would need GCSEs.
The likelihood of DS getting any qualifications are incredibly unlikely but I don’t see why he wouldn’t be able to do a simple, manual job where he is overseen by someone. What’s the alternative, a lifetime on benefits?

How about working for yourself?
Can you do cleaning, gardening, dog walking, childminding?

If you're active and good with your hands, learn a trade and work for yourself.

50% of the work of any uniformed police officer is paperwork. It only gets worse as a detective. Lengthy witness statements, endless report writing, filling in forms and referrals, handling evidence in coherent logs and so on. You need to be a confident writer, a good narrator and able to work accurately at all times. Dyslexia is pretty common tbh, but you need a decent level of literacy to manage the scale of the work.

If you haven't got your GCSEs, you'd be entitled to do them as an adult for free - or do the Functional Skills equivalents which are considered to be the same standard as GCSEs.

DH did his math and English FS in his early 40s, which led him to do more courses - and now he has 7 GCSE equivalents. He flunked school and joined the forces where he's had a brilliant career but realised that on retiring he needed the equivalencies to get a new job!

Speak to your local adult learning centre or college and start to look into it. It only took DH 6 months to get his English one completed (a bit longer to pass maths!).

I think most require maths and English at that level. Though I'd argue few use GCSE maths in minimum wage positions.

If someone presented very well at interview and could demonstrate written, oral communication and basic maths in a test, surely they might have flexibility.

I know someone who worked as a head of department for a subject at an FE college and he had zero GCSEs or equivalent.

Could you do a government funded course to pass the functional skills which is equivalent? Or maths and English GCSE online?

@nickinickers but police officers don’t just do the physical side of the job and that’s it!!! There’s so much they need to learn and know to be able to do the job correctly. It’s not just walking the streets arresting people!

Can you drive?