Degree creep- when will it stop?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unless it's dead obvious that you need the degree (eg you want to be a lawyer or a doctor), I don't think anyone should get an advanced degree until they've worked in the field and validated that they actually like and have an aptitude for the work. Then look around and see what colleagues you admire have done and get feedback and advice. Ideally, you go at night and work pays for it or part of it. But using a Masters as a way to delay entry into the workforce is a bad idea. Academic life doesn't really prepare people or explain the types of white collar jobs available these days in knowledge fields anyway.

Exactly this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work at a non-profit. I see a lot of people with masters degrees getting hired for $40-50K/year. It's not required for the job, I think they just didn't realize that they would be starting in the exact same place as if they had just started working after undergrad. Honestly they would be paid more if they had 2-3 years of experience rather than an advanced degree.

Yes, but later in your career, if you are up for a higher level position against a candidate with the same experience, skills, etc. but you have a masters and they don't, Masters holder stands a better shot. - HR

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The PhD has become the next masters in a lot of hard sciences like chemistry and biology.

+1000
Actually a PhD is worse in these fields since it puts people in the overqualified category.

THIS IS ME, RIGHT NOW.

I was recently told I am "woefully over-qualified" for a job that would've been an excellent fit.

Leave your degree off your resume!

I have two master's degrees, but I'm over 50 and have been a SAHM for 16 years, so I leave all that off my resume. I'm applying for entry level jobs like librarian assistant and administrative assistant. I just want to work, so I'm dumbing myself down. Plus I'm older than everyone who interviews me, so I don't want to intimidate them with a bunch of degrees as well.

[Anonymous]

I hire a lot of lawyers for jobs paying $50-$70K. I don't know how they pay off their loans on these salaries, but they hate law so much they are willing to do interesting work for much lower pay. I get stacks of resumes for every job opening I have. The work is law-related, so a lot of unhappy lawyers apply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It won't stop. The more accessible formal education is, the less valuable it is on the market. Supply and demand.

And people can't make a good living with working class/ blue collar jobs. What are we going to do, America?

Really? Ask your plumber what he makes. Now ask your electrician.

+1 The plumbers and HVAC people I know are loaded. They are buying second homes, nicer cars, and going on grander vacations, all while they're kids are going to private schools. They don't have a bachelors at all.

I love when this topic comes up on DCUM because you are all so ignorant and clueless! Plumbers, electricians, etc. with the second homes and fancy cars are small business owners who worked their tails off for decades to get there, and more power to them. But the average tradesman? In a non-Union shop, which by the way, are the majority of businesses in 2016 in the DC area AND flyover country? They make about $40k for a 50-60 hour workweek. To make more they have to do more 24/7 emergency on call shifts, Christmas, holidays, the works. This fantasy of plumbers and electricians making "great money" is nothing but elitist misunderstanding of the way the trades really are these days. Signed, DW of a former plumber, 15 years experience, (non-Union) who never made more than $55k in DC nor in two flyover cities, while working 60+ hours a week. He is now in sales and fnally on an upward trajectory in his career.