Other Chat DCC

[Pokemon Trainer Sarah]

I agree that universities should definitely help people get real work experience. I have a 2nd year student who has been working with me, volunteering in the lab over the holidays. At least she knows what it's actually like now. I had no idea when I was an undergrad and if I had known what job prospects were like for scientists right now, I would probably be a software engineer instead. xD It's ridiculous that everyone wants experience for even basic jobs. I guess they are just lazy and think it'll be cheaper not to have to train people at all. Sigh.

I just got this casual job helping students with their assignments in the university library. It's only for a few hours each week. But I now have to do 4 hours of online training followed by a WHOLE DAY of training on Monday. Ugh. I'm kinda regretting applying for it. xD I am doing the online training now and was kinda hoping I could do it way faster than they said but turns out it's a bunch of videos to watch. How much training can you possibly need to give people assignment advice?! I only had to do 2 hours of training to actually TEACH in a lab for Ho-Oh's sake. xD

Anyway I have the training videos on in the background now... :P

[haze]

I agree that universities should definitely help people get real work experience. I have a 2nd year student who has been working with me, volunteering in the lab over the holidays. At least she knows what it's actually like now. I had no idea when I was an undergrad and if I had known what job prospects were like for scientists right now, I would probably be a software engineer instead. xD It's ridiculous that everyone wants experience for even basic jobs. I guess they are just lazy and think it'll be cheaper not to have to train people at all. Sigh.

A lot of degree programs here and at other colleges require you to do an internship/coop in order to graduate. My department last reported something like 88% job placement upon graduating with 10% going to grad school. Just gotta know how to network, that's what it comes down to.

[Neo Emolga]

I guess they are just lazy and think it'll be cheaper not to have to train people at all. Sigh.

Pretty much this. One company I came across that give me an interview, Banker's Life Insurance, expected YOU, as the new hire, to pay for the training courses (and they were absurdly expensive, I'm talking thousands here), your desk, your supplies, your computer, your tools, everything, even your freaking phone. And it was all commission based. So basically, you run their business for them and incur all of the expenses and business risk, and they just take a large chunk of your success earnings away (why not just start your own business then?). Or, if you're not successful, it doesn't matter, they've made money off of you anyway. I vowed to myself that if they ever dippy enough to give me an interview invite again for such a raw deal, instead of showing up in a suit, I'd show up in my skunk costume with a sign that says "this place smells even worse than I do."

In the meantime, I really can't stand the whole "it's not what you know, it's who you know" nonsense, because that basically says it's okay to be an uneducated idiot and a liability to the company as long as you just happen to know the right people. Meanwhile, there are plenty of really skilled people out there that shouldn't be struggling to get jobs just because they're not extroverted social butterflies. Don't hire from your pool of buddies if you know there are people applying that are better educated, more skilled, and more capable of doing the job than they are. Otherwise, what you're doing is going against what's best for the company. Unfortunately, that seems to be the norm these days...

Hate to say it, but if colleges don't start proving the worth of a college degree, especially considering how much they cost to obtain, they're going to become obsolete.