I just have to say that this post is itself an excellent example of why
the individual matters more than the degree. Thank you, Micah.
==Joseph++
Micah DesJardins wrote:
> Full disclosure - I have no college degree. My first IT related job
> was in (1990 when I was a sophmore in high school) and I have worked
> in the field ever since. I have (thus far) never experienced what I
> would consider difficulty in finding or keeping a job in Information
> Technology. I have worked in higher education for the last seven
> years where it has been my experience that there is an even greater
> value placed on degrees than in the corporate world where I spent my
> previous ten years.
>
> I'll go ahead and chime in here, not because I don't value or
> appreciate the perspectives of Joshua or Carlos, but rather because I
> believe that there is another piece of the equation that we are
> missing. In our discussion of certification, degrees, and how to
> prepare for doing what you most want to be doing, the most important
> part of the equation, is you as an individual. Each of us is unique
> with our own talents, capabilities and experiences and the onus is on
> you as a seeker of employment to showcase what makes you unique and
> valuable.
>
> One cannot underestimate the value of a degree in any professional
> field. Simply put, it is and always has been a very easy and
> convenient yardstick by which to measure an individual's ability to
> learn and synthesize information. The problem lies in the fact that
> all degrees are not equal and even differing degree programs within
> individual institutions can have quite a bit of disparity between
> covered curriculum. I agree with Joshua that completing a degree
> program shows a level of commitment to oneself and to one's chosen
> field of study.
>
> However, I also agree with Joseph. An individual's degree matters far
> less to me than the qualities and character of the person holding it,
> or not holding it as the case may be. I have met a number of highly
> educated individuals who were terrible at applying the knowledge they
> had acquired to real world problems. That said, it is nearly
> impossible to make a qualitative judgment about a person's character
> or qualities without a significant time investment. This is time you
> simply don't have when you are in the middle of a search for a
> prospective employee. This is one reason why quantitative
> measurements such as degrees are so valuable. They are not however,
> the only way to succeed.
>
> Another way to succeed without a degree in your chosen field, is
> through accomplishments. A well documented record of success.
> Successful individuals find inspiration in the work that they're doing
> because it is something that they enjoy thinking about. They look for
> areas in which things are not as good as they could be and try to find
> better solutions to the problems they are trying to solve. They work
> hard to educate themselves in as many ways as possible about how
> things work in their chosen field or in how other people have solved
> similar problems in the past. And then, this is the important part,
> they apply their gained knowledge as well as their inspiration to
> create something better than what existed before. By doing this over
> and over again, you gain experience and confidence in yourself and
> your abilities.
>
> Degrees have value and are important. Experience and applied
> knowledge have value and are important. Neither necessarily
> represents the whole picture. What someone knows is less important
> than what someone is capable of learning and then able to apply. The
> most valuable employees are not the ones who know how to solve your
> problems today. They are the ones who are capable of looking forward
> and trying to solve the problems you are likely to have tomorrow, as
> well as capable of finding solutions to the unforeseen problems that
> always crop up from time to time.
>
> My advice would be to not worry about the next bubble. Find something
> you're passionate about. If that's security, or health care
> technology or whatever it is, then do that and be the best that you
> can be in your chosen field. Best of luck to you.
>
> Anyways,
>
> My 0000 0010 bits
>
> Micah DesJardins
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