Reasons for hiring university graduates

ConUladh

I see a lot of posts here about how experience is much better and ITs are better than universities and I don't dispute any of it

What I want to know is why a lot of places will only take people with degrees (obviously once you have a few years experience it doesn't matter but other than that)

There must be some reason for it, anyone got an opinion what it is?

Practical experience in university is fairly limited (co-op was about it for me) - Computer Engineering may be an exception I don't know, so what are they getting for their money when they hire a university graduate?

Trojan

To answer with one of the reasons people like degrees: that piece of paper proves that you are capable of putting up with 4 years of bs and have a certain amount of persistance. Thats one thing every degree grad will have, nevermind the actual technical aspects of it.

I'll leave the college/IT debate to others, not getting into that sh!t again!

Al.

Blitzkrieger

I'm betting it's cos, as one lecturer put it : "you know a little bit about everything" after a degree. E.g. I don't know a lot about dbms but know the basics and could learn the rest in a short time.

Greenbean

Well I think Trojan has got the point really. It means you're more likely to know how to not walk out on things and how to get them finished. I've even seen a few job offers which say, even if you don't have a degree but have the technical experience they will encourage you to take the degree and finish it - but you must agree to do this.. weird eh - but for whatever reason its extremely important. Call it a right of passage if you will; it proves something.

phobos

Blitzkrieger you pulled the words out of my mouth, and you damn well did it in two lines. Christ I would be rambling on all day. I myself 1yr behind Trojan exactly (same college), and I feel I have experience in a lot of stuff. I can ramble on for ages about something and blend topics together seamlessly.

Tis a little bit like when you had a colouring book as a kid. You always used to colour around the perimeters of an object first (well I did), because once that was out of the way, it was easy after that.

So there you have it the Playschool Guide to Programming Philosophy. ;-)

;-phobos-)

Magwitch

People who have been to collage know where to score drugs for the office party, or prepare and smoke banana skins if times at the company are hard.

;-)

Trojan

Nice1 Magwitch

But on a m0r3 serious note, TCD grads are particularly noted for their clear speech skillz, 1337 cricket watching habits (they know the rul3z) and rugby kn0wl3dge (they even play s0m3timez) ...

Al.

Greenbean

In UCD I learned how to reverse around a corner with a tractor and trailer. No mean feat. I also have this inexplicable lust to buy 6 can's of dutch gold anytime I pass a lake with concrete steps. Cricket, is that like a fancy fiddle or insect or somat like that?

rymus

Swwwwwwwish!

You chaps are the tops!

And one for ConUladh - I knew a guy that did about 6 years in UCC and has a degree in Comp Science and another one in something Biological (maybe microbio). Anyway, after all this guys time and letters after his name, I still had to fire his ass (yes, me with 1 diploma was his supervisor ) because he couldnt use a computer. Hows that for practical experience! Anyway... thats my lot for this evening..

WhiteWashMan

it depends what sort of degree you do and what uni you go to.
a lot of graduate stuff is theory.
experience is so important because, well, you actually know how to do stuff in the real world.
but a degree is still nice to have and a degree and experince is nicer still.
after about 4 or 5 years though the distinction begins to blur and its all about what youve decided to specialise in.
anyone that doesnt have a special interest is probably still doing helpdesk and desrves to be on gateway tech support staff

---

Your Imps Demand Cable...

ConUladh

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by rymus:
Swwwwwwwish!

You chaps are the tops!

And one for ConUladh - I knew a guy that did about 6 years in UCC and has a degree in Comp Science and another one in something Biological (maybe microbio). Anyway, after all this guys time and letters after his name, I still had to fire his ass (yes, me with 1 diploma was his supervisor ) because he couldnt use a computer. Hows that for practical experience! Anyway... thats my lot for this evening..</font>

That's great and all but what I'm trying to find out is why a lot of companies (big ones anyway) insist on only taking trainees from University Graduates.

Guess I'll have to wait until the next time our HR Manager is out drinking to find out