Academic qualifications - success in life? [ENDS 11/07/2010]

[lolwut]

I think it's stereotypical to say "I got straight A's from my A levels and a degree with honors from Cambridge, I therefore will make loads and loads of money", because that's just not true.

My mother's friend got enough GCSE's to pass, and enough A levels to pass... No university.
She works for a very large UK company in a position I will not disclose for a very large salary, we suspect it is ~125k/yr - why? Because she has brilliant people skills and is a convincing entrepreneur who's good at her job.

My dad, on the other hand, got straight A's from his A levels and a PhD from London's Imperial College. He works as the Senior Head of Technology for an up-and-coming office management company, he only makes (post-tax) ~35k/yr.

In short we can tell one sure fact from these cases: the grades you get at one level of education only help you to get to the next level. Once you've got to the highest tier of education (university degree with honors, I suppose) they mean very little. Sure, they're favorable but not ask any recruitment agency and they will say they prefer candidates with substantial prior experience in a field as opposed to those with prestigious degrees and even doctorates.

I admit there are some exceptions; doctors & lawyers need to have a specialized degree before they can be employed and it's as simple & clear cut as that. But in the vast majority of professions, I do not personally think academic qualifications play any part in it.

[buttons]

my mum is a qualified nurse, hairdresser, beautician, history teacher and classroom assistant. she got all these even though she left school without any qualifications. instead she does home help work because that's what she enjoys (bathing old people mm hot) even though the teaching, nursing and assistant would give her more money. she gets little money but we're not struggling, same as mathew we spend on things we need not want. so i'd say she's successful that she got this even after leaving school without nothing.

my dad also has little qualifications but gets paid a ridiculous amount of money for cleaning rooms on the oilrigs ;l a lot more than my mum anyway.

idk if times are changing or what but up here it's so easy to get in to college/uni it's almost an easy way out, people place education higher in england than here probably because you have to pay. i only excell in english (wouldn't think it) and i'm average in everything else but i'm confident enough to think i can get a better job than most people no matter their qualifications... (prob cause my english skills make me great at persuasion (H))

[Hitman]

I think that academic qualifications definately provide some kind of assistance to your future. Obviously, other factors like experience could play a part in sucess but that does not totaly rule out academic qualifications which I believe are still quite important! Obviously the importance will vary with the kind of job you are going for

*REMOVED*

I have -2 qualifications, don't ask how, but I own a company worth £10,0. and live in Sandesigado 1 month of the year. It matter son skills. If you have good skills, you can get far in the field thast needs those skill.s

Edited by Oli (Forum Manager): Please do not target other members

[Rapidshare]

I know people who havent done exams in there life but yet have more money than people who have grades?