[Raizu]

Originally Posted by Coda

I live in Los Angeles too. >.> So... not sure what to tell you there?

Degree beats non-degree if the two candidates have no past experience, because the degree is proof of effort. But have you ever seen someone with a degree but no work experience get compared to someone without a degree but with four years of work in the field?

First jobs are a completely different contest than serious career jobs. Yeah, it's important to get a first job, but you're only ever going to do it ONCE. If you don't have a degree, then find a journeyman-level job that WILL take you so you can GET experience, even if it doesn't pay well. After you've got on-the-job training, your qualifications will be just as good as someone who got a degree. And instead of PAYING money, you've been EARNING it -- even if it's a low salary, it's still positive cash flow.

I don't know where you're getting that information about vocational schools. You bring up cosmetology; what do you think a cosmetology certification IS? It's a vocational school! And in the tech industry, the short-term boot camps even have a GUARANTEE -- you get a job within a certain amount of time of graduating, or you don't pay for the tuition.

I was just trying to say maybe that our experiences were different because things aren't necessarily the same here in California as opposed to other places like where I used to live in Washington.

Yes, more times then not I've seen people with degrees get jobs over people with years of work experience. It's one of the problems right now in the work force. I mean back in 08/09 when older baby boomers were being laid off they couldn't get another job because even though they have 10 to 20+ years of experience there were younger people with masters getting those jobs instead. I've had employers tell me that they would rather pick someone with a degree over work experience because, and I'm not making this up, "people with degrees show a higher work ethic and better critical thinking and problem solving skills." Not only that, but I've heard people say that they prefer new blood as opposed to older people who are going to keep doing things the same way. The job market boils down to what new things you'll bring to a developing or already well established company because that translates to more money potentially. Companies want to see growth not stagnation.

I really do have to disagree with the first job statement though. You can have a first job and be in college. It's down right the worst thing ever because you're working 30+ hours/week and going to school 20+ hours/week and doing homework and projects for another 20+ hours/week but you're making money and going to school. If tuition is something that is a road block there are multiple ways to go about getting money for that. Many people offer grants and then there are the federal routes which again are the worst thing ever but they work. Really though I have seen people giving out grants because their kids would have inherited the money died and the parents just want to give it away.

I have found the myth of entry level to be a joke these days. Barely anyone promotes from within anymore to begin with. I don't even remember the last time I've heard or seen myself someone being promoted from withing without a degree or some kind of exponential achievement.

I wasn't saying that cosmetology wasn't a trade school I was just saying it's more times then not the one trade school that ends up paying out in the end :/