75ZT Community

If any of the members have offspring who have just received results and are not quite sure what their options etc. might be, then feel free to PM me and I will do my best to point them in the right direction.
This is a free service by a qualified careers specialist....*



* yes, I know the word 'career' means to spin uncontrollably downwards....
and yes, this is just one of a number of 'hats' Zeb wears now and again......
and no, I definitely will NOT advise your little darlings to 'go and be a librarian'.
(Unless they are ideally suited to being a librarian that is... )

Zeb wrote:If any of the members have offspring who have just received results and are not quite sure what their options etc. might be, then feel free to PM me and I will do my best to point them in the right direction.
This is a free service by a qualified careers specialist....*



* yes, I know the word 'career' means to spin uncontrollably downwards....
and yes, this is just one of a number of 'hats' Zeb wears now and again......
and no, I definitely will NOT advise your little darlings to 'go and be a librarian'.
(Unless they are ideally suited to being a librarian that is... )

I have to wait until I get home on the 30th for mine. But I already know what I am going to do... for now at least! Sixth Form College in Colchester for 2 years. After that who knows! The only career advise I got before leaving secondary school was from a 'career's advisor' that just regurgitated every word that was written on her computer screen.

Was that a school advisor or a Connexions advisor? Just out of professional interest you understand...

Zeb wrote:Was that a school advisor or a Connexions advisor? Just out of professional interest you understand...

Good guess! You are quite correct!

Zeb wrote:Was that a school advisor or a Connexions advisor? Just out of professional interest you understand...

MMm. Interesting you ask that. I know someone else who will be interested in the answer.

Now, are you from the same side of the fence as she, or t'other side I wonder?

Duncan wrote:

Zeb wrote:Was that a school advisor or a Connexions advisor? Just out of professional interest you understand...

MMm. Interesting you ask that. I know someone else who will be interested in the answer.

Now, are you from the same side of the fence as she, or t'other side I wonder?

Ummm I dunno....Lewis says I was correct but doesn't say which of the two it was....


But bear in mind Duncan I have operated in both professions...

Zeb wrote:

Duncan wrote:

Zeb wrote:Was that a school advisor or a Connexions advisor? Just out of professional interest you understand...

MMm. Interesting you ask that. I know someone else who will be interested in the answer.

Now, are you from the same side of the fence as she, or t'other side I wonder?

Ummm I dunno....Lewis says I was correct but doesn't say which of the two it was....


But bear in mind Duncan I have operated in both professions...

Am I missing something as I am confused now

Cowley_MOA wrote:Am I missing something as I am confused now

You certainly are, Lewis.

May I take this opportunity to point out (in my strictly amateur capacity) that academic qualifications are not the 'be all and end all' . . .

Tourerfogey wrote:May I take this opportunity to point out (in my strictly amateur capacity) that academic qualifications are not the 'be all and end all' . . .

Quite so....they never did me any good...

Tourerfogey wrote:May I take this opportunity to point out (in my strictly amateur capacity) that academic qualifications are not the 'be all and end all' . . .

I agree entirely, however sadly the culture does not support the notion. I am of the blair generation where 50% of people my age are to go to University. It's wrong, but that's how it is!

J

Tourerfogey wrote:May I take this opportunity to point out (in my strictly amateur capacity) that academic qualifications are not the 'be all and end all' . . .

No, it's a very good point.

Just because you have them, doesn't make you good. Just because you don't have them doesn't make you less useful.

It depends on the person, not just the bit of paper. I was talking to Paul (Raistlin) on Sunday and commenting on how I've come across one Electronics graduate who didn't know how to get a transistor to drive a relay. In fact it seemed they didn't know what a transistor was!

However, the qualifications do help to open the doors, so that you can get to the position to start ! (If you see what I mean). Although I am degree qualified, my real learning has been by investigating / digging / trying since I started work. It will be different for others.

Lewis has answered the question. Yes, it was one or the other. However the question was which one of the two was it.

My OH is the School Careers 'person' and is not impressed with connexions in her local area. That's why I asked.

Duncan wrote:

Tourerfogey wrote:May I take this opportunity to point out (in my strictly amateur capacity) that academic qualifications are not the 'be all and end all' . . .

No, it's a very good point.

Just because you have them, doesn't make you good. Just because you don't have them doesn't make you less useful.

It depends on the person, not just the bit of paper. I was talking to Paul (Raistlin) on Sunday and commenting on how I've come across one Electronics graduate who didn't know how to get a transistor to drive a relay. In fact it seemed they didn't know what a transistor was!

However, the qualifications do help to open the doors, so that you can get to the position to start ! (If you see what I mean). Although I am degree qualified, my real learning has been by investigating / digging / trying since I started work. It will be different for others.

I have come across people who have got academic qualifications coming through their eyeballs, but no common sense, or real world understanding.

Certainly with the case of HE, it does open doors and alot in fact. But there are a vast number of people doing degrees who simply do not need to.

Another factor, and my 6th form was one - schools make a real point of getting people to University because it looks good for their stats. At the time, i did not want to go to University and although I was head boy and head of cadets, I was still looked at as if there was something wrong with me. In most cases those who didn't want to go, were either wrongly coerced into going or refused to go and were forgotten about by staff

Duncan. Ah, well, you ARE in Staffordshire... Some of Connexions Staffs now work in Connexions Derbyshire...and there is a reason for that. That notwithstanding, they do have some good staff there...but it is the luck of the draw....and the way they are managed, which is what makes the difference..I assume she has been over the School / Connexions partnership agreement witha fine tooth comb and the school is getting what it should be getting?


Jake, what you say is very very common...as we have discussed....I was seen as a maverick influence because I would NOT encourage ALL students to go to Uni.....



Any qualification is merely a guide to the level of academic learning the candidate is capable of...as such, it is often no guide at all to; common sense, social skills, ability to communicate (in some respects), initiative and many other life skills...funnily enough, my OH and I were discussing this today...we need to bring back life skills lessons...for kids and adults...to enable them to do things like manage money, cook, do DIY safely, avoid being conned, look after themselves properly, know how to communicate effectively and so on....yes, some academic subjects do some of this....but much is left to chance / parents / luck / Tv....

Duncan wrote:

Tourerfogey wrote:May I take this opportunity to point out (in my strictly amateur capacity) that academic qualifications are not the 'be all and end all' . . .

No, it's a very good point.

Just because you have them, doesn't make you good. Just because you don't have them doesn't make you less useful.

It depends on the person, not just the bit of paper. I was talking to Paul (Raistlin) on Sunday and commenting on how I've come across one Electronics graduate who didn't know how to get a transistor to drive a relay. In fact it seemed they didn't know what a transistor was!

However, the qualifications do help to open the doors, so that you can get to the position to start ! (If you see what I mean). Although I am degree qualified, my real learning has been by investigating / digging / trying since I started work. It will be different for others.

The converse is equally true of course. It really depends how you define success too.
Is it financial rewards or happiness through job satisfaction?

One of the wealthiest guys of my personal circle left school at 15 with no qualifications at all.
In fact now I think about it, with the exception of the lawyers , none of the academics that I know has 'succeeded' financially.

But as I said earlier, is that what it's all about?

Zeb wrote:Duncan. Ah, well, you ARE in Staffordshire... Some of Connexions Staffs now work in Connexions Derbyshire...and there is a reason for that. That notwithstanding, they do have some good staff there...but it is the luck of the draw....and the way they are managed, which is what makes the difference..I assume she has been over the School / Connexions partnership agreement witha fine tooth comb and the school is getting what it should be getting?

Yes, I live in Staffs, but OH is in a school in Warwickshire. Don't know if they are any different. Sounds like you've been quite involved.

How very true Zeb,
You should see some of the applications we get from "degree" students.

Unfortunately we cannot entertain anyone without a minimum amount of qualifications and experience.

Duncan wrote:

Zeb wrote:Duncan. Ah, well, you ARE in Staffordshire... Some of Connexions Staffs now work in Connexions Derbyshire...and there is a reason for that. That notwithstanding, they do have some good staff there...but it is the luck of the draw....and the way they are managed, which is what makes the difference..I assume she has been over the School / Connexions partnership agreement witha fine tooth comb and the school is getting what it should be getting?

Yes, I live in Staffs, but OH is in a school in Warwickshire. Don't know if they are any different. Sounds like you've been quite involved.

Don't know much about Warwickshire Connexions...too far away from my stamping ground..

I have done the teaching stuff and the careers stuff...and the other stuff in terms of keeping kids safe / on the straight and narrow...

University is not something that currently appeals to me. I have heard many stories from people doing degree courses and ending up unemployed and with massive debts purely because their degree doesn't open the doors to many job. My sister will have to go to University as she wishes to become a Dentist at the moment. However there is a shortage of them so she would have no trouble finding a job that pays ££££'s I suspect.