You know, it is good to come home and see a stirring debate waiting for me!! HA!!!!!!!!!!!! I am fairly certain that everyone (or nearly everyone) here knows my feelings regarding education. There are many opinions and varying schools of thought on what higher education means in this day and age but, I remain steadfast in my position that a college education is still as important today as it has always been.
There are positions that are filled by people that are not formally educated. There are people that are incredibly intelligent who do not have college credentials. In short, there is always an exception to the rule. However, with the number of folks that are looking for work nowadays, the employee-pool has taken on quite a different look than it has had in years past. Even very bright, intellectual people are out of work. When this occurs, one's education becomes increasingly important. You see, I do understand what Tim was trying to say. You want the "right" person in the position, not always the most educated. But what happens when you have more than one "right" person? What criteria is used to further define just who is most "right"?
Of course, a lot of it has to do with the job at hand. We all know that different personalities handle different jobs with different styles. Depending on what is expected, one can even further narrow the choices. It really depends on the industry and the job description. I cannot speak for those industries with which I have no experience but I do know about mine. The financial industry, for all it's current deprecation, is still an industry made up of highly skilled, highly educated individuals. If I were to interview subjects for a position and I found that I had more than one who appeared qualified, I would absolutely look at their educational background. Absolutely. An education says a lot about a person. It is not just about being "book smart". It is about dedication and perserverence. It is about hard work and ability to achieve. Sacrifice and focus. Obtaining a degree is only part of it.
