Dave Davenport
Guru
- Location
- Hampshire
Actually I've just remembered I'm a qualified ABA coach, packed it in 10 years ago.
What brainboxes have we?
- Thread starter betty swollocks
- Start date
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Arch
Married to Night Train
- Location
- Salford, UK
redcogs said:
Whereas I know one I'd have as my luxury on Desert Island Discs, as he knows how to do or make or cook anything!
But yeah, some of them are useless!
Cycling Naturalist
Guru
- Location
- Llangollen
Arch said:
"Now, students I'm going to show you how primitive man survived sleeping in holes and eating earthworms.............."
I may as well join the crowd! Anyway after my brush with fame everyone will know I have a PhD
6 'O' grades, 1 standard grade
5 Highers
3 Certificates of Six Year studies
BSc(Hons)
MSc (Med Sci)
PhD
There really is no relationship between qualifications and earnings though. I have an old school friend who has a lot fewer qualifications than me, but is now a multi-millionaire (marketing). I work in the NHS and it is only really the medical doctors who get the big bucks!
6 'O' grades, 1 standard grade
5 Highers
3 Certificates of Six Year studies
BSc(Hons)
MSc (Med Sci)
PhD
There really is no relationship between qualifications and earnings though. I have an old school friend who has a lot fewer qualifications than me, but is now a multi-millionaire (marketing). I work in the NHS and it is only really the medical doctors who get the big bucks!
Cycling Naturalist
Guru
- Location
- Llangollen
magnatom said:I work in the NHS and it is only really the medical doctors who get the big bucks!
Even worse than that, you can end up with medical students telling you that you're not a real doctor and can't teach them anything. This happened to a friend of mine with a Ph.D who taught endocrinology in a teaching hospital.
Big 'ed time
11 O's
4 A Levels
BSc Physics
PhD Nuclear Physics
and for some bizarre reason I've got a Oil and Gas Industry BOSIET Certificate after some fun being tipped up in underwater helicopter simulators!
Generally the PhD is a waste of time outside of academia and some other narrow disciplines. I spent a few years on research contracts after finishing 'writing up' then tried to get a job at Sellafield of all places. After that didn't happen I used some accumlated IT knowledge to change career in the mid '90s. The 'Dr' looks good on a credit card, but it wasn't 4 years well spent in my case.
11 O's
4 A Levels
BSc Physics
PhD Nuclear Physics
and for some bizarre reason I've got a Oil and Gas Industry BOSIET Certificate after some fun being tipped up in underwater helicopter simulators!
Generally the PhD is a waste of time outside of academia and some other narrow disciplines. I spent a few years on research contracts after finishing 'writing up' then tried to get a job at Sellafield of all places. After that didn't happen I used some accumlated IT knowledge to change career in the mid '90s. The 'Dr' looks good on a credit card, but it wasn't 4 years well spent in my case.
snorri
Legendary Member
- Location
- East coast, up a bit.
Looks as if I'm first with a Restricted Certificate of Competence in Radio Telephony VHF only.
Hilldodger
Guru
- Location
- sunny Leicester
marinyork said:
You mean...you can work out the surface area of Mickey's ears and stuff like that? Cool!
SamNichols
New Member
- Location
- Colne, Lancs
Oh yes, my degree is in Theology, so it is both outdated and pointless. But, I know more about Augustine than other people, which may be of use. It hasn't been of use yet, but it shall be one day.
Amanda P
Legendary Member
- Location
- York. Well, York-ish...
Well, I've got some O levels and A levels. And a biology degree.
I was lucky enough that my employer allowed me to write up some of my research for a PhD, and paid the fees (hard work it was, though, for seven years...)
Most of the skills I currently use, though, I've learned since leaving University, and most of what I learned at University has never been much use. So I have a lot of sympathy with those who don't have degrees and are proud of it - apart from getting me a job in science to begin with, mine's been little use to me. It was interesting, though.
Much more useful skills include, off-road driving, tree-climbing and rope work generally (learned at a course for tree surgeons), radio-tracking, electronics, simple engineering, welding/brazing/machine shop work, motor mechanics, agricultural practice and agronomy, trailer handling, photography, ornithology... none of it learned at University.
I was lucky enough that my employer allowed me to write up some of my research for a PhD, and paid the fees (hard work it was, though, for seven years...)
Most of the skills I currently use, though, I've learned since leaving University, and most of what I learned at University has never been much use. So I have a lot of sympathy with those who don't have degrees and are proud of it - apart from getting me a job in science to begin with, mine's been little use to me. It was interesting, though.
Much more useful skills include, off-road driving, tree-climbing and rope work generally (learned at a course for tree surgeons), radio-tracking, electronics, simple engineering, welding/brazing/machine shop work, motor mechanics, agricultural practice and agronomy, trailer handling, photography, ornithology... none of it learned at University.
8 O levels, 3 A levels, BA classics, PhD Classics (on Plato), wanted to lecture in Classics but even in those days jobs in the field were like hens' teeth. Went into programming, now retired. My degrees were not at all relevant to my work but to me far more valuable.
Cathryn
Legendary Member
- Location
- Marlborough, Wiltshire
Degree in French and Italian, plus Grade 8 clarinet!
Feeling quite intimidated by all the PHDs...wow, you guys are brainy!
Feeling quite intimidated by all the PHDs...wow, you guys are brainy!
Fab Foodie
hanging-on in quiet desperation ...
- Location
- Kirton, Devon.
Approx 7 'O' levels and a CSE
2 A's
HND Technology of Foods
BSc Biochemistry
Graduate of the school of hard knocks!
My experience is that qualifications help get you onto the work ladder, the more qualifications, the higher you start. In my "Vocational" type employment they very quickly become irrelevent as experience and track-record become the main keys to success.
2 A's
HND Technology of Foods
BSc Biochemistry
Graduate of the school of hard knocks!
My experience is that qualifications help get you onto the work ladder, the more qualifications, the higher you start. In my "Vocational" type employment they very quickly become irrelevent as experience and track-record become the main keys to success.
