Why I Regret Getting Straight As
You think anyone gives a hoot about my A* in PSLE or my distinctions in O’Levels now?
Nobody gives a rat’s ass.
The questions potential employers and headhunters put to you are NOT about your results in school, though the piece of paper is a must to get you in through the door in the first place.
They really want to know how you can solve problems for them. If you have leadership and thinking skills. If you have good people skills. Stuff like that.
Not your PSLE score. Not that you took S papers for all your subjects at A’Levels.
Unless of course, your aim is to be a government scholar, which renders leadership qualities and soft skills totally not necessary. Hell, you don’t even need to work after getting our government scholarship if you don’t wish to, although you are “expected” to. More loopholes, people.
Hahah yeah even degrees also not needed now. Employers just ask me for my resume to see my working experience, that’s it. They dun care whether you got masters or whatever. They just want to know, can you do J2EE? You know anything about Oracle? etc etc.
My own boss totally brushes aside the “certs”. He just wants to see experience.
Foxtwo: That’s cos results talk, bullshit walks.. It’s a hard world these days.
This totally justifies why I *allow * my poly GPA to be so low.
Even so, I got a much relevant job offer as compared to my peers. I guess in areas like design, it’s the portfolio that counts, not the GPA.
But then again, results does matters if one wants to further their studies…
LD:LOL. Agree that if you want to further your studies, you need a minimum to continue… But then again, how viable is a Masters these days? It’s sad.
I’m currently putting down a “job spec” for recruitment. The only academic qualification in the list is “Degree in Computing or Engineering or relevant disciplines”. And that’s only because it seems prudent to state it. What really matters is how you can add value to the company.
Recently we started looking around to hire some staffs as we expand. The HR company was asking me the qualifications that we are looking … told her nah, can survive the interview and deliver results is okay. Just throw in a 12 mths experience will do.
She was like ‘huh? No qualifications required?’
Throw a rock out and you hit tonnes of degree holders but how many are street smart and able to deliver not from the ‘As’ but from being flexible? Not many.
Those are the gems that dont need qualifications to sell themselves.
Paddy: Totally agree. When I was “selling” myself during my interview to my boss, I told him straight that my qualifications are a dime a dozen. What I can really offer him is resourcefulness, independence and initiative. (Mind you, he was a St Andrew’s boy and Ivy League grad, probs sticky about qualifications)
zs: True…true.. That’s also why I said the paper is the minimum to get you thru the door. Must have the minimum competency at least. And Thanks for dropping by!
My job, however, requires academic qualifications to get in…but I don’t think the Master degree has made me smarter….and I agree that qualifications do not necessarily means the person is the most efficient. I’ve seen some really smart people who have barely O’levels but have done so well in their careers. Now, that is admirable.
fitti: I agree! I would worry if my kids’ teachers are not graduates… Academics and academics-based positions (eg. Doctors, scientists etc) are the only exceptions I suppose.:)
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