Friday 1 July 2011

IS IT WORTHWHILE GOING TO UNIVERSITY?


"More than a third of recent graduates are unemployed or languishing in stop-gap jobs that do not need a degree, official figures show. 
Students have been running up debts only to find themselves jobless or doing work for which they are over-qualified. 
One in ten of last year’s graduates – 20,000 – are unemployed and more than a quarter are in dead-end jobs".

So is it worthwhile going to University?  I left School at the end of sixth year with reasonable qualifications and was accepted into 2 Universities, which for younger readers, wasn't the norm in the mid 70s.  I decided to continue working in the family business which over the years until 1990, I expanded considerably, eventually turning over £6m with 40 employees.  

Unfortunately it went tits up in 1990 for various reasons which I won't bother going into, but although I've mostly been self employed in various guises since then, it is a regret of mine now, that I didn't go to Uni.  At the time it was the right decision and I should probably taken the opportunity to go back in 1991 or so, but as I was skint, with financial commitments taken on when I had a successful business, I had to continue working full time.  I should probably as well, gone bankrupt, but I didn't.  Looking back now, I should have probably joined the Police or the Civil Service and got a nice cushy pension.

If I had any children, I would tell them to go to University to study Law or Accountancy, because I've met some thick fuckers in both fields making plenty of dosh.  Or for that matter become a plumber or a joiner and who would have said that 30 years ago with the advent of DIY.  It just goes to show that proper training pays off.  Mind you, how the fuck, can it take 5 years to train to be a plumber?  6 months top, unless gas boilers are factored in.  Would I want to be lumbered with £50k student debt?  Probably not, but fortunately, I live in a country where our major priorities are looking after our old and sick and educating our children.  I just wish they stayed in Scotland and put the skills paid for by us to the betterment of Scottish society.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

I left at 16 with 6 0'levels, did day release from a boring job and then set up a highly profitable company. Paid off my mortgage & am thinking of retiring at 50, abroad. University? Why would I?

Sir Fred the Shred ( call me a banker and I'll sue) said...

I managed to run a multi billion pound company and then totally trash it putting thousands out of work. All with no qualifications. Yet I walked away minted ! Banking. It's nearly as good as wanking ! And I even got to shag the better looking staff aswell lol !!!

Sir Fred the Shred( greatest shagger in Embra) said...

Well I don't remember you complaining at the time anonydoll.
"More more big boy" was all I heard from you.

Matti Hari. Plagiarist and gardener. said...

I remember doing an interview with Maggie for my column in 'The Indescribably Boring'. Things were going great and to cut and paste a long story short we ended up in the bedroom.
I was gently rolling her over for a bit of doggy ( I'm quite a keen exponent of the uphill gardening - don't knock it till you've tried it) and she shouted at the top of her voice..
" This Lady is not for turning !!"

Perfect. There was my money quote.
I've seen this quoted all over the internet now yet it was me that first penned these famous lines.

Dark Lochnagar said...

Anonymous, well done and you're right, but then some people are leaders and some are sheep and are bound to spend their lives employed.

Dark Lochnagar said...

Fredericko, Oh you're back. Well you can shove your villa in France up you tight banker's arse, as I've bought a place in Spain and you never upheld my bookings!

Dark Lochnagar said...

Anonymous 2, that's what my wife says as well.

Dark Lochnagar said...

Fredericko, aye right!

Dark Lochnagar said...

Col the doll, don't humour him, he never keeps his commitments.

Dark Lochnagar said...

Matta, was that when she coined the phrase, get it right up my shitter? Or was the Peter Mandelson?

banned said...

Hi Darkers, thought I'd pass by for bit of hatin' but what do I find but a sympathy fest for fucking students?
Not that there is anything wrong with fucking students of course.

Any daft cunt could have told Knobby Labour that there was no point in getting 50% of school leavers into university when the market does not require 50% of workers to have a degree.

Since you started on the new "student loans", the Lib Dems are total wankers for utterly failing to get across the essential 'fairness' of the coalition proposals succinctly summarised when I challenged a group of local students for not being at last years London 'riots'

"Why should we? They will be better off than we are" they responded, correctly.

ps, mines a 2/1 (double) (hons) from 1980 when it still counted for something and while it has mattered less than my driving license in obtaining employment it has helped me to understand where I am and why things are like they are.

Dark Lochnagar said...

Banned, I agree. I don't see the point in having a degree when you can't get a joiner or a plumber, both of whom see to be on about £25 per hour. Every 'polytechnic' in our day, now seems to be a Uni and let's face it, how many students do we need with a degree in media studies?

banned said...

Sadly DL, The Coalitions answer to your last point is to promote, yet again, "modern apprenticeships" which to judge from the Motor Mechanic Apprenticeship achieved (at college ie 6th form) by my neighbours lad is just a tick box module, multiple choice, learn & forget, "no-one can fail" nonsense which would leave a similarly trained Plumber not knowing his bollox from his ballcock.

Dark Lochnagar said...

Banned yes but the planning would have been instigated by Labour!