I support both advanced degrees and a practical application portfolio - heavily accentuating design/work documentation of actual projects ( complying with past/present workplace contracts) or research into realworld solutions/ applications pursued on an independent basis - I am retired - if I was to begin a career path; I would combine credentials with application. I have found my lack of degrees have severely undermined my actual performance and production in almost every corporate enviornment in my 30 year plus worklife. Now I am retired. Combining both would have led to more satisfaction in the workplace and a much more financially sucessful situation. The problem is establishing credentails and practical experience. Human Resourses prefer shortcuts to assesment - ie degrees - interviewers and supervisors appreciate a practical performanc portfolio - career progress/politics depends on both - a lot of solutions by "ordinary workers" on the factory floor are exploited ... well ... stolen - by those higher up in the "food chain" - human nature is a mixed blessing - self interest is often without characteristics that can be admired. It has been the exception that workplace populations behave with virtue and character - at least in my experience. Most individuals will exhibit reprehensible behaviour to increase a salary or to eliminate those that exhibit more competence, innovation or a better work ethic - in my experience of 30 plus years in the workplace. Just experince garnered from real life.
Back to topic - an aquaintance - took a Bachelor of Library Science in the 1970's at The University of Windsor - one of the lowest rated Universities in Canada - in fact it refuses to take part in any rating system of standing - citing "faulty methodology" ( note dissaproval and sarcasm) he earns over $75,000 a year. I have never noticed that the position produced stress or anxiety - he head's a small library system in rural Ontario. But then again - another aquaintance took a PHD in Physcology - his thesis was on male /female preference and competence corncerning " guitar solo improvision" - he ended up with a salary exceeding $100,000 in the Ontario Penal System. Go Figure
A third aquaintanece is a Cerified Flight Mechanic - airplane maintenance - because he refuses to falsify maintenance reports - saving manhours and costs - he has been employed sporatically. For our younger Forum members - make a point of studying " The Real World."
The world, life and employment can be both absurd and sublime.
But of course fairness and justice do exist in many workplaces.
