Survey:: Any Tech College bosses

Folk from tech colleges are always complaining that they get overlooked in hiring, despite the fact that they have more real life experience than BSc graduates.

Are there any bosses, or people in hiring positions that went via the tech college route? When you hire, do you consider candidates without a bachelors degree?

Have you hired tech college graduates before?? Do they really have more street smarts than BSc grads?

Tapiwa
Monday, November 3, 2003

Well, not in a direct hiring position, but I do get some say so.  We do hire people without degrees (I didn't have one when I began working here).  We generally look at experience, and then we use a trial hire for a period of time (usually a 6 month contract).  If they don't work out we can toss 'em back.

I was the third person hired for this position.  The first two did have degrees.

Personally, I went to tech school and then matriculated into a BS program.  I think it was a nice mix.  I got a lot of the practical hands on stuff done at the tech school, and am now doing more of the theoretical courses.  It's nice, because I understand why I need (some of) these courses.

There is one guy here, who I talked into doing an unpaid internship during the summer while he was between high school and college who we also hired full time after the summer.

I'm guessing it depends on the market in your area.

Steve Barbour
Monday, November 3, 2003

I interviewed a guy once who had a MIS from a technical school.  Their entire program seemed to be based around VB.  You've heard the one about "if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail"?

Well, this guy could only see things through VB colored glasses.  Trying to get him to answer an abstract question, or to apply a solution to a non-VB environment, was hopeless.

To be fair, I've interviewed lots of deadwood from real schools, including my alma matter

Jason
Monday, November 3, 2003

When I graduate with a BSc from my university, I'll have accumulated 20 months of co-op experience with various employers throughout the city (two 8-month terms and one 4-month term). I'll have worked for MegaCorp Inc., the federal gov't, and a small web shop working with technologies that we don't necessarily learn at school.

I believe that many university grads have more real-world experience upon entering the work force than many tech school graduates.

R
Monday, November 3, 2003

My boss used to be a diesel mechanic.  He learned it either in the army or at vo-tech, I can't remember which.

He's a serial entrepreneur, starting with a diesel garage right up to his second software company (where I work).

He doesn't place a lot of stock in education, but he doesn't discount it entirely either.  Alone, it won't get you a job.

Tuesday, November 4, 2003

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