12Watt Tim

But you only have on our database the jobs that people approach you to fill - and regardless of who makes the requirements it is still a lazy filter for most positions. That is a really restricted subset, probably largely those that are difficult to fill, possibly either because they require great qualifications (and so are highly-paid) or are low-paid. I am not sure why you expect Tim's son to choose one of the lowest paid of those in preference to perhaps a more highly-paid job in the rest of the market, considering that if he has any chance of a graduate job then he must have the character and attitude to get one of the better non-graduate jobs.

Surely if he loses the class 1 he can then go to university to study for the degree, in a subject that might be currently relevant, with the maturity of age, funded probably by an insurance payout. He might choose at that point to use his skills and experience to gain a job or to start a business.

Remember that having "nothing to show for it" is actually a rather large step up from the debt recent graduates have. Considering if he does have nothing to show for three years work then he was probably never suited to a degree, let alone a well-paid graduate job (or the aviation industry for that matter) then avoiding the degree was probably a very good idea!

Slopey

We can agree to disagree here before it gets off topic

It's up to him. If it was me, I'd get a degree, as before I had a degree my career options, and earning potential, were very limited. Either way, he likely wants to be anywhere but flight training for the next while.

I'm sure he'll decide what's best for him.

mad_jock

It all depends what the degree is and where they did it.

There are very few degree's these days which allow an automatic guaranteed uplift in your income for life. And even then if you go to the wrong institution you might as well not have bothered.

Also as well there is now a huge divide between scottish students and the rest. Your talking 12-15k's worth of difference over the course( lets call it an IR). The economics of degrees and which subjects are available is becoming a national disgrace. It is even more shocking when you have any insight into the methods and reasons that dictate policy in the higher education system.

Aberdeen is not and hasn't been for the last 35 years anywhere near a normal employment market.

Slopey

Correct, but I'm not talking about Aberdeen as such, but in more general terms across our offices worldwide.

My wife works inside the bowels of academia (and I hover on the periphery dealing with academics), and the stuff that goes on inside that "world" is just shocking.

One interesting industry which is always crying out for people (at least, we have no luck finding them and have to train them ourselves) is railway trackside maintenance. A Personal Track Safety course (PTS) is 2 days (no degree required), and if you then work up to PICOP (person in charge of posession), if you're not bothered about working un-sociable hours/travelling the money is pretty good for a very achievable level of certification - and there is usually high demand.

Tim8416

Ladies and Gentleman, more gentleman me thinks.

There was I waiting for an email form this forum saying you have a reply. Nothing came and I thought, typical, nothing ect ect.

So just popped back to see, if just in case, you know.

What can I say but a very large and big thank you for all your comments and suggestions. The time some of you have taken to reply has been overly generous and all I can say is....

THANK YOU VERY VERY MUCH.

This has been of great interest and I have obtained a flashy broucher from a company down by the cost, which does read very well. However nothing like the voice of experiance and there is much on this thread. Thankfully BGS is all of ten miles away and already have cd, lucky me

Once again thank you and I wish you all happy flying in what ever form it now takes you.

Tim Lynch 8416

12Watt Tim

Good luck to your son!