HND - Have No Degree

[Cowboy Bob]

That's interesting. I do send out a glossy brochure as part of my direct sell efforts but it doesn't contain many personal details. For agency contracts I have put together a regular CV which was based on the advice given on the CUK website. I would have thought that if you put out something that the agent isn't used to, they would just bin it.

Not had a problem yet. I guess it helps filter out the crap agencies.

It's not glossy though, it looks like a regular CV on the surface, it's just oriented towards a limited company. You'd probably have to read it carefully to notice the difference.

[malvolio]

I did have a short stint in permiedom, working for a company stuffed full of academics, and started sticking MHSc* after my name. Didn't seem to cause any issues...

Then again, I have a degree equivalent in applied microbiology and have subsequently spent 35 years in accountancy and IT (and I got good A level in Botany, but don't ask me to identify any of the plants in my garden!). The guy that masterminded the development of some of the old mainframe OS's like VME was a PhD in classical greek. My daugher speaks three languages and lectures UK companies on pensions payroll software. So it is only recruiters who relate degrees to ability; in the real world it matters not a damn.


* In case you're interested - Milford Haven Scooter Club

[TheMonkey]

I don't even put my degree on my CV any more. Rarely even gets mentioned.

A red-brick engineering degree was and still is precisely SFA use to a contractor after 5-10 years in the industry.

[Pondlife]

A red-brick engineering degree was and still is precisely SFA use to a contractor after 5-10 years in the industry.

Agreed! Degree + post grad in engineering - hasn't been used, thought about or mentioned since my first day in work.

[oraclesmith]

OK thanks for the advice. I'll probably remove the education altogether section now. I thought it looked a bit wrong anyhow - I don't want to give the impression that I think it's still relevant.

Here's an idea : could someone modify or extend the CUK CV advice so that it's more relevant to limited applying for contracts ?

[sekisho]

HND is now known as a Foundation Degree, so you do have a degree!

(the rename is probably to enable some statistical sleight of hand to show that over 50% of people are now getting degrees)

[VectraMan]

Back in March/April when I was on the bench there were a couple of contract ads that did say "at least a 2.1 degree in a related discipline". I think they were mostly for games companies, but it's the first time I've ever felt underqualified in only having a third.

I'd hope my 14 years of proven experience in graphics and multimedia software is worth more than 3 years of getting stoned and listening to people talk about how only they can understand the true depth of feeling expressed by Roger Waters in Pink Floyd's "The Wall", but there you go.

[barely_pointless]

It's all bull* unless you plan to join the ranks of the permies and then compete by deceit, lies, treachery, and the usual permie rubbish that HR departments delight in.

A mate of mine runs the MBA programme for a very well known business school in Europe (not mentioning where) and he reckons its a joke, especially these permie idiots who try and apply leadership tactics afterwards.

he also reckons its just not worth it for people like career contractors , unless we wish to go into very senior strategic roles (which is to be honest is tempting, 5 years of blah blah strategy and then move on without delivering anything).

The importance of a degree is inversely proportional to your experience over time - ie it reduces, I should say that the client list is more important, (ie get the big names on for a few years and you're set)

[malvolio]

unless we wish to go into very senior strategic roles (which is to be honest is tempting, 5 years of blah blah strategy and then move on without delivering anything).

It's a bit trickier than that, TBH. For one thing we usually spend 80% of the time sorting out technical specialists who insist on telling us why a business solution they know little about won't work

[partimer]

Food for thought

Be honest. Most contracts are for run of the mill donkey work. Except for the blaggers amongst us, how many contractors will get on to a contract where they learn lots of news things i.e. add to their skillset ?
Not many I would imagine.

As a contractor you're "stuck" with your skills unless you go on courses to refresh, reskill, etc. Which goes back to the original point. Paper certs. (degrees included) are useful in some cases and is a start for when you are new to that particular skill.

There can only be a few contracts where you are paid to learn "on the job". If you are the PM why hire a contractor who doesn't have the skill you're after ?
Hence this thread has gone 360. (Yes, you can blag but you know what I mean in this thread).
The usual dilemma, can't get the contract without experience. Can't get the experience without the contract.

This is a generalisation. There are always exceptions.