Matric Certificate as a must

[Nemus]

Firstly, please forgive me if this is the wrong section, wasn't sure where exactly this would fall in. Business is probably as good as any...


So, I do a bit of recruiting for our company, and therefor also scour the net a bit to do some headhunting..
I've noticed a trend that most ads will post that having Matric is an absolute necessity. Now that makes sense in some positions, i guess. However, when wanting to employ a Developer with 20 years+ experience, or when you want to employ a receptionist, why would Matric be essential?

Would you take someone with a Matric and 1 year experience over someone with Grade 11 and 5 years+ experience?

 

[CamiKaze]

From an academic point of view, it matters because you are taking an opportunity away from someone that worked harder than the other.

 

[Chevron]

From an academic point of view, it matters because you are taking an opportunity away from someone that worked harder than the other possibly decades when they didn't have a career progression in mind even though now they are probably better qualified.

FTFY.

 

[CamiKaze]

FTFY.

didn't have a career progression in mind

Why would someone not have career progression in mind? I'm not disputing anything, I am just asking.

To add to my post, from an experience point of view; the money would be on the guy with more experience as he/she obviously knows more about a product than the one with less experience.

 

[deweyzeph]

I think it matters because a matric is such a basic educational qualification that questions have to be raised about someone if they couldn't even achieve that. It's not so much the knowledge that someone would have from having a matric, which these days is pretty low, but the fact that they were able to start and finish something. I think it says a lot about someone if they don't at least have a matric. It's such an easy qualification to get, it really raises a lot of red flags if someone doesn't have one.

Another point of view is that requiring applicants to at least have a matric is an easy way to weed out the riff raff when going through job applications.

 

[Nemus]

From an academic point of view, it matters because you are taking an opportunity away from someone that worked harder than the other.

Ok, i understand that. Now look at a situation I recently encountered.
I have 2 applicants. 1 holds a matric certificate with Math Literacy (Note Literacy, NOT Math SG or HG) at 40%. This one passed matric due to the 33% regulated requirement for passing.
#2 holds only grade 11, having lost a parent during matric year, looked after the siblings while working and gaining experience. Both are willing to work for the same salary...

Who do you go for?

 

[Nemus]

I think it matters because a matric is such a basic educational qualification that questions have to be raised about someone if they couldn't even achieve that. It's not so much the knowledge that someone would have from having a matric, which these days is pretty low, but the fact that they were able to start and finish something. I think it says a lot about someone if they don't at least have a matric. It's such an easy qualification to get, it really raises a lot of red flags if someone doesn't have one.

Another point of view is that requiring applicants to at least have a matric is an easy way to weed out the riff raff when going through job applications.

Makes sense... I would then agree that it can be used as a Flagging tool, as opposed to an Absolute requirement. No?

 

[Chevron]

Why would someone not have career progression in mind? I'm not disputing anything, I am just asking.

To add to my post, from an experience point of view; the money would be on the guy with more experience as he/she obviously knows more about a product than the one with less experience.

Just trying to say that typically an 18year old doesn't know what they want to do. They're probably just there because their parents told them.


And yes I do have mine.

Just trying to show how your assumption that someone with a MC is more hard working than someone that doesn't have one. Once a person gets out of school and finds their passion, that's when they really start working hard.

 

[Kosmik]

Ok, i understand that. Now look at a situation I recently encountered.
I have 2 applicants. 1 holds a matric certificate with Math Literacy (Note Literacy, NOT Math SG or HG) at 40%. This one passed matric due to the 33% regulated requirement for passing.
#2 holds only grade 11, having lost a parent during matric year, looked after the siblings while working and gaining experience. Both are willing to work for the same salary...

Who do you go for?

Obvious, second one with the rider that he completes his matric part time and use SDL to assist him.

 

[CamiKaze]

Ok, i understand that. Now look at a situation I recently encountered.
I have 2 applicants. 1 holds a matric certificate with Math Literacy (Note Literacy, NOT Math SG or HG) at 40%. This one passed matric due to the 33% regulated requirement for passing.
#2 holds only grade 11, having lost a parent during matric year, looked after the siblings while working and gaining experience. Both are willing to work for the same salary...

Who do you go for?

Hmm, #2... shame. I would give #2 an opportunity to get right with life.
I would however try to convince #2 to finish matric.

 

[deweyzeph]

Makes sense... I would then agree that it can be used as a Flagging tool, as opposed to an Absolute requirement. No?

There are so many people with matric, why take the risk of hiring someone without one? Of course, I'm not saying that someone without matric is not capable of being an excellent employee, or that someone with matric is going to be a sure bet. But the reality is that there are millions of people with matric out there desperate for jobs, who have at least demonstrated that they are capable of achieving something, even if it is only successfully finishing matric. It's so hard to get rid of employees these days, why even take the risk of hiring someone who wasn't capable of finishing matric?

 

[Nemus]

I agree with assisting using the levies.. To be honest, I have already made the decision and employed one of the applicants.
My OP, however, refers simply to noticing just how many ads post that Matric is essential, where it really did not have a huge impact on my decision.

 

[Nemus]

There are so many people with matric, why take the risk of hiring someone without one? Of course, I'm not saying that someone without matric is not capable of being an excellent employee, or that someone with matric is going to be a sure bet. But the reality is that there are millions of people with matric out there desperate for jobs, who have at least demonstrated that they are capable of achieving something, even if it is only successfully finishing matric. It's so hard to get rid of employees these days, why even take the risk of hiring someone who wasn't capable of finishing matric?

I agree that there are many with matric, but there are cases where it was not lack of dedication leading to not completing..
Similar to when I employ in the IT sector, I look firstly at specialist certifications rather than degrees.

 

[deweyzeph]

I agree that there are many with matric, but there are cases where it was not lack of dedication leading to not completing..
Similar to when I employ in the IT sector, I look firstly at specialist certifications rather than degrees.

Fair enough, at the end of the day it's up to you as the employer to employ whoever you feel is the best for the job.

The IT sector is an interesting anomaly when it comes to qualifications. There are many talented developers out there with no formal qualifications whatsoever, and likewise many highly qualified developers who are absolutely terrible programmers.

 

[CamiKaze]

I agree that there are many with matric, but there are cases where it was not lack of dedication leading to not completing..
Similar to when I employ in the IT sector, I look firstly at specialist certifications rather than degrees.

And this is what bothers me... To me it seems like degrees mean nothing and specialist certifications are the in-thing nowadays. (topic for another thread)
Yet, developers with specialist certifications don't get the salary that is aligned with said certification. (topic for another thread)

 

[MeroD]

I think it matters because a matric is such a basic educational qualification that questions have to be raised about someone if they couldn't even achieve that. It's not so much the knowledge that someone would have from having a matric, which these days is pretty low, but the fact that they were able to start and finish something. I think it says a lot about someone if they don't at least have a matric. It's such an easy qualification to get, it really raises a lot of red flags if someone doesn't have one.
Another point of view is that requiring applicants to at least have a matric is an easy way to weed out the riff raff when going through job applications.

I dropped out of school at grade 10. Looking back I realize that may not have been the wisest choice. Admittedly it hasn't been easy for me, but I've never allowed it to hold me back. My first job was at Pelindaba way back. I was conditionally/temporary employed because of my lack of qualifications. I went on to work there for five years, learning, supporting critical computing/server installations and moved on when I was offered employment at a well known bank, for a much better salary.

My skills are in high demand and I treat my clients with a professional attitude. But apparently I'm just common riff-raff so maybe I should ask my clients to fire me, and get someone who does have matric then

 

[deweyzeph]

I dropped out of school at grade 10. Looking back I realize that may not have been the wisest choice. Admittedly it hasn't been easy for me, but I've never allowed it to hold me back. My first job was at Pelindaba way back. I was conditionally/temporary employed because of my lack of qualifications. I went on to work there for five years, learning, supporting critical comping/server installations and moved on when I was offered employment at a well known bank, for a much better salary.

My skills are in high demand and I treat my clients with a professional attitude. But apparently I'm just common riff-raff so maybe I should ask my clients to fire me, and get someone who does have matric then

Have you thought about enrolling in an adult matric course and finishing your matric?

 

[Nemus]

I dropped out of school at grade 10. Looking back I realize that may not have been the wisest choice. Admittedly it hasn't been easy for me, but I've never allowed it to hold me back. My first job was at Pelindaba way back. I was conditionally/temporary employed because of my lack of qualifications. I went on to work there for five years, learning, supporting critical computing/server installations and moved on when I was offered employment at a well known bank, for a much better salary.

My skills are in high demand and I treat my clients with a professional attitude. But apparently I'm just common riff-raff so maybe I should ask my clients to fire me, and get someone who does have matric then

Sorry but this has me actually Laughing out loud! This sits with my point exactly!

 

[MeroD]

Have you thought about enrolling in an adult matric course and finishing your matric?

I have, though the last few years have been quite hectic. Most of my free time is spent keeping up with technological trends/completing related certifications. Also I didn't want to make the commitment if I wasn't certain I could complete it. The other problem is taking the time off to actually write the examinations, and finding a proper location to do so.

Maybe five years ago, but I can't see that doing matric would make any significant difference for me at this point.

 

[Nemus]

I have, though the last few years have been quite hectic. Most of my free time is spent keeping up with technological trends/completing related certifications. Also I didn't want to make the commitment if I wasn't certain I could complete it. The other problem is taking the time off to actually write the examinations, and finding a proper location to do so.

Maybe five years ago, but I can't see that doing matric would make any significant difference for me at this point.

The benefit could be the "Matric - or similar" part. You could have the credits assigned to the NQF4 requirement from other related certs/qualifications, and add the balance. Or, do a RPL on a NQF4 Senior Certificate.