Quote:
Originally Posted by trm0002
Also, IMO only, there is a totally different breed of graduates coming out of college nowadays. They all want the cushy $100k a year desk jobs (that don't exist anyways). They don't want to have to get their hands dirty like I did, my father did, his father did... That's who's coming out of college now- no one to work in manufacturing.
So, with regards to manufacturing in the US, companies are in trouble because they've lost all the "gravy" work, they're in trouble because they're paying too much to get done what they have, and they can't hire anyone new to fill the gaps. Did I miss anything?
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I am a professor at what would be classified as a "medium size" university of close to 12,000 students. In my 10 years at this institution, the majority of students I come into contact with put forth minimal effort and then complain when they get a "C" or "D." Last year, one student was asking me how much she can earn with a Master's degree in psychology. I told her that school counselors are in high demand around the area and can start at mid 40k and then go up pretty quickly. She told me...and I quote: "There is no way I can live on $40,000.00 a year. I need to make at least twice that." My jaw dropped.
I have had many, many students come to me at the end of the semester "wanting" a better grade. I show them their performance on exams, homework assignments, papers, presentations, etc., and ask them why they believe they should get a "B" when they have done "C" work all semester. I am not referring to students who are 0.5% - 1% points away from a better grade. I am referring to students who are 3% - 6% points away, which often equates them being 35 - 45 raw points away. Some of their responses...well...make me sad for the future of our country. Most believe they are "entitled" to the better grade because they paid for the class. When they ask "is there anything I can do" and I ask them whether that would be fair to allow them to do an extra-assignment and not give that opportunity to every student, a few say "no" and walk out of my office. But far too many, in my opinion, tell me that they "won't tell anyone" or "I don't care about their grades, I just want to improve mine."
I "worked" for my dad in the automotive aftermarket in Southern California from about 12 to 26 years old. When I was a kid, he'd make me go with him to take care of defects and returns. He always had me working...whether it was him making me clean up the garage or sweep up the warehouse. As I got older, I was "promoted" so to speak up the chain to the point where I would be making sales calls and presentations during summer vacation...not a vacation for me, though. I'm doing similar things with my two young sons.
6-year-old: "Dad, I want a new Bakugan." (Or pokemon).
Me: "Get a job and pay for it."
6-year-old: "Where to I get a job."
Me: "Right now, from me."
6-year-old: "O.K., I want a job."
Me: "Alright, go out in the back yard and pick up all the pine cones you can see. Then, after you are done with that, rake up the pine straw."
6-year-old: "That's too much. It'll take forever!"
Me: "I guess you don't want the Bakugan bad enough, do you?"
6-year-old: "Where's the rake?"