Why Do So Many Jobs Request College Degrees?

Cobra392
Thu, 24 Jan 2013 09:11:46 +0000

At one job interview I had a couple years ago, at a small law firm (hiring non-JD research associates), anyone with a “qualifying” resume was first given an IQ tests, before any interviews were done. Those who scored highest received interviews.

Lots of research indicates that IQ is a phenomenal predictor of one’s ability to complete a job. Though, regardless of IQ, there’s obviously much uncertainty about one’s interest / passion / motivation in being successful in a job. For the majority of people in the majority of jobs on Earth, their main motivation is “money to pay the bills”. And a very high number of people work hard enough to keep their job and do well, but they’re primarily motivated by “not being fired”, rather than by an interest in the work itself.

Being able to do a job that doesn’t interest you while maintaining that job for a long time / getting promoted is a very valuable life skill. As you get older, companies want to see you in jobs for multiple years, so if you have the ability to succeed in uninteresting jobs, it’ll definitely make you more desirable to future employers.