12th February 2006, 05:11 PM
Roy,
No I'm serious about being glad there is a decline in new grads entering the profession. It is the main thing that has been holding down wages. That, and as Troll says, managers that think it is still the 60's or 70's.
I would fit in your category as a mature digger as I entered the profession at 28. What I really object to is the 50 something ex policemen or teachers that are independently wealthy (relative to me) who accept the low wages and temporary contracts because they see it as a fun hobby rather than their bread and butter.
FYI I have seen plenty of these people in the last ten years , so it is not a non-starter. Not only do they take away a job from a new graduate, but much more damagingly they reinforce in the minds of the aforementioned managers that crap wages and short term contracts are still an acceptable way to operate in the 21st Century.
Overall a blow to professionalization in the industry.
If you are one of these people, with all due respect, join your local society and don't damage the prospects of the young people trying to get into the profession by taking their jobs.
No I'm serious about being glad there is a decline in new grads entering the profession. It is the main thing that has been holding down wages. That, and as Troll says, managers that think it is still the 60's or 70's.
I would fit in your category as a mature digger as I entered the profession at 28. What I really object to is the 50 something ex policemen or teachers that are independently wealthy (relative to me) who accept the low wages and temporary contracts because they see it as a fun hobby rather than their bread and butter.
FYI I have seen plenty of these people in the last ten years , so it is not a non-starter. Not only do they take away a job from a new graduate, but much more damagingly they reinforce in the minds of the aforementioned managers that crap wages and short term contracts are still an acceptable way to operate in the 21st Century.
Overall a blow to professionalization in the industry. If you are one of these people, with all due respect, join your local society and don't damage the prospects of the young people trying to get into the profession by taking their jobs.