In his letter “Intelligent employees, not degree holders, secure higher salaries” (May 9), the writer claims that intelligent people often end up with a degree and are thus paid better because of their intelligence, and not because of their degree.
This argument is flawed. Firstly, there is no direct relationship between high intelligence and holding a degree. Steve Jobs and Bill Gates are well-known examples of intelligent people who gave up a degree to pursue their passion.
Also, there are many graduates who work for non-graduates. I have met young hackers who did not attend university but know more about computers than do graduates in information technology.
An overeducated person can also become too analytical and risk-averse such that they do not think outside the box and lose their instinct for creativity and bright ideas.
On the flip side, most human resource departments hire based on certification, which can be easier to verify than intelligence before an applicant is employed.
And when employees have the certification but not the intelligence, they can mask the latter through office politics. Those who get promoted are often those who know how to speak well, take credit for themselves and please their employers.
Besides graduates, those who are able to earn higher salaries are also often those with a higher emotional quotient, rather than a higher intelligence quotient. These are the realities.
