[nradov]

The dirty secret in HR is that performance in most regular jobs doesn't really depend on having learned anything in college. Companies only require a college degree to filter the candidate pool down to a manageable level. Line managers know they'll have to train entry level hires on almost everything.

IBM used to hire software developers based on aptitude test scores regardless of formal education, then put them through an extensive internal training program. It worked fine.

[ghaff]

IBM (among other companies) used to have multi-month internal training programs based on their specific needs. And, in many cases, the expectation was that you'd be there for 25 years or whatever afterwards.

[watwut]

Performance does depend on whether you are capable to overcome obstacles by yourself, learn by yourself and produce by yourself.

People who got through via cheating in college tend to be low performers in work for the exact same reasons.

[LtWorf]

Most companies expect people to be productive sooner rather than later, and not every job is completely trivial.