The name is B A, MBA

So we went to the new James Bond movie last night. I loved it. We were just short of strip-searched on our way in. People's bags were searched and their cigarettes and any food/drinks they had on them were confiscated - apparently they have a big problem with people just lighting up during the movie under the cover of darkness. Just as the movie was building up and James was about to play his final hand of poker, the lights came on and the movie stopped. Half time!

But onto today's more pertinent topic. Whilst Coreen was still here, she was sitting next to the HR rep at work. As she was working, someone approached the HR rep, stuck his hand out and introduced himself, "Hi, I'm MBA." Now before you ask, MBA is neither an Indian name nor a nickname. This gentleman was introducing (and probably defining) himself with his qualification! In India as much of Asia an enormous importance is placed on qualifications and degrees. More so on the results achieved within these academic pursuits. Almost everyone I work with has an MBA. Those who don't have at least 2 degrees. A new law regarding relaxing nursery school entrance requirements has recently received a lot of coverage in the news. Nursery school? What exactly are they testing? The kids' knowledge of calculus?

I can't help but think that in an effort to differentiate themselves in the workplace, job hunters have merely raised the bar. It's the slippery slope of Nash's equilibrium. If one person stands in a soccer stadium to see better, everyone else stands in order to see until everyone is standing and able to see the same amount as when everyone was sitting down. Even in South Africa you can see this. How many more people are studying for their CFA then 5 years ago?

So what is the moral of the story here? There’s nothing sadder than someone who introduces himself using his qualification; don’t stand in a football stadium; and move to a country with low standards so you don’t have to study hard and can still get a good job.