Comments on: What Do You Mean I Need a College Degree?

By: Job Seeker Happiness Is... | CareerJockey

Job Seeker Happiness Is... | CareerJockey — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:34:56 +0000

[...] the first two articles last week. (You can find those articles at “You’re Fired!” and “What Do You Mean I Need a College Degree?”) In four days, both articles made it to the 10 most popular articles [...]

By: Mario Sanchez Carrion

Mario Sanchez Carrion — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:00:59 +0000

Tony:
Is there any way you could get past the gatekeeper? Maybe contact the company directly? If they didn’t tell you who the company was, could you try to narrow the range by Googling some of the info in the job posting to try to find out? I think that if you get face to face with someone in the company you may have a better chance.

By: The Myth Of The High Rate Of Divorce | Getting a Divorce

The Myth Of The High Rate Of Divorce | Getting a Divorce — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:25:09 +0000

[...] College degree? Why do I need a college degree? | Career Jockey [...]

By: RoxanneBF

RoxanneBF — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:45:01 +0000

Tony,
This is a great read and speaks directly to the frustration shared by many these days. One would assume that experience, maturity, dependability, proven competence, and first-hand industry knowledge would somehow be of more value than a ‘college degree”–which only means that a person passed a few tests and wrote some interesting papers back in their early 20s.

In the end, a degree is not determinate proof of anyone’s capability to manage the rigors of an actual job, or a guarantee that an applicant can fulfill an employer’s objectives or bring in revenue for a company.

I’m in my mid-40s and have been ‘underemployed’ since 2005, when I was ‘let go’ from my sales job after three years. Before that, I worked consistently since the 80s, taking on jobs of increased responsibility. I did not have a college degree. In 2006, I started working temporary assignments, returned to school, and completed work on my bachelor’s degree in under three years.

Well, now I possess more than 15 years of professional,corporate experience coupled with years of working in freelance/contract employment ventures, and stints as a temporary employee. And, I also have that so-called highly trumpeted college degree.
What I don’t have now is a job.

So, it really makes me really wonder: how important is that piece of paper anyway!?

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uberVU - social comments — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:20:23 +0000

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By: Bill

Bill — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:48:37 +0000

Tony:

Great read and the pain a whole lot of us have felt. Way too many times I’ve seen the graduate come in, hired becasue of his/her great degree, and totally mess up the entire team. No experience, not a clue how to do what they were hired for while so many great folks like you were standing outside waiting for a chance. I got lucky and got a Masters degree going to school after work for 2 years ( I don’t have undergrad degree-talked ‘em into taking life experience and passing grade on GMAT test. The only thing it does is get the checkmark in the box.

I hope someone will see the real value in your history soon.

By: Greg

Greg — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:31:58 +0000

Tony,
What a great read! There is a job for everybody out there we just have to keep the faith. Networking will lead to 85% of the positions people find, as Christine indicated. I have a similar situation with Certifications. I have none, but I know the material. Employers need to recognize the great talent pool they are missing out on because of degrees and certifications. Sad to say in this day and age people still aren’t truthful about their skills and abilities. The Certifications and Degrees are proof that they know something. But people with years of experience like you and I should be given an opportunity to at least get an interview. Is that too much to ask?

By: Orietta

Orietta — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:28:53 +0000

Thanks for the article, Tony, and timely given the number of people out in the market trying to be employed once more. Never understood why a degree should be the dealbreaker. Yes, it shows commitment, yes it shows the desire for knowledge, and yes it shows you followed the “typical” rules/process. However, and I know I’m going to hear about this, maybe this is why we’re in worst economic situation ever, we let the degree (and usually the ivy league one), define our roles/capabilities. Hmmmmm?

Experience, wisdom, ethics, good judgment, professionalism, good leadership, talent, dedication, loyalty … should also be on the list of criterias for a position, especially a high level one.

This brings me to the so called recruiters … who makes you the be all and end all of this process? Where’s your due diligence and follow through, and accountability?

Now that I am off my soap box, Tony, try to find the hiring manager for this role and speak to him/her directly. If smart, they’ll know a good employee when they see one. If not so smart, they’ll stick to the degree requirement. Either way, it’s a win-win … you win cause you got the job, or you win, because you got away from an employer you would not want to work with/for. Good luck!

By: Jonathon

Jonathon — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:28:00 +0000

It’s a difficult position to be in. I often kick myself for not going to University, but at the same time have gained plenty of life experience during this time that I wouldn’t trade for a degree. Networking is key to finding work, but don’t forget the world of self-employment, as a consultant. This is often a great route to go for the right person, if you can overcome the initial difficulties faced by everyone starting a new business.

By: John

John — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:20:39 +0000

Hey Tony,

Yet another in the same boat as you story. I’m a graphics professional, no degree but 2 years of vocational mechanical drafting in the late 70’s that got my foot in the door to a technical illustration position which led to 20+ years of experience branching into graphic design, animation and digital video. I’ve kept up with trends, gone to seminars, using the latest software but have had only one interview in 7 months.

Leaving my last “real” job 3 years ago involved a corporate takeover and a hatchetwoman who decimated our entire department(ironically we practically BEGGED her to hire on as she was to be the liaison between us and the marketing director). Since then I’ve been severely underemployed and finally laid off from a newspaper (we all know how vibrant that industry is) in April. Like you I made increasing salaries over the years and thought I was getting along very well without a degree. Surprise, surprise. I can no longer avoid the likelihood that I’m going back to school for something. Most likely medical as there’s plenty of job security there…

Good luck (or break a leg)

John C