fbpx
Do I Need a Degree to Get a Good Job?
Do I Need a Degree to Get a Good Job?

One of the most common questions that people ask me is: Do I need a university degree to get a good job? The short answer is no. There are many famous business leaders who didn’t finish their university degrees and there’s no evidence to suggest thatGraduation-Degree-Money their lack of a degree has hurt them. But let’s face it, as legendary as they are, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerburg’s experiences and success are the exceptions, not the rule.

Obviously, there are jobs that require a degree (or multiple degrees). There are others that are currently being done (or could be done) by people who attended community college, earned a certificate, or learned on the job.

When you’re looking for work and you don’t have a university degree, your best bet is to look for positions that are being offered by smaller companies that do not use an automated/electronic resume screening system (read this article about online screening). In these situations, your resume will be reviewed by a person who can see the skills and experience that you have acquired and set your resume aside for a second look. In contrast, the automated systems may reject your resume if it does not include a degree, regardless of your other qualifications.

When you are called for an interview, you’ll really need to demonstrate what you can do for your potential boss by making the connections between what you’ve done in the past and what you can do in the new job. You’ll need to inspire confidence in your ability to perform the duties that are required effectively and reliably. If you know that you can do very well in the role but you sense that your potential employer is unsure about taking a chance on someone without a degree, you might offer to work for a few days on a trial basis. Tell them that they can treat it like a simulation (essentially a test drive, but for a car).

two candidates different degreeYou may be relieved and pleased to know that one of my clients who did not complete university was recently offered an excellent job – and he competed and won against another applicant who had a Master’s degree. My client had a great resume and a compelling cover letter that got him through the initial screening. He had also acquired many useful skills and experience over the past 10 – 15 years. Perhaps more importantly, he performed well during a simulation. As part of the interview process, after some preparation time, he had to complete a one hour task that simulated something that he would need to be able to do while on the job. Clearly, when placed in the simulated job role, he convinced the hiring committee that he was the best applicant even though he didn’t have the best education.  When you’re good, you’re good. Often it’s a matter of getting the chance to show that you’ve got the goods.

 

Need help dealing with a delicate or high-stakes career or HR issue? I invite you to contact me privately. I offer a free 15-minute initial consultation by phone. Or, if you prefer, you can contact me by email, or via direct message on TwitterFacebook, or LinkedIn.

 

More than career coaching, it’s career psychology®.

 

I/O Advisory Services – Building Resilient Careers and Organizations.™

 

Easily share this article using any of the social media icons below.

Latest Posts

A Snapshot of Black Psychologists in Canada

A Snapshot of Black Psychologists in Canada

Although the CPA did not believe collecting disaggregated demographic data was a priority, the Black Psychology Section executive members started to collect this data as an interim measure. The Section’s hope and expectation is that the CPA and the various provincial and territorial Colleges of Psychology will ultimately take on this responsibility since they are connected to all psychologists working in Canada through the process of accreditation.

Things to do after you’ve been laid off …

Things to do after you’ve been laid off …

Certain experiences are common, but that does not make them easy to manage. Being laid off is one of those problematic yet common experiences.
In this blog article, I’m offering some ideas to support the thousands of people who are dealing with being laid off.

Six Good Career Books to Add to Your Library This Year

Six Good Career Books to Add to Your Library This Year

Summer is a natural time to indulge in some new reading material. With summer reading in mind, here are six good career books worth adding to your library whether as a physical book you’ll want to highlight and underline, or as an audiobook, which is a great use of time when you’re driving, walking, gardening, etc.

Rethinking and Modernizing Executive Presence

Rethinking and Modernizing Executive Presence

As an executive coach, clients sometimes ask me for advice on how to develop their executive presence. And every now and then, someone will make it clear that they have a very narrow definition of executive presence — and it usually rubs me the wrong way. The unstated subtext is that “real executives” fit a certain template, and that template does not include certain types of leaders, despite being accomplished and effective.  Thankfully, after so many years of tech executives capturing headlines and broad attention, attitudes have certainly shifted — and the dress code has definitely evolved.