Degrees Of Career Differentiation

By Sharon Thomas DeLay

You’ve probably heard, and maybe are starting to believe, that no degree means fewer job opportunities. Not so fast! While having a degree may give you the advantage in some circumstances, and a degree may be required for some positions, skill and experience often trump degrees in many hiring managers’ considerations. Before assuming whether your lack of a degree (or a degree in an area that is different than what the posting desires) is a deficit, read the posting carefully. If it indicates that a degree (or specific degree) or equivalent is desired or preferred, that leaves open a lot of room for negotiation.

If you are one of the nearly two-thirds of Americans who do not have an advanced degree, take comfort that you still are likely qualified for that job. The key word in the job posting is “equivalent,” which means that significant, related professional experience may satisfy the hiring company’s needs.

If you don’t have a degree and you do have demonstrated professional experience, make sure your résumé reflects your accomplishments. If you have powerful, measurable successes that are related or transferable, highlight these as a way to demonstrate the degree equivalency requirement. The more quantifiable and impressive (as well as honest), the more powerful.
Degrees will continue to be highly desirable criteria in certain professions and overall, as employers position themselves competitively. However, they are certainly not the only criteria that can differentiate you from everyone else.