No Degree Plenty of Experience
Ok, Here's my story. Would appreciate any feedback...Have been in the same field for 20 years. Do not have a degree, however my current position, if they were to hire, would require a BS degree. Have obtained a management position, which was my long term goal. Recently my daily commute has gone from 50 mins to 1 1/2 hr each way. I am exhausted and want to find a job closer to home. Found the perfect match. Have all requirements that were listed in the job description except the Assoc degree which was a minimum requirement. However, I do have the Preferred requirements, again minus the degree. It is so frustrating to be appearing over qualified for the position, but can not even get a return call for a interview. These are the positions that would report to me.. I just don't get it.. Is this a way of age discrimination or a company not recognizing someone wanting to make a contribution by ways of experience?? On my team I have 2 people with degrees who are not to sharp. Guess my experience is not as important as a piece of paper. Please help me gain some perspective on the importance of the paper vs plenty of experience...
No question about it. The degree is a gate, and companies have to set-up gates so that they can narrow down the list. There always exceptions, but in a process where hundreds of resumes come in, exceptions don't always get their due attention.
When you are in this situation:
* Your resume needs to sing with focused success stories and outcomes. You are a person who gets things done. Show that track record.
* A really compelling cover letter that demonstrates you understand the requirements of their role and how your background relates.
The objective is to make it obvious that this is a slam dunk.
You also need to get out and talk to people. If you can generate a conversation with someone, and establish your bona fides (experience, track record) first, then the fact that you don't have a degree will be less of an issue, because you have already impressed them.
* You might try the follow-up phone call on select applications, with the view of pointing out that while you don't have that education, your experience is bang on and you have what they need. (Never argue their requirement. Just make a persuasive argument of what you have.)
Ian Christie
Career Changers Coach
Hi firebird57
Resume Dilemma: No Degree 
Trying to get certain jobs when you don't have a degree can be tough. Educate yourself on how to adapt your resume.
MCCathy
Community Moderator
Monster
Hi, I think the Forum Coach and Moderator have provided excellent tips and the link is a good one, I advise you to read it. You did not say your field and there are ones that a lack of degree should be a roadblock (engineer, teacher, nurse, etc) as we really need to have folks with the proper credentials in those positions. But, there are many others that there may be wiggle room for in that requirement. I see many postings that state associate degree or even bachelor degree OR combination of course work/experience. So, I do think that there are employers recognizing the value of experience as long as it translates to the needs of the open position.
For many of us, our degree is dated. I have a friend with a Master's who has been told repeatedly that his degree is "too old". So there you go. He has solid work experience in his field and one could argue whether a masters is even needed for the type of jobs he is seeking. I was amazed that a masters has an expiration date in not that many years. My degree is also dated, although I have not been told this specifically, but I have the work experience, the continuing and professional education and the skill set to do the job. This is what prospective employers are really looking at. If we are looking at a position that is high profife and a press release will be issued upon hiring, then the employer may want to "brag" on us and the credentials or lack of would come into play.
But in your case, you should not list your degree date anyways. So if you have had course work and can just list the university, it may be assumed that you have the degree. This might get you to an interview stage. Now, you must come clean with an application, background check, etc. and be completely honest with what you list. But, you may find during the interview that the focus is not on the degree but on your management position and experience. I think this particularly in your case as you indicated that an associate degree is the only requirement you are lacking. That is just a 2 year degree and I am not saying it is invalid or not an achievement, I just think your overall career path and experience would get you considered. I want to be clear here that I am not advocating lying in any way. I am advocating crafting your resume and cover letter in such a way that could award you an interview and at that point, you are having a face to face and you may find that the degree is not as important of a requirement as the posting may indicate.
There are many positions listed that I do not think a degree would be needed particularly when we have all worked with someone with a degree in a totally unrelated field. (won't even get into the situations with folks with degrees who are completely clueless!:) This is an employer's market and they can request whatever they please. I am a huge proponent of education, but it comes in many forms and experience and determination to raise oneself to a management position is just another version. Unfortunately, it isn't in the form of a sheepskin. Personally, I have found folks such as yourself to work even harder and are usually very bright and flexible, maybe to compensate for that lack of sheepskin, but the value and work they have brought to the table has been excellent.
I encourage you to take the advice under consideration and apply for this position! Good luck.
I would also suggest, once you get things worked out, maybe considering getting an associates degree for a local community college.
I would suggest (if you don't already) to definitely include a cover letter with your resume and highlight your experience with specific examples from your work. When you submit just a resume, it may be overlooked just because you don't have the required degree, but if you include a cover letter giving concrete examples of your worth as an employee (given your experience, etc.) then you may not be as easily overlooked. Don't forget that job descriptions and qualifications can be very flexible, they only give a rough idea of what an employer wants. What any boss ultimately wants is an employee who can hand the job with maximum responsibilty and minimal supervision. Given your experience level, it seems that you would definitely be able to do that. Don't refrain from submitting your resume just because you don't have the required degree. Send it in your resume and a specifically targeted cover letter and you shouldn't be overlooked. Good luck!
Thank you to all of your who took the time to responded to me.. ( Association 11, BKaur26, McCathy, The Big Bossman, Career Changers Coach)
I have done as most of you have suggested. The frustrating part is I am willing to take a pay reduction to find a career closer to home. Know I would be a valuable asset to this position with computer and work experience but can not even get an interview. My cover letter was created to show strengths, give details of achievements, goals for the job etc. Just don't quite get it... Really feel age could be a factor. Company will not take any phone calls. Followed up with a confirmation letter to verify receipt of resume. Nothing. Do not want to appear desperate, but feel they are overlooking a very qualified person... Looks to me my loss, not theirs... thank you again for letting me vent .. Good luck to everyone...
You're not alone. I have over 35 years of experience without a degree and can run circles around most post-grads. I apply for at least 2 positions every day but like you, at 53-years old no one will return my calls. To show you how dumb this gets:
A few years back at my last company, I answered a internal posting for a management position. I pointed out to the HR Director that I'd held the very same title 20 years earlier at another company. He promptly dismissed my point saying that a lot of time had passed since then. After he finished the "official" interview and we'd both dropped back into casual mode, he asked if I would mind answering a personal question. He wanted to know why, with all my obvious talents, I had never attended college - adding that a degree would make all the difference for me. I looked at him with amazement and responded, "You feel my job knowledge from 20 years ago is no longer relevant but something I might have learned 30 years ago in college somehow still is?
I caught him completely off his guard and he shifted about in his chair before saying, "The thing is, people like me who went to college only want to hire people who also went to college - it's just part of our ego."
You'd expect a person with 2 Masters to be more intelligent than that wouldn't you?
You are welcome! And don't despair, there are all kinds of unknown reasons for no follow up or scheduling of an interview. It could be there is an internal candidate, could be there is an external candidate endorsed by someone, lots of things that have nothing to do with you. And sometimes the process is delayed for some reason and you, all of a sudden out of the blue get a call in a month or two. Many times too, a candidate is already pretty much chosen, but policy requires posting of the position.
I feel your pain when you find that one position that would be perfect and you know you would be flexible in your needs to fit. For some of the others, maybe not so much. But, I have had it happen to me.
Stay positive and remember, job searching is not for the faint hearted! Also, I do not know if you have any experience in the non profit sector or if your skills would translate, but I have found them to not practice age discrimation in many cases. Age can be a factor in many companies, there is no doubt, but not all of them. I am in my mid 50's and have gotten interviews and no one blinks an eye at my age. I have gotten offers as well, just not what I am seeking. I have one today as a matter of fact. Just something else to think about. And don't forget attitude when interviewing, how we perceive ourselves is how we come off. So, never think OLD, it will not further your efforts.
Good luck!