Comments on: Degree Required https://www.evilhrlady.org/2007/10/degree-required.html Everything to make HR better Sat, 12 Nov 2011 16:11:12 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.4 By: human resources management https://www.evilhrlady.org/2007/10/degree-required.html#comment-1274 Thu, 01 Apr 2010 06:49:00 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/2007/10/degree-required.html#comment-1274 Degree is "Proxy" on each and every level during your decision.

Stuff is too interesting.

]]> By: karenm https://www.evilhrlady.org/2007/10/degree-required.html#comment-1273 Tue, 20 Nov 2007 01:41:00 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/2007/10/degree-required.html#comment-1273 George, Right ON — I love what the Supreme Court stated in one of its earliest interpretations of Title VII:
“History is filled with examples of men and women who rendered highly effective performance without the conventional badges of accomplishment in terms of certificates, diplomas, or degrees. Diplomas and tests are useful servants, but Congress has mandated the commonsense proposition that they are not to become masters of reality.”

Can one imagine IBM not hiring Bill Gates for an executive position because of lack of Degree? (age discrimination would come to mind) — and if they did hire him, then imagine the legal mindfield that is now created in regards to all those other Qualified Candidates they turned down to lack of degree..

It is just viable for a company to add THREE MAGIC WORDS – OR Equivalent Experience
Karen M

]]> By: George https://www.evilhrlady.org/2007/10/degree-required.html#comment-1272 Mon, 05 Nov 2007 15:23:00 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/2007/10/degree-required.html#comment-1272 Is the college degree the new high school diploma? Sounds like it to me. Meaning that a couple of generations ago, it was high school graduation that was the indicator of those basic qualities mentioned in the post. many jobs now requiring a college degree then only required a high school diploma (perhaps plus relevant experience).

Guess what? In the early 1970s the Supreme Court held that it was ILLEGAL to require a high school diploma for a job if it had a racially disparate impact, unless the employer could PROVE business necessity.

This is still the law, and in most instances, I doubt employers can prove necessity for a college degree requirement. (And suspect the requirement has a racially disparate impact, disqualifying more black applicants.) Can anyone say “class action”?

]]> By: Kevin https://www.evilhrlady.org/2007/10/degree-required.html#comment-1271 Mon, 29 Oct 2007 20:00:00 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/2007/10/degree-required.html#comment-1271 Here’s a bit of self analysis. In the bit of hiring I’ve done for a professional position at a small company, I started off thinking I wouldn’t necessarily require a degree … but then I found I kept getting annoyed by job seekers who didn’t have one.

You KNOW it’s a minimum standard for a good job, you have every opportunity to get one (online, evenings, whatever), so why don’t you? If you don’t have one, my default assumption is that you’re too dumb, or too lazy, or you’re too busy cooking up meth in your trailer.

Ultimately — if you’re Bill Gates then you won’t be coming to me for a job, I’ll be coming to you for a job. If you’re NOT Bill Gates, then show me a degree.

]]> By: Martin Snyder https://www.evilhrlady.org/2007/10/degree-required.html#comment-1270 Mon, 29 Oct 2007 06:18:00 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/2007/10/degree-required.html#comment-1270 Richard Branson Barry Diller, Michael Dell, William H. Gates III , Larry Ellison, Steve Jobs, Sheldon Adelson, Kirk Kerkorian,Donald Newhouse, David Geffen, Ralph Lauren…..Ted Turner its just silly really…..

I suppose that if you have the talent to make a bunch of cash without a degree in the first place, you are going to figure a way to massage the requirement if you ever run up against it. Maybe consulting or some other dodge.

I like the commenter’s idear of the online degree.

we seem to have bifurcated into a fast track (degrees tied to licenses) and no track ( a bazillion kids partying in college for no real reason) situation over the past 30 years anyway. What was funny in “Animal House” is not funny now- billions wasted for little gain to the economy.

What probably will happen is that assessment technology will advance and degree requirements will slacken in those areas where people without degrees, but with skills, can impact profits.

Arbitrage opps like that are hard to maintain !

]]> By: Simon https://www.evilhrlady.org/2007/10/degree-required.html#comment-1269 Mon, 29 Oct 2007 00:40:00 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/2007/10/degree-required.html#comment-1269 Great post! I currently consult for one of those companies where a degree is the price of admission. No degree…see ya! Fortunately there are lots of companies that don’t have this policy. Years ago it was predicted that a graduate degree would be needed as well. While there are some jobs that require it, the vast majority still only require an undergrad degree. I recommend that everyone get a degree if there is any way to do it. Graduate degrees are great too but graduate level experience actually counts for something…

]]> By: rwellor https://www.evilhrlady.org/2007/10/degree-required.html#comment-1268 Sun, 28 Oct 2007 01:35:00 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/2007/10/degree-required.html#comment-1268 get your online degree from an accredited university and it will carry as much weight as any degree from that university.

No one can tell if a degree was earned online, in bricks and mortar, or from outer space.

Now.. Harvard isn’t going to give you an online degree, but that isn’t your college anyway.

I finished my BS online and got my MA completely online.

No one has cared at all.

It is, as evilhrlady notes, often a requirement to have a degree.

So get one. An accredited one. By any means possible..

]]> By: KC https://www.evilhrlady.org/2007/10/degree-required.html#comment-1267 Fri, 26 Oct 2007 20:19:00 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/2007/10/degree-required.html#comment-1267 Hi Evil HR Lady and everyone who offered comments on my plight.

I appreciate the brutal honesty. You’ve all convinced me to forge ahead and get my BS. I’m looking into online universities, which I think will have to be the compromise. I know an online degree does not carry the same weight as a brick and mortar school, but at least it’s better than no bachelor at all.

Enjoy your weekend!

-Kate

]]> By: thomast https://www.evilhrlady.org/2007/10/degree-required.html#comment-1266 Fri, 26 Oct 2007 19:19:00 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/2007/10/degree-required.html#comment-1266 As a mid-career professional who also lacks a four-year degree, I certainly feel this person’s pain. In my current job, I think the absence of degree sort of escaped the notice of the person here who would have kicked my resume based on that fact, and it wasn’t until the end of the interview process, when I think they’d pretty well decided they liked me, that they asked for clarification on the list of school names and dates I include on my resume.

In your situation, I’d just put the school and the year, maybe mentioning the topic, but not the level of the degree. You’re at the point where your experience is the more important qualifier than your education. If your school is one that offers both 2- and 4- year degrees, so much the better. Let them make the assumption or ask about it.

]]> By: Michelle Malay Carter https://www.evilhrlady.org/2007/10/degree-required.html#comment-1265 Fri, 26 Oct 2007 14:25:00 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/2007/10/degree-required.html#comment-1265 Yes, a degree is a proxy, as should be experience.

I blogged on this subject last week:

http://www.missionmindedmanagement.com/could-you-hire-this-man

Regards,

Michelle Malay Carter

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