Exec Laments Lack of Degree,
But Does It Really Matter?
Question: I started with my company fresh out of high
school 15 years ago and rose to president. I know my experience and work ethic
are assets, but my lack of a college degree is a big hole on my resume. What
advice do you have?
-- Susan,
Susan: I suspect this is a bigger hole in your psyche than it is
on your resume. You have already achieved a level that many college graduates
will never reach. A lot of people who have had extraordinary careers never
finished college, while many highly educated people can't hold down a job.
Employers are crying out for people who can get the work done and,
obviously, you can. Put yourself in the shoes of a hiring manager considering
two choices for a leadership role: Candidate A has an degree from a prestigious
school but has never turned around a profit center, while candidate B launched
a new division and made it an $80 million-a-year moneymaker. I don't know about
you, but I'd choose B. "If the person does indeed have a track record of
success, a degree is a non-issue," says Gary Roberts, a partner with Cabot
Consultants Inc., a
Still, you'd be wise to avoid Fortune 500 companies, which may
screen management candidates for college degrees without assessing the value of
their experience. You're better off sticking to smaller and midsize companies
and helping them grow. Many industries -- most notably retailing, hospitality
and insurance -- are peopled with non-degreed executives, while sales is and
has always been a function where accomplishments matter more than pedigrees.
Software and information technology is another area where know-how matters more
than a sheepskin.
As to your resume, whatever you do, don't fudge it. Job seekers
are more likely to lie about educational credentials on their resume than
almost any other fact, and there's a good chance you will be discovered sooner
or later. If you lied on your resume and still manage to be hired, then you're
a real risk-taker who enjoys the thrill of living with a secret. In time,
you'll likely be caught and summarily fired -- with a bad reference.
Make your resume irresistible by stacking it with your
accomplishments. List any professional training or certificate you've earned
over the years in a section entitled "Educational Credentials,"
suggests John Marcus, a resume writer in Sarasota, Fla.
Then research potential employers before contacting them. Find out
if their top executives have degrees. People typically prefer to hire people
who are like them, and accomplished self-starters without advanced degrees will
quickly see your worth.
When you get the interview, don't apologize for what you lack.
Instead, talk about what you can offer. "People hire accomplishments and
the ability to lead, not the degree, so don't bring it up," says Russ
Jones, managing principal at First Transitions, an Oak Brook, Ill.-based
outplacement firm. If the employer mentions the issue, acknowledge that you
didn't get a degree because you wanted to start your career and turn the
conversation back to your achievements.
If you still feel the degree is important, why not get it now?
It's never been easier, thanks to online advanced-degree programs. Some
Internet-only schools, as well as some traditional bricks-and-mortar
institutions, give course credit for life and work experience. Who knows? You
may have that degree faster than you expect.
Ms. Capell is a senior correspondent for CareerJournal.com.
Have a question about job hunting or career management? Write to frances.capell@dowjones.com with
your first name and the city where you're located, which we'll show if we
answer and post your question.
Article from CareerJournal Online – April 2005