On A Personal Note – Degree or No Degree
March 21, 2007 by Darlene McDaniel
Filed under Jobs
My passion for the hiring process was birthed out of closed doors I experienced early in my career. The doors I experienced felt and seemed impenetrable. I had no one to help me understand the corporate world. My desire was promotion and yet I didn’t know how to traverse the proverbial “corporate ladder” As a result, I began to read, ask questions and study the hiring process. Why did some people get promoted and others not? Why do some people get the job and others don’t. The reasons are vast, but I do believe some things are absolutely in the hands of the candidate.
One thing I learned early in my studies, was the importance of the interview. My first major lesson came when I had the opportunity to interview for a HR Generalist position with a large company. I got the interview through relationship. I had become friends with a senior HR manager in the organization. He opened his network to me and I had the opportunity to interview for a position with his boss.
The interview went very well. At the end of the interview, I knew I had nailed the job! Let me stop here before I tell you the end of the story and just say, I had no idea how to effectively interview for a job at that time. What I did know was that I could do any job offered, and I knew I could learn anything you could teach me. I was raw talent at the time.
Back to the story…, The interview came to an end, and I was being told about the training I would receive and to expect a call back with the details. As we stood to shake on it, The Director of HR reached across the desk to shake my hand and she said, “by the way, I forgot to ask, do you have your degree?” That question was like a knife stabbing me in the heart. I had not finished my degree at that time. And I had to say so. Could I have lied? Possibly! Anyway, let’s just say the great interview turned into what I call “Black Friday.” I lost the opportunity and kicked myself for months for quitting school after my junior year.
What’s the point? My point in sharing this story is to share with you one of the foundational blocks in my career that motivated me to understand the hiring process. To understand that as potential employees, we have a responsibility to position ourselves with the organization we want to work, in such a way that the only thing they evaluate you on is your skills and abilities.
Having an undergraduate degree was important to me, but it became even more important when I wanted to climb the corporate ladder. Prior to having my degree, that is all I ever heard about why I could not get jobs I wanted. Today, I have a degree. Today, that issue is off the table and we can talk about other reasons I may not get a job, but education is no longer the issue.
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Check out what others are saying about this post...[...] ladder. Prior to having my degree, I was told I couldn’t get promoted without the degree. Today, I have a degree. Today, that issue is off the table and we can talk about other reasons I may not get a job, but [...]
[...] along the way. The most painful experience had to do with not having a degree. Here is a link: Degree or No Degree. As a result of that experience, I went back to school and finished my undergraduate degree. In the [...]
[...] Degree or no degree, that is a question? Do you have an MBA? Are you pursuing and MBA? Should you pursue an MBA? Recently I found a post on BizLevity, one of our newer blogs here at the Business Channel, MBA No Guarantee of Success, Pace University Says. I am not attempting to discredit this survey done by Pace University, but it boggles my mind when I hear things like this. Ok, so many of the successful CEO’s don’t have an MBA. Is that the reason you shouldn’t get one? My life experience has taught me that education opens doors. Without it, you have no guarantee that anyone will answer the door or open the door if you don’t have a piece of paper that says you completed your education. An MBA is a key that opens different doors than your 4 year diploma. [...]
[...] Degree or no degree, that is a question? Do you have an MBA? Are you pursuing and MBA? Should you pursue an MBA? Recently I found a post on BizLevity, one of our newer blogs here at the Business Channel, MBA No Guarantee of Success, Pace University Says. I am not attempting to discredit this survey done by Pace University, but it boggles my mind when I hear things like this. Ok, so many of the successful CEO’s don’t have an MBA. Is that the reason you shouldn’t get one? My life experience has taught me that education opens doors. Without it, you have no guarantee that anyone will answer the door or open the door if you don’t have a piece of paper that says you completed your education. An MBA is a key that opens different doors than your 4 year diploma. [...]
[...] Many organizations look like that and there are many that don’t. The bottom line is there is always someone in charge and there are worker bees. Add layers as it suits your fancy. My question, “where do you want to be when they are handing out positions?” My dad’s advice to me many years ago, “was don’t put yourself in the position where you have to take orders. Position yourself to be the person giving orders.” That was great advice for me. Not that I have ever run a large organization, however I have found my way into management more often than not over the years, because of his advice. My point – given the times we live in today, your degree or no degree may force you to be in a specific tier of employees than you anticipated if you make the decision to not complete your education. No degree is an easy out for employers to say, “no degree, no consideration.” Is it fair? Nope! But it is reality. Ask me how I know? [...]