Your not qualified

[jackfaire]

I spent two years working for my mom's company. After two years I left to seek other opportunities and discovered being a customer service representative. I took to the job like a fish takes to water.

Now my boss at the time was a college graduate the same age as me who had his bachelor's degree. I taught him how to do his job. He was hired at the same time and he had to learn how to do his job from me the college dropout.

This wasn't the last time either. In the years I have been doing this job I have worked in various offices in my area at one point I had to teach a guy with his computer sciences degree how to use his computer.

One little piece of paper that I can't afford is keeping me from jobs that I could do while these people with the paper haven't been able to do the jobs.

Even worse is when I find out people think that one piece of paper is different from another simply because of the two respected schools one is more respected. Now forgive me if I am wrong but I don't believe the computers they use at Harvard are somehow magically different than the ones at your local state school.

If you learned you learned if you simply regurgitated the subject matter then your an overpaid idiot.

Some people would ask why I don't go back to school. Well unfortunately I have to work to survive and in doing so I work hours that are not conducive to school and most online schools are only regionally accredited or overly expensive.

The really galling thing is the fact that in my area is a company who wants to hire customer service reps for 30,000 a year but only if you have a Bachelor's. A company telling me that I am apparently unqualified to do the job that I excel at.

Hiring managers here is a hint take a look at the experience of the people your interviewing and stop counting time sleeping in class as learning anything. Hell talk to the person get to know them. If you never see anyone because it doesn't say bachelor's on their resume then your discounting a great asset.

[Dreamstalker]

Oh, I hate that. I only have my A+ cert at present (I'm currently fighting tooth and nail with the state agency to get them to release the funds I was promised over a year ago for the others...yes these exams ARE pertinent to my job search!), but have a lot more real-world experience than that one certification shows. Somehow, I can't get people to see past the one "easy" certification. I've spent the past three years picking stuff up on my own, when did that become a bad thing? Give me an entry-to-intermediate networking or security test, I could probably pass it.

My computer science degree is from what's considered a liberal-arts college. Yes, the curriculum was largely self-directed with a staff mentor (with the exception of the "intro" courses that were offered; more difficult than a typical course track), but I did it. IMO, self-directed should count for more (especially if it's in a field that institution doesn't normally specialize in).

Whatever skills or knowledge I don't have, I can pick up very quickly. Not many people see that or are willing to chance it anymore.

[Stormraven]

I'm running into the same situation on two fronts. When I first had to start job hunting (way too long ago) I discovered that every job I could find in the field I just finished required a skill that I don't have, and never once used in six years at that job.

But because I don't have that skill, the six years I spent testing software, writing test scripts and, you know, doing the job means nothing.

So I started looking for jobs in the field I used to work - Customer Service. Only to find that, apparently, Customer Service skills have a use by date. Mine are too old. Apparently, managers would prefer to hire someone with six months or a year of recent customer service experience than someone with five years - four of which were at one of the top rated companies for that skill set.

And don't get me started on CS - or Admin Assistant - jobs that are posted requiring a college degree.

[protege]

I know a bit about all of this. I've picked up more computer knowledge while working at my current job, than I did in college. Never mind that I didn't major in computers to begin with. But, I find now, that I can't apply for better-paying tech jobs...simply because I don't have my certifications, and/or a tech degree. Why don't I have it? Simple. It's a money issue, and because my feeble mind can't get around trig and calculus. Not sure why, but most of that crap is over my head.

I've also noticed, that if I did leave my current job, and get back into accounting...I'd actually be making *less* than I do now. Sorry, but no thanks. I've already taken one pay cut, haven't seen a raise since 2006, etc. I can't afford to do that

[BlaqueKatt]

and/or a tech degree. Why don't I have it? Simple. It's a money issue, and because my feeble mind can't get around trig and calculus.

well that part just mystifies me-my husband has his BS and is a network admin-the highest math class he had to take in college was algebra

[IDrinkaRum]

My dad had the same problem with the company he was working for.

It seems 23 years in the Air Force at least half of those years (more than likely more than 11.5 years, but at least that long) in a management position didn't matter because he didn't have the piece of paper the company wanted. :rollseyes: Yeah, he went back to school .. but really ... it's the companies hiring these fools that have the paper, but not the real world experience who is realizing that this employees are idiots. But do they learn? Apparently not.

The only thing that will help me if I go back into the work force and want to be an administrative assistant is that I used to hold a security clearance. Because I used to hvae one, it'd be easier for me to get mine back than if they were to hire someone else in off the street.

[XCashier]

BTDT. I've posted before about job hunting, and how everyone seems to want a Bachelor's or Master's degree for a file clerk position. I think a lot of it is this economy. It works in the employer's favor; they can demand the world and get it. If they're looking for a basic admin clerk, they can demand a Master's degree and five years experience for a starting position paying minimum wage and no benefits, and because people are desperate for jobs, they'll get those vastly overqualified employees for a pittance.

Yes, it is disgusting and disheartening. And the employer who puts more value on a degree than real world experience will get what they deserve. But that won't stop them because they won't learn their lesson.

[jackfaire]

I went to a job fair once wowed the woman doing interviews. Her boss wouldn't let her hire me because I didn't have a degree.

[Arcade Man D]

I went to a job fair once wowed the woman doing interviews. Her boss wouldn't let her hire me because I didn't have a degree.

Yeah, that's kinda rough.

Requiring college degrees *can be* appropriate. You obviously want your doctor to have her M.D., and want your teacher to have his Masters or Ph.D., however the computer tech guy can be a high school dropout and know more than some college degrees.

(As an aspiring teacher, I am required by state law to have a degree to even try to get a job when that starts. However, as someone giving a formal education, having a formal education as a requirement makes perfect sense)

[jackfaire]

Yeah the job was in sales. It was a job as an over glorified sales man. For the company that my dad worked for from the time I was 15 until he passed. I knew the company.

What was sad was I asked my dad's old friend that worked there to intervene on my behalf but apparently he forgot how smart I was and explained that without a degree there wasn't much I could do and not in the that sucks but the way it is kind of tone but in the your obviously stupid cuz you don't have it tone.

Sometimes makes me wish I hadn't left the service at least there my abilities and intelligence were respected.