How will I get the job when I don’t have the university degree required for it? This was the question asked by 23 years old girl, studying Japanese language in Fukuoka, Japan.
She is studying Japanese and already quite a fluent in the language, and soon she will master the language with JLPT N2 and N1 certification. But, her worry was, she doesn't have any university degree. And what she hears all the time from everyone around her that without a university degree, only Japanese language skill will not land her the dream job.
It is not only her but this is problem of many. This is not only the problem of university non-graduates but also fresh graduates with no experience and practical skills. There is this problem for those also who graduated, but their qualification is miss feet for popular dream jobs.
"How to get the job when you don’t have the university degree required for it?"
I have been asked the same question many times before also, so I decided to solve this first by doing something with hiring process at Shimbi Labs. So we started skill and attitude focused hiring program for fresh graduates and non-graduates. You can read more about it here We Are Hiring Fresh Graduates! But This Time Doing It Differently!
Now let me answer the question.
No university degree; no worries still you can get the job you like.
Let me explain...
Companies need people how can get the job done, not collections of degrees. But unfortunately, many companies don't say it loudly on their hiring page, and so many candidates who would otherwise be great feet for open positions don’t even apply, because first thing they read is requested education requirements, if they don’t meet, they feels they are not egligible - even when their other experiences and skills would make them the perfect fit.
This aspect is more apparent in some industries than others. The problem is on hiring side also. There is a gap between what companies think they want for opening and what they truly need in the person for that role. The truth is, non-degreed candidates with right skills can perform jobs just as good as their graduate peers.
It doesn't mean everyone can do everything. Specific openings may still be required specific qualification, but it implies to skills, not a degree. For example, Srinivasa Ramanujan was great Indian mathematician who lived during the British Rule in India. Though he had almost no formal training in pure mathematics, he made substantial contributions to mathematical analysis, number theory, infinite series, and continued fractions, including solutions to mathematical problems considered to be unsolvable. (Reference Wikipedia).
There many famous and successful people who didn’t graduate from colleges, such as Steve Jobs (Apple), Evan Williams (Twitter), Jan Koum (Whatsapp), Sir Richard Branson (Virgin Group), and Dhirubhai Ambani (Reliance Group). They lack a college degree, but they worked on one or more practical skills, which differentiated them from rest.
As I told you earlier we have 12 weeks learning program that we use to prepare candidates for roles in software development, most of these candidates have only perfect attitude, logical thinking and determination to grow in life. We’ve seen no difference in skils between people with a formal university degree and these non-graduate hackers. In fact, in many cases, these non-graduates are better. Becuase they are desperate to prove that they have the skill to get work done even without formal education.
Zoho also dose the same at Zoho University!
Our experience demonstrates that while degrees might be helpful in some fields, they are not reliable representatives for someone’s ability to do a job well.
Unfortunately, degrees make it easy to filter out piles of applications for recruiters, so candidates in a competitive job market need to learn how to standout.
Following are four tips, people without university degrees can demonstrate their worth to potential employers.
1. Work On Self to Standout
If your résumé doesn’t meet the education requirements, think creatively about other ways to distinguish yourself. Offer a portfolio with examples of work to demonstrate useful and employable skills. Your resume can include a personal website, writing samples, creative work, coding projects, your Youtube Channel, podcasts, or anything else that demonstrates passion, practical skills required for the job. Additionally, create a LinkedIn profile that is engaging, add lots of detail.
By offering content that validates your credibility, you can convince would-be employers to look beyond your lack of a degree and consider the proven value you provide.
The bottom line is, you should able to demonstrate that you are useful to the organisation, and you can get the job done!
2. Be Problem Solver and Let Them Know You Can.
It is very common among job seekers they don't invest enough time learning about the industry they wish to work or organisation they want to work with.
Any organisation is looking to hire the people, who can solve some problem they are facing. If everything is going well why would hiring managers hire anyone? Research ahead of time, research thoroughly to figure out what the company needs, then provide potential solutions to the problems they expect role is designed to solve.
If you are more of innovator type or entrepreneur type then sometimes, you may look for solving a problem the company didn’t know it had. If you have experience in an area where the company is lacking, point out opportunities for easy wins. During the interview actively discuss a potential solution to the problem they are facing and how to implement it successfully.
By focusing on the problem and brainstorming solutions, you can show the hiring manager how you work through issues and prove that you’re the right person for the job.
To solve the problem, you need problem-solving skill, not the formal degree.
3. Be Continue Learner and Demonstrate It.
Companies need people who learn continually, actively by them self. In today's dynamic and ever-complex world Continue Leners are the big asset.
In Mark Hoplamazian (@MarkHoplamazian), CEO of Hyatt Hotels, words, “We hire more for personality and growth mindset than specific skill set. We believe curiosity, passion and a love of learning together can be greater than a person’s previous experience. Care comes from a place of empathy and understanding—traits you can’t learn from a book but that produce better results.”
Read what other CEOs on Fortune’s 2017 100 Best Companies to Work For list look for in there employees.
Research the company and industry trends before applying. You must show through your résumé and to interviewer that you are invested in learning about the job, then follow through with that impression by learning more about the company and role as the application process progresses.
4. Human Hires Human. Build an industry network.
Figure out where the industry people go in which you are interested in getting the job. Then go there, get to know the people. Even a brief connection with someone who works at your target company can make the difference between a discarded résumé and an invitation to interview.
Attend meetups, networking events, career development workshops and other events attended by industry leaders. Reach out on LinkedIn and other social media platforms—keep your all social media profiles sharp and updated, to gain the attention of people who will remember you when it’s time to fill relevant openings at there companies.
Finally, I want to conclude it is not degrees alone account for passion, drive and willingness to grow. Companies value lifelong learners who demonstrate a desire to evolve personally and professionally.
Accept challenges as a way to prove yourself, rather than roadblocks. Show potential employers that you are the solution-oriented hire they’ve been looking for.
Even if you are non-graduate or don’t meet the minimum degree criteria, you can still get your dream job. In this era of the Internet, you can learn almost anything online. The value of a degree is diminishing in favour of proven skills and a willingness to learn. Don’t let your lack of a degree halt your professional progress. Follow these tips to stand out from the crowd and show employers what you have to offer.
Let me know what you fill about this article, and if you know someone who is in the same dilemma, share this article
