Is work experience comparable and sometimes more valuable than a college degree?

Question

Never went to college but have had great work experience, have worked as a Senior Account Exec in Advertising sales for the last 7 years and did very well. Now looking for a new job, everyone wants a college degree. Worried and its too late for me to go back to school. I am originally from the UK where it is more common not to have gone to college. I now live in the US. How do I convince some of these companies that I am more valuable than someone with a college degree and less experience?

Answer 1

first of all, it's never too late for you to go back to school, anyone can do it. but in today's world a college degree is one of the most valuable things for a person career. i'm not saying that work experience isn't necessary, that is important too. but, i will tell you that most well paying reputable jobs now require a college degree of some sort (mostly a BA). some don't and the only suggestion i can make is come up with a killer presentation, with great references, good luck

Answer 2

I, too, have no degree; I am a graphic designer with 30 years experience...and my resume usually gets their attention long before we talk about degrees. Perhaps if you get (or already have) a really good resume, with plenty of info on your last job (mine contains art samples, etc.) you will get past the degree thing. I don't understand it either; if you've been successful in your past jobs, it's clear to me that the degree is useless. My husband has a BS Management; and that, and 5 bucks gets him coffee almost anywhere; what I'm saying there is, it's useless. They go, oh wow,and hire someone else. He's an assistant manager now because someone who knew him years ago hired him and he worked up to it - and they promoted people ahead of him that had no degree! Personally, when I'm interviewing someone (for assistant, new employee, whatever) I tend to discount the ones that HAVE a degree - because it gives them a sense of entitlement - they think they should start higher than beginner's wage, and their training is often not complete enough to make them worth even the beginner's wage.

I know I got on a rant there, sorry - but my solution, I guess, is the resume - with highlights of your work time, some of the great things you've done - and make sure your cover letter brings out the reason you feel qualified for the job and that you will be an asset to the company! -- Good luck! I hope you find a good one!

Answer 3

Steve, bear in mind that the regulation enforcement occupation is stressful to break into...i will inform you this being a MP interior the protection stress and comparing that to being a civilian police officer is two completely a number of issues..they are nowhere on the factor of even being an analogous pastime. besides the indisputable fact that, the self-discipline and team paintings you may learn interior the protection stress could earnings you in different techniques.. the faculty function is often clever additionally because of the reality so which you may use your degree in different techniques in case you identify that regulation enforcement basically wasnt for you...i will inform you this..i could lots quite have a recruit on the line who has actual existence journey quite than no existence journey and a brilliant number of e book expertise..no longer something incorrect with the two yet its a question of non-public selection.. so a techniques as your brother getting grew to become down in his hiring technique..its now commonplace and that i could advise he prepare back...each and every so often it takes 2-thrice of dealing with the technique formerly you will get employed...various human beings dont make it by using hiring techniques and there are a number of diverse motives why...yet I even have seen departments hire former protection stress, college grads & those with niether a level or protection stress all interior an analogous hiring technique..So its extra of a actuality of the type you do on your interview and evals than it is of your training or journey..additionally bear in mind that maximum civilian police departments won't provide you any factors or credit in the time of thier hiring techniques for protection stress instruction...yet they are going to for faculty

Answer 4

Of course. you'll find great jobs anywhere for that. I have an engineering degree and I have a hard time getting a job. Experience counts. Degrees are just there to hang on the WALL.

Answer 5

Depends on the Company. I have never went to college, but, in my work, I make anywhere to 65,000 to 85,000 a year. Show your work history, and highlight your responsibilities and accomplishments there. Most companies here are stupid enough to think a piece of paper makes someone smart.