Would you prefer a Marketing person with 17 years of experience and no degree or a degree and little experienc

Question

I have been stuck! I have 17 years of marketing, public relations, sales, and special event planning experience yet never had the opportunity to get my degree. I have been searching for a job in my field in the areas within 50 miles of my home and have put out over 40 resumes. I continue to not be hired even after 2nd and 3rd interviews and find that some green kid with no experience, but a piece of paper gets the job. Then find out they can't do the job and they are advertising again! How do I impress my experience on employers who are so tunnel visioned? How can I impress upon them that not only do I know what they teach in college, but everything they don't teach in college. I've been in the trenches! I know what I am doing. I need some good solid feedback from those of you who do the hiring. Perhaps maybe even this will open your eyes to experience if you previously have only accepted people with fresh college degrees.

I'm 38 and changing careers right now is proving very difficult. My occupation has defined my personality and I have even applied for jobs that are different with the result of them telling me I should be in marketing! Again...I don't get the job!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

I know what you mean because I have similar background to you meaning the experience w/o the degree. Here is how I make it work:
1. Forget what people say about a 2 page maximum resume. List your experience well. Use page 1 to summarize your skills and expertise. Use job details section to idetify Key Contributions, i.e. "I negotiated a 65% decrease in our overhead costs", or "My promotion was selected as the firm's most profitable of 2003".. Whatever comanies want to know how you can bring them Increase!!!

2. Be an expert interview. I never go to an interview without thoroughly researching the company, the division, their product, their financial status, their competitors. Okay so when I interview I have knowledge and intelligent questions about how this position will contribute to the company;s success. This will truly distinguish you from a newbie's interview. They will recognize that your prior experience brings alot to the table and will shorten their training / ramp up time and costs. They will view you as a colleague, an asset, someone who can help - not somebody they have to show the ropes.

3. Put together a nice portfolio. Color. Examples of your work on previous projects. Reference some in the interview. They ask a question, how would you handle this situation, or have you ever done X? You said, yes, as a matter of fact take a look at this. On this project my team.... blah blah blah. As you flip thru the book they notice other items and say, hmmm we dont have to teach ehr Salesforce, we dont have to teach her Excel charting, we dont have to teach her about the profitability model.... etc. Anything they dont have to teach you is money in their pockets.

I have a 95% success rate with these techniques. And I interivew often as I am an independent IT consultant. Good luck.

Answer 2

Though I have my BA in Marketing, I completely understand you.... I have tons of experience as well and had a very high position for my age in the travel industry... But though I had the title I wasn't getting paid like the other directors b/c I didn't have a Masters. Now a days a BA is becoming like a high school diploma. Long story short, had a baby, sick of traveling, and came back to school for Masters in Speech Language Pathology.
Advice: Unfortunately companies are demanding those little papers. You aren't too old to go back to school. My mother is in her 50's and finishing her BA. You can even do it online! That's plan number 1.
If you are so good at this why don't you open your own firm? Maybe you'll have more opportunities consulting. That's plan number 2.
Lastly plan/advice number 3. You are still very young and if you are having problems now at 38 finding a job (that I feel you are still young and vibrant) what's gonna happen when you are in your 50s/60s and may need a job... I know that they can't disriminate, but you know as much as I do that they are going to pick that 20something girl out of college.... Reflect, if this isn't what you want to do, if you feel you don't want to get the credentials in this, change your career.
Good Luck.

Answer 3

I would go with 17 yrs experience over the piece of paper anyday. But I'm a little biased as I don't have a degree, but I've been working with electronics for almost 40 years and Computer hardware and software for over 25 years. I now hire fresh CS degree holders for my IS department (because my budget doesn't allow me to hire more experienced people) and I'm amazed at their inability to function in the real world. I end up training them myself and it usually takes a good year to get them where I wish they were when I hired them. Another proof in my mind that the profs teaching at the college level are the ones who didn't have the talent to function in the business world.

Answer 4

I would prefer to hire someone with experience. However,
most employers want someone fresh with fresh ideas. You
could offer at your next interview to work for one week free to
prove what you can do. Do not give up. There is a job out
there.

Answer 5

Something is not right. With your experience you should ace any job. Maybe its in your interview. Maybe your not impressing them in the right way. Practice your interviews with your spouse or a friend

Answer 6

it depends on whether ur business is established or not.if u r new then u need this experienced guy to push ur business even he isn't a graduate.on the other hand if ur business is ok n established many yrs ago u can employ a graduate without or little experience cos he won't affect ur business at all.

Answer 7

you should tell them to give you a chance for a week and if it dont work out you dont have to pay me and you can fire me if you want