bachelor degree required

Do you apply for positions that require a bachelor degree even if you don't have one? I see jobs where I match most requirements and exceed the required experience, but don't have that bachelor degree and don't know if I should waste my (or their) time applying. Just curious.

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Essendon

Apply, by all means. If they call you back, tell them you dont have a degree and they can end the conversation right there if the degree was a mandatory requirement.

Remember that these jobs ads are placed on there by HR douches that cannot tell the difference between a orange and a lemon, hence why they throw in all the terms/keywords they can think of.

jamesleecoleman

Go for those positions anyways. By not applying, you won't know if they will take you or not.

TLeTourneau

Apply, my current position required a bachelors degree and preferred a masters. I have neither and got the job. If you don't apply you never get a call.

jakecitrix

bach degrees are so over rated, hr just want them ticked cuz hr are so stupid, bach applies to nothing in the real i.t world its just nothing but a hype up paper. Who cares about the bachelors degree

networker050184

Every job I've ever applied for or gotten has "required" a bachelors degree which I don't have. I think its just a standard job template that employers use Apply anyway worse they can do is not hire you.

jakecitrix

some ppl over want everything even though its not required for the role. Lol now adays they will ask a bach degree for odd jobs even.

the_Grinch

jakecitrix wrote: »

bach degrees are so over rated, hr just want them ticked cuz hr are so stupid, bach applies to nothing in the real i.t world its just nothing but a hype up paper. Who cares about the bachelors degree

I have to disagree with your statement that bachelors degrees are overrated. While I'll agree, that experience should trump all, the bachelors does have a value and tends to bring with it a lot of skills beyond just the technical ones. Besides the few paper mills that claim to be colleges, there is no braindump to getting through four years of school to earn that BA or BS. Also, an employer can see that not only are you dedicated to the field, but also to learning things that don't reside just in the technical side (team work, plublic speaking, communications, and all the other courses you take under general requirements). Show me a certification that shows a person can work on a team, communicate effectively, and is well rounded. Plus it shows dedication! Like many here, I worked the entire time I went to college (I went to a brick and mortar school with very few online courses). This required attending classes at all hours, making the drive in rain or shine, and working weekends since some days during the week it wasn't possible.

Should a bachelors be the end all, be all? No, but it is another way to measure your candidates just like a certification is. You can say "oh it's just HR putting another check box on an app" all you want, but there are a lot of IT Managers who want degrees as they serve a purpose. At my company you can see the difference in the techs with a little experience and a degree when compared to those with a little experience and no degree. There is a noticeable difference in thought process when working through a problem, customer interactions, and pure dedication to getting that problem fixed. I have worked with techs that have a decades worth of experience on me and held my own, I credit that to my education.

N2IT

I have a BSC, but I would apply regardless.

KrisA

bababooey1 wrote: »

Do you apply for positions that require a bachelor degree even if you don't have one? I see jobs where I match most requirements and exceed the required experience, but don't have that bachelor degree and don't know if I should waste my (or their) time applying. Just curious.

I have been seeing a lot of, and the previous posts speak this, " Bachelors Degree or equivalent experience" and equivalent experience can and does prevail. SO.. I was curious, what is the definition of "equivalent experience".. according to the HR (consider the source) 2-5 years of practical experience.

Essendon wrote: »

Remember that these jobs ads are placed on there by HR douches that cannot tell the difference between a orange and a lemon, hence why they throw in all the terms/keywords they can think of.

This is a real response in my inbox right now...

Hi Kris,

Thanks for your interest in this position. What is the CCENT
Certification?

Julie ########
Employment Specialist

I am sure that my response was then forwarded to whomever the hiring manager is and (s)he kicked himself for not writing the job requisite him/herself and for relying on HR.

Bottom line.... It doesn't hurt. It isn't up to the paper pusher who receives it, the stack of resumes get "pushed on"

Essendon

I wouldnt be surprised if HR didnt know what the CCENT was. The CCENT, the MCITP and the MCTS are relatively new certs and HR around the world are still catching up. Heck my manager didnt know that the MCSE had been replaced with the MCITP, and he's a switched on guy.

hiddenknight821

the_Grinch wrote: »

I have to disagree with your statement that bachelors degrees are overrated. While I'll agree, that experience should trump all, the bachelors does have a value and tends to bring with it a lot of skills beyond just the technical ones. Besides the few paper mills that claim to be colleges, there is no braindump to getting through four years of school to earn that BA or BS. Also, an employer can see that not only are you dedicated to the field, but also to learning things that don't reside just in the technical side (team work, plublic speaking, communications, and all the other courses you take under general requirements). Show me a certification that shows a person can work on a team, communicate effectively, and is well rounded. Plus it shows dedication! Like many here, I worked the entire time I went to college (I went to a brick and mortar school with very few online courses). This required attending classes at all hours, making the drive in rain or shine, and working weekends since some days during the week it wasn't possible.

Should a bachelors be the end all, be all? No, but it is another way to measure your candidates just like a certification is. You can say "oh it's just HR putting another check box on an app" all you want, but there are a lot of IT Managers who want degrees as they serve a purpose. At my company you can see the difference in the techs with a little experience and a degree when compared to those with a little experience and no degree. There is a noticeable difference in thought process when working through a problem, customer interactions, and pure dedication to getting that problem fixed. I have worked with techs that have a decades worth of experience on me and held my own, I credit that to my education.

+1 on this. Honestly, I think the "no degree" phenomenon will end by 50 years later when the Baby Boomers and Generation X are no longer in the workforce. Everyone will be required to have at least an associate degree. I will hold my breath on this one.

bababooey1

Thank you all for your responses! What I've learned:

Absolutely apply anyway, degree or not

HR are douches who can't use google to search "CCENT"

Devilry

bababooey1 wrote: »

HR are douches who can't use google to search "CCENT"

Yup, if you think you are not interested in the position maybe shoot them a quick link to: lmgtfy.com

KrisA

11 Minutes ago -

Thank you for the information. We will be in touch.

Julie ********
Employment Specialist

Does that mean she understood what I said?

Akaricloud

jakecitrix wrote: »

bach degrees are so over rated, hr just want them ticked cuz hr are so stupid, bach applies to nothing in the real i.t world its just nothing but a hype up paper. Who cares about the bachelors degree

4-year degrees are a lot more than just a piece of paper and are very relevant to IT. People with degrees can generally communicate better, write better, read better and often times learn quicker.

I wouldn't want to hire someone who couldn't write technical documentation for a system or easily understand pre-existing documentation. I also wouldn't want to hire someone who wasn't good enough at public speaking to give a report at a meeting. Degrees definitely show a lot of skills that applicants without may not have.

It never hurts to apply but some companies really do want degrees.

it_consultant

bababooey1 wrote: »

Do you apply for positions that require a bachelor degree even if you don't have one? I see jobs where I match most requirements and exceed the required experience, but don't have that bachelor degree and don't know if I should waste my (or their) time applying. Just curious.

Every job I have had was "Bachelor's degree required" and I only have an AAS. Usually you will find an olive branch exception (CCNA plus 4 years of experience in place of BS degree) which you can exploit.

kriscamaro68

I applied for a position at a local university and they required a BS and I ended up getting the job over the people that had the BS and I have never taken a college course in my life. Experience is what got me the job, that, and I am really good at interviews and troubleshooting issues on my feet.

jakecitrix

yeah 4 years of exp vs bach are two different things, its like comparing apples with oranges.

If you can do the tasks and the job who cares if it asks for degree apply!!!

snokerpoker

All positions at my current employer on paper require a BS degree. Out of the entire staff (12 Engineers) only 3 have a degree. I am finishing up WGU so I will be number 4.

Obviously each company is different, but I say apply for any job you feel qualified for.