Degrees, Certificates, and the Truth
Move Your Education to the Bottom of the Resume
This year I have been paying attention to more anecdotal information than I normally would. I am the type of person who lives without cable TV, I rarely watch anything labeled news, and I get my data in a format that requires software to read it.
I have noticed that people are starting to complain that their degrees are not helping them in the job market. Not just the international school or private education market, but the overall job market.
A few years ago I read Worthless by Aaron Clarey. I work with quiet a few teenagers, so I try to keep on top of things related to higher ed.
What was funny is both my BA degrees were listed in this book.
When I decided on my BA path in 1993-1994, my advisor told me, “You cannot get a job with these degrees. They will help you get to the next level for grad school, law school, etc.”
As I read the book I reflected on this and wondered if and when this type of advice may have stopped. Telling students where the end is, is just important as choosing a starting point.
I always knew I needed something else to go from that BA to the job market. I learned a variety of tech skills early on, kept developing those, chose a field I wanted to apply them in, and kept going. The skills development process early on was brutal. I lost money. I lost time. I worked 60-80 hours a week for about three years. I didn’t have a vacation.
I think I loved it though. Sometimes it is blur, but my core skill set that I have today came from about 9900 hours of low paid experience.
If I felt like I needed skills now to compete, even at my age, I would do the same thing. I would find something interesting that the world seems to need, and I would suffer until I mastered it. I would forget what I my degree says I should be doing. I would work jobs I really did not want now, to get the job I wanted later.
An important concept I firmly believe in, never let the title of a job or heading on a degree determine your path (or lack of either).
When I apply for jobs though, most of the education I have on paper and the certificates are not that important.
It has been my contention that the employer assumes I have the basic qualifications, or I would not bother applying.
What they are looking for is what I can do, that they do not need to teach me how to do.
Another way to think about that, “Can he start working on day one, or are we looking at day thirty?”
Most employers need to know that the risk of employing someone is low, and for the most part, they can survive the first day and start to thrive very quickly.
Listing educational qualifications and certificates on paper does not meet those requirements. I have met people with degrees and certificates from the Ivy League who are basically unemployable because they simply cannot complete their work. This includes teachers who cannot complete a semester without a significant issue or requirement for a long unplanned break. Their references will never pull through for them, and their employment history is very erratic.
I have also worked with excellent sought after educators who transitioned into teaching without ever completing a single credit at a teachers’ college or taken a traditional certification exam. These people are literally approached by schools whenever there is a rumor they are possibly looking for a new journey somewhere.
Now, for the useful piece.
If you are looking for any kind of job consider doing the following: put your education at the bottom of your resume/cv.
Focus the top quarter of the resume/cv to highlight what you have done and can do. Focus this to speak to each job individually. Don’t blast the same document to every employer, because every employer is unique.
Custom cover letters should match this strategy, and be the primary reinforcement of that top quarter.
Lead with your life experience, and make certain that there are people out there who can backup your claims.
Also, social media is a waste of time. Meet people through meaningful work and activities. Networking the best way to cut through the paperwork. A human introduction goes a long way. People truly can help people.
I am happy to share my resume/cv with anyone if you want to see the format. I borrowed the format with permission from someone more successful than I, and I enjoying paying it forward.
Email, info@tonydeprato.com , if you want to get a copy.
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Why is this SubStack called, Pancake on a Stick?
Pancake on a Stick is the single funniest story I have ever heard in my life. In about a year from now, the event will be reenacted and recorded. I named the SubStack after the story, because every time I think of the name, I smile and laugh. This helps with my writing and tone, and makes me always remember the most important things in life.
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Most social media is dead to me, but you can find me on LinkedIn and Youtube.
LinkedIn (A bastion of boredom but mostly on mission)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tdeprato/
Email
info@tonydeprato.com
My video series on Expat Recruitment is BORING but useful Listen or Watch and you can master this process.