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Re: Jobs requiring degree: worth applying without one?
Subject:Re: Jobs requiring degree: worth applying without one? From:"Scott J. Wilson" <scott -at- WWTC -dot- TIMEPLEX -dot- COM> Date:Tue, 27 Sep 1994 07:08:33 -0700
>I myself am a year shy of a B. Psych. and did a year of computer science,
>and state so clearly at the top of my one-page CV (yes, the drops of my
>blood on my forehead are all gone now, and thank you for asking). My writing
>skills are very strong; I have three and half years tech writing experience
>gotten from this, so far my first-and-only tech writing job. My only really
>relevant prior experience was being the computer columnist for a couple of
>short-lived newspapers here in Montreal.
>What I want to know is: should I bother applying to jobs advertised as
>"degree required"? According to the first-year management prof I had several
>years ago, it's pointless because the first weeding-out (possibly done by
>the company HR dept.) is always one based solely on whether or not you meet
>the advertised requirements.
Of course you should apply.
Just make sure that you state clearly that you're just short of your degree,
then move the discussion on to more relevant matters, like your EXPERIENCE.
Now it's certainly possible that a company that strictly adheres to a policy
of weeding out based on advertised requirements may toss your resume/cover
letter. In this case, you've lost some effort and a stamp.
But in my experience, your experience is more important. Computer columnist,
3.5 yars as a tech writer: focus on those things.
The only time my degree was ever mentioned in a job interview was because
the interviewer went to the same school. Your experience is more important.
Apply.
Scott J. Wilson, (310) 443-4028, 70541,1466, scott -at- wwtc -dot- timeplex -dot- com
"What is hateful to you, do not to your fellowman. That is the whole of the
Torah (Law); all the rest is commentary." Rabbi Hillel
