The Truth About Degree-Free Job Postings: Why a Bachelor's Still Matters

Jun 2

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🚀 The Rise of Skills-Based Hiring

In recent years, there has been a notable increase in job postings on LinkedIn that do not require a professional degree. From 2019 to 2022, the world's largest professional networking platform saw a 36% surge in such listings. This trend aligns with the growing practice of companies, particularly in the tech industry, prioritizing skills over traditional academic credentials when hiring.

Reinforcing this shift, a survey revealed that 45% of companies plan to eliminate bachelor's degree requirements for some positions in 2024. This data, according to a report from Intelligent.com, signals a promising development for individuals without formal degrees seeking employment opportunities.

🎓 Education Cost and Employment Trends

It's a fairly well-established trend that the cost of higher education has increased dramatically over the last few decades, outpacing inflation. Although that trend is slowing, the fact remains that college degrees may still be out of reach for many. So when companies list degrees as a requirement, they're automatically excluding a segment of the job seeker market - people who are talented and hardworking, but couldn't afford to go to school for four years.

It's a good thing that companies are now expanding the pool of potential applicants by removing the degree requirement. However, that doesn't necessarily mean that landing a job is going to be that much easier. Why? Well, a degree is a proxy for an applicant's aptitude and general work ethic. All it says is this person can commit themselves to a course of action to develop themselves over a four-year period. They learn and complete assignments and exams with enough proficiency to pass, earning a degree as proof of their cumulative work.

💻 Alternative Education: Affordable and Flexible Options

Fortunately, especially in 2024, there are more options out there than ever before to get educated on specific skills. This comes in the form of certificates or industry recognized certifications, and most of those options are a tiny fraction of the cost and time of a college degree.

Not to mention, many of them are very flexible in the sense that you can skill up on your own time at your own pace. This is made possible by a number of online course platforms that prepare you for specific skills and jobs.

The cost of these courses and programs can vary depending on how much they provide in the way of career support. You can think of it like paying for a gym membership to access all the equipment, which is relatively inexpensive. With enough intrinsic motivation, preparation, and execution, you could achieve incredible results.

Versus getting a gym membership and hiring a personal trainer, which takes care of most of the steps along the way because you have someone to guide you and hold you accountable to achieve a certain result.

Some of my favorite online course platforms that I like to recommend are:

Coursera – very low cost, minimal career support
CourseCareers – low cost, medium level of career support
Springboard – high cost, high level of career support

What's right for you is going to depend on where you are in your career, your ability to self-motivate, and your financial situation. In any case, you're going to be paying far less in these courses than you would in a degree program.

When you complete courses from platforms like what I mentioned above, you earn certificates of completion. In addition to that, there are industry recognized certifications that involve taking and passing exams to indicate proficiency in certain skills, fields of knowledge, or even tools.

Some examples might be:

PMP Certification for Project Management, which is skills related
CompTIA, which offers a variety of certifications in IT, which is knowledge related
Tool specific certifications offered by Microsoft, AWS, Google where you can get certifications for knowing how to use their software

Again, all of these are going to be very inexpensive relative to a degree.

💼 Work Experience: A Viable Substitute for Degrees

Apart from alternative education, companies are increasingly considering relevant work experience as a substitute for formal degrees. Transferable skills across industries can make candidates attractive, even if their experience isn't directly aligned with the role. For instance, sales experience can be valuable for marketing roles due to overlapping competencies like communication, persuasion, and customer service.

Moreover, certain entry-level positions, particularly in fields like sales and IT support, often do not mandate formal education requirements. Employers prioritize relevant skills, drive, and a willingness to learn on the job. This opens up opportunities for individuals without degrees but with a strong work ethic and a knack for quickly acquiring new knowledge.

Some key points about work experience as a degree substitute:

Relevant experience in related fields can compensate for lack of a direct degree
Transferable skills like communication, problem-solving, and customer service are valued
Entry-level roles in sales, IT support, and other industries may not require formal education
A proven track record of learning agility and work ethic can make up for the absence of a degree

While degrees still hold weight in certain industries and for specific roles, work experience is increasingly being recognized as a viable alternative, particularly for those willing to continuously upskill and demonstrate their capabilities on the job.

💯 Is a Bachelor's Degree Still Worth It?

While alternative education paths and relevant work experience are increasingly being accepted, a bachelor's degree still holds significant value in many career fields. The advantages of having a degree include:

Demonstrating commitment, work ethic, and the ability to acquire knowledge over an extended period.
Opening doors to careers that prioritize degrees, such as engineering, business, and other professional fields.
Providing a well-rounded education that develops critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Certain careers still heavily favor or require bachelor's degrees, including:

Engineering roles that involve complex technical knowledge and skills.
Many business and management positions, especially at higher levels.
Specialized fields like law, medicine, and academia.

However, the cost and time commitment of a traditional four-year degree can be prohibitive for some. Fortunately, there are now more affordable and flexible options available:

Online degree programs from accredited universities, often at a lower cost than on-campus programs.
Part-time or evening/weekend class schedules that allow for work-study balance.
Accelerated or self-paced programs that enable faster degree completion.

By carefully evaluating career goals, financial situation, and time constraints, individuals can determine if pursuing a bachelor's degree is worthwhile for their specific circumstances.

📝 Key Takeaways

The cost of higher education has risen dramatically, making degrees unaffordable for many. Companies are expanding their applicant pool by removing degree requirements.
Employers will consider alternative education (certificates, industry certifications) and relevant work experience when evaluating candidates without degrees.
For those with little/no experience, inexpensive online courses and certifications in fields like sales, IT support can qualify you for entry-level roles.
For more advanced careers like engineering or business, degrees are still favored but not always required with substantial work experience.
If already employed, earn an affordable online bachelor's degree over time to avoid being held back from advancement opportunities or future job searches.
Continuously upskill through alternative education pathways. Build relevant experience. A degree is still valuable long-term, but not the only path to employment.

Richard Walls