Lauran Sattler ⋅ Warsaw, IN Ivy Tech Community College ⋅ 25 years experience

You need to understand Job Descriptions are written by HR folks and they naturally do not have first hand knowledge of the positions they are posting, so they use the magic bullet approach...they ask for everything.

I recently retired as an advisor/faculty for a Computer Science program and my students all faced this same issue. As a perfect example I keep a job posting asking for five years experience in .NET when it had only been in existence for two years.

Go ahead and apply for those positions which you feel qualified. Be sure to include ALL keywords from the posting in your application. You will be competing with other applicants who don't have a problem with this. This sounds dishonest but it is the reality of job search today. If you are a capable and competent person, this will be apparent in the interview. Obviously, if a BS is required then you have a problem and need to decide on your future course. Just be sure to choose an educational institution that is Regionally Accredited and that courses will transfer to Graduate Degrees. Too often "Colleges and Universities" that actively solicit veterans do not have good standing in the academic community. Please be careful. Good Luck!

Michael Ellement ⋅ Alexandria, VA James & Hoffman, PC ⋅ 7 years experience

My answer would be the same as Stephen's - apply anyway. Many jobs don't have hard and fast requirements, particularly where you can make up for a deficet with advantages in other areas.

Stephen Altobelli ⋅ Hasbrouck Heights, NJ American Thoracic Society ⋅ 28 years experience

Hi there - given your extensive experience I would apply for the job. While you don't have the exact qualifications you do have an associates degree and coupled with your "real world" experience should be a very attractive candidate.

Good luck.

Morgan Lerette ⋅ Glendale, AZ AAA ⋅ 6 years experience

Hello Rebekkah,

Similar to the Army, this is a check the block. It is a filter. They want a candidate with a BS. It is similar to needing s degree to become an Army officer.

Many companies are degree driven. They want to know their employees have the ability to learn a new skill and the tenacity to stick with the company. This is what a 4-year degree signifies to them. I am not saying it is right or wrong. It is just how the cookie crumbles.

I recommend taking classes toward your degree. Then when you apply, you can put a 4-year degree on your resume and a "projected year".

Morgan

Damon Jensen ⋅ Yuba City, CA ⋅ 23 years experience

It is the unfortunate nature of the beast. In many cases it is a legal and contractual requirement. My company has put legal definition to job titles. An example is you cannot hold an engineering title without an engineering degree. Think about that, they are not just saying you need a degree, they are saying you need an engineering degree. Don't under estimate the value of a degree.

Contractually, were are given financial awards based on the percentage of degrees we hire. In an award fee contract, this is substantial profit to the company,

In HR you have various different factions, none of which have any real clue as to what the hiring manager needs. Yet in many cases, they almost exceed the manager in the selection of candidates. HR decides if the candidate meet the requirements, at what level they meet the requirement and the appropriate amount of compensation.. So what is the easiest way to qualify an individual when you don't know the value of the skills........a degree! This is a battle that I fight with HR when they tell me on paper and individual is not qualified when I know they are.

I write all my posting to say the degree requirements and that I will accept experience in Lieu of the degree.

Look for those type posting

Phil C. ⋅ Fort Worth, TX ⋅ 3 years experience

"If I have say 16 years experience in logistics but only an Associates degree and they are asking for a BS, why am I not qualified compared to someone who has a BS but only a year experience."

I've asked the same question when I got out of the Army. Who are the ignorant folks who come up with the ridiculous, inflexible hiring standards and processes? They are robbing their company of good employees. The evidence is there. I would recommend finish the Bachelor's degree. If it doesn't help you get hired, it might help you from getting laid off.

Dan Murray ⋅ Pocatello, ID Allstate Insurance Company ⋅ 3 years experience

My answer mirrors that of the others recommending that you apply. I'm adding my two cents because the position I held prior to my current position, and the role I'm currently in, both listed a 4-year degree AND experience requirements, neither of which I met. A targeted resume that highlighted my skills and strong interviews were enough to get my foot in the door.

Seth Lynch ⋅ Plano, TX Hewlett Packard ⋅ 15 years experience

Rebekkah,

Apply for the job(s) you think you are qualified for even if you don't hold the requested degree, just don't lie on the application page or questions to try to trick the system into accepting your work experience for education. I can't tell you how many resumes and applications I have tossed in the trash that say "work experience equivalent of a bachelor's degree". Life experience doesn't equate to academic and vice versa.

If you really want to know why the degree requirement is there, here is a short list of the typical reasons:

- The person filling the job actually needs a degree. Could be a contractual or base skills requirement (many engineering jobs require a BS in Engineering. Some require a PE to sign drawings or documents as the authority. Experience can't be used as an "in lieu of" for many licensed positions)

- The company's compensation committee sets minimum education rules based on organizational heirarchy or past legal issues.

- It's easier to say Bachelor's degree required than to list a set of critical thinking skills needed as an applicant

- A bachelor's holder with 1 year experience may ask for less money than an associate's holder with 16 years of experience

Neil Serafin ⋅ Easthampton, MA Telecommunications ⋅ 40 years experience

Your "no go" is your two year degree. The private sector has little comprehensive of what military jobs entail. Those who started college at age 18 and graduated with a BA/BS, are disconnected from the military. In addition, the chances of your four year college degree holding bosses dad or grandfather having DOD experience is low. Go get a four year degree from a college on line...for example Colorado State University. Stay away from colleges with a jingle.