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A crossroads - do I need a degree?
Good Morning! Apologies if this is long. But I need some outside opinions. Short version of my journey, started out in IT (no degree, have few certifications), merged in to Marketing/Graphic Design (what I love doing, no degree, online trainings, self taught, certs., etc only).
I am 39 with a family, very active daughter. So I have not forced myself to finish a degree. My question is, do I "need" a degree to get opportunities whether on my own freelance or with a company? Or is staying up with current trainings, etc. good?
I appreciate any advice, I am definitely at a crossroads and feeling very defeated.
16 Comments
Anonymous
11/10/20 at 2:49PM UTC
in
Ok, here is what I've learnt being upon this planet for soon to be 51 years. A degree is just someone else saying that they feel you've learned enough for them to agree to it on paper. It doesn't mean that without it you don't know anything or that because of it you are brilliant. I've met plenty of people who built companies and businesses because they had drive and a belief that they could. Likewise, I've met plenty of people with degrees that didn't have the common sense God gave a gnat. If you believe in yourself that is the key. Someone else's opinion on a piece of paper... even if several people have agreed to that opinion (accreditation) is only an opinion.
Melia Jones
16
11/10/20 at 2:55PM UTC
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Thank you, I appreciate your response. This whole internal process has been draining. I know I've got the skill set for these "Bachelors Degree required" positions, this could be a strong sign to focus more on my freelance journey :)
Jacquelyn LloydHR Consultant
429
11/10/20 at 2:51PM UTC
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I would say no, but you will have to be prepared to network -HARD - because your application won't make it through an ATS that is screening for a degree.
Create a killer pitch and portfolio and get recommendations. Good luck!
Robyn WickHiEd Professional/PT Fitness Inst
525
11/10/20 at 2:51PM UTC
in
For freelancing, people will hire you based on talent, not a degree. I think keeping your trainings current and taking some exec ed courses or certificates to add will be great. There are some companies who will require a bachelor's degree for roles, typically the larger entities. My ex works in IT and had a tech degree (1 year) and couple of years of undergrad. To my knowledge, he hasn't finished his degree and I know he's doing just fine in the industry. Unless you are trying to get into management at a larger company, you'll likely be fine. I work in higher ed, so I am a big proponent of education but only if that's what you really, really want. If you keep coming up against that undergrad degree requirement, then think about finding a good online or adult education program focused on helping working professionals complete their degrees.
Taylor AdamsT & D Manager, EQ Fanatic and Wellness Advocate
45
11/10/20 at 2:58PM UTC
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There are certainly opportunities where a company may prefer a degree but I would say that if you’re not looking to grow into management positions, a degree might not be necessary. For a period of time, degrees were a top requirement for a lot of positions. I feel like this mentality and expectation is shifting. Experience is extremely valuable. I’d focus on keeping your certifications up to date and continuing to grow yourself. As a former HR manager, seeing that someone is pushing themselves to evolve and continuously improve is a positive. There are countless employees that get their degree and then stop learning. Just keep growing yourself and keep seeking ways to improve!
Rachel
45
11/10/20 at 3:37PM UTC
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I worked for 5 years in the IT industry in marketing for a software provider. I personally would say you don’t need an IT degree at all. If you can prove you know your stuff, your golden. From a marketing perspective, you may have a bit more of a challenge, but if you’re a designer and have a good portfolio, again, I’d say that’s all you really need. They want to see evidence of your skills and abilities. And if you’re working from a freelance perspective, I’d say even more so, you don’t need anything but a certificate or two and an amazing portfolio.
Barb HansenCTO/Co-founder. Product Leader.
3.03k
11/10/20 at 3:52PM UTC
in
I have been in startup tech for almost 25 years. I do not have a technical degree, and I do not have an MBA. I started my startup/business career in content/community and then I transitioned to technical product leader/development leader/developer. I am now the CTO of the startup that I co-founded.
You do not need a degree, BUT if you want to get additional training, then look to inexpensive options (like a few hundred dollars) offered through Google, Amazon and others.
If you want to get a degree - do it for yourself but don't do it thinking that you'll get a better job because there is no guarantee that that will happen.
Käte DavisI help working moms leave office drama behind.
85
11/10/20 at 4:40PM UTC
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I think you have gotten amazing advice here. I would just add that if you can show experience (which you clearly have) in lieu of a degree, it might be fine. I wouldn't hesitate to hire someone who had practical, real-world experience (e.g., as a mom organizing your daughter's activities you could probably organize the heck out of me) instead of a piece of paper. There was a study done years ago (summary article linked here: https://hbr.org/2014/08/why-women-dont-apply-for-jobs-unless-theyre-100-qualified) that women don't apply for jobs unless THEY PERSONALLY feel that they are completely qualified. Do it anyway. The feedback is valuable, and, frankly, if they need to have that degree they're probably not your ideal employer anyway.
Brooke Davidson HoareauTransforming UX for exceptional results
82
11/10/20 at 4:47PM UTC
in
As a professional designer who is self taught I would say you do not officially need a degree however for in house design positions at larger corporations like Adobe, Google etc they will have higher education requirements. The degree is not required in many cases but you will need a good portfolio and experience to compensate for in house design positions as they often require a degree or equivalent experience. If you freelance, contract, work for small to mid size companies or modern agencies this should not be an issue.
Cristina ZuazuaGo big or go home!
83
11/10/20 at 5:16PM UTC
in
I would have to echo the other voices here: a showcase of your skills and an excellent portfolio of your work will be a stronger case for getting you hired any day of the week. The more targeted you can get for the work you want to do, the better off you'll be. Schooling is always a plus, but in my experience, even places that say they require a degree can get flexible if they like what they see. Best of luck!
JennieMarketing Pioneer
28
11/10/20 at 9:40PM UTC
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Curious as to what has brought this up now. Are you finding it hard to get work or is this just something that you think you ought to do? Are you working as a freelancer now or are you in a company? You might think about where you see yourself in a few years--is it as an employee or as a freelancer? What are the pros and cons of each and what are the requirements for each? if there is a company you are dying to work for, you might try getting an informational interview and ask them this question. Also, do you see yourself in this same type position for the foreseeable future or do you think there might be a job you want to aim for? Your daughter will grow up sometime and you may find yourself with more time to pursue more formal training . it may make sense to keep your eyes open for what an ideal future position might look like so you can set your goals towards that when the time is right.
Jamie KlingmanSerial Business Starter and Seller
36
11/10/20 at 9:44PM UTC
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Generally, I have found that consumers hiring companies don't look for credentials. If you want to teach or work corporate...that's a different story. And of course, it matters what you want! I am working on my DBA, to finish in spring. Will it make a difference to my clients? Probably not. Will it let me adjunct? Maybe. Do I just want it personally? You bet ;)
ILHAM ALAMCareer Advisor. Published Author in Canada
72
11/10/20 at 11:02PM UTC
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It really does depend on the industry that you are in. If you want to do further research, I’d suggest look into salaries of degree holders in your chosen field, to start? You’d also want to consider talking to people who are in your field and solicit their opinion and experience, as part of an informational interview or in an industry forum? You could also look up the LinkedIn profiles of professionals who are working in your dream job or in your dream company or in your field and see whether they have gotten degree to advance into their fields? Some professionals get graduate degree to advance in their careers or to meet and build new networks, as well.
Allix StewartHuman Rights Graduate Student & Resume Developer
87
11/11/20 at 12:45AM UTC
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I think that different employers would have different responses to this, particularly if a degree is required for a job application - even if they would consider you in a heartbeat with your resume and cover letter, the reality is that many ATS systems may screen for it. I echo the person above about the networking - most jobs actually don't get posted on job search sites anyways because they're picked up ahead of time by people who have networked ahead of time. You sound like you have a lot of valuable experience and you should definitely be proud of it! Good luck!
Mimi BishopBiz+Life Coach for GenX Women (and Millennials)
1.24k
11/11/20 at 2:29PM UTC
in
Congratulations on identifying a career that you really love and then working toward getting there via being self-taught. I think that really shows a lot of proof in the pudding!
A few questions:
Do you have paid working experience in the graphic design field? What accomplishments can you pull together when you create the story of your experience and skills and the results you've gotten?
What kind of position are you looking for? Do you want a corporate position? Are you looking to apply at a smaller firm? They may require different levels of experience or certification.
Lastly, many people are self taught graphic designers who have successfully created their own freelance businesses.
You mentioned feeling defeated, are you willing to share what steps you've taken to get into this field? I ask for the context so that I can share some more advice that could be helpful.
Hang in there! You're in a good place because graphic design is one of those professional that you do not necessarily need to have a degree in order to be wildly successful!
Kristen DonchessEHS Compliance Consultant in AK, WA, OR, & ID
11
11/16/20 at 9:07PM UTC
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Hello! I know a lot of us in the millennial generation had it pounded into our heads that we need bachelor's degree in order to have that competitive edge in the job market. I am happy to report that is simply not true. I spent 7 years working on my degree and never finished it. However I work along side my team mates that have degrees and we are making the same amount of money. This goes to show that on the job experience is just as valuable as the degree. Don't be discouraged if school isn't for you.
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