Dropping College Degree Boosts Hiring

[prwhite]

What happens in today's job market when attitude & skills are chosen over having a college degree? For Company Folders—celebrating its 20th anniversary next year, based in Pontiac, Mich.—eliminating a bachelor’s degree from a company’s job requirements has provided increased diversity, decreased inequality, and the ability to quickly find applicants to fill open positions. A key factor in addressing today’s current labor shortage.

Shortly after promoting an executive assistant into a print project manager role, Company Folders posted a job opening for a marketing manager, but had trouble finding qualified candidates with college degrees. Inspired by their print project manager’s success, the company team recognized that a person’s attitude & skillset matter more than having a degree.

According to Vladimir Gendelman CEO, “We realized the real difference between our successful & unsuccessful hires over the years was their attitude. We’re looking for a can-do attitude”. For more about Company Folders, visit.

 

[gordo]

Perhaps hospitals should eliminate a medical degree from their job requirements for the same reasons?

 

[prwhite]

Perhaps hospitals should eliminate a medical degree from their job requirements for the same reasons?

In the full press release, company management acknowledged the need for doctors and others needing to have degrees, but not for the positions they needed to fill. I'll bet there are very few MDs or PhDs that are working in printing companies, but there are always exceptions.

 

[gordo]

In the full press release, company management acknowledged the need for doctors and others needing to have degrees, but not for the positions they needed to fill. I'll bet there are very few MDs or PhDs that are working in printing companies, but there are always exceptions.

Perhaps the company owners are willing to put their company's life at risk but not their own life?

Hopefully some combination of aptitude, ability and education is best - irrespective of diversity and expedience.

 

[prwhite]

Hopefully some combination of aptitude, ability and education is best - irrespective of diversity and expedience.

Yes, that's precisely what they're looking for.

 

[schenkadere]

I worked for a major packaging printer and you're not getting a management position without a bachelors regardless of experience. I personally think it's ridiculous, but that's the way it is.

 

[kdw75]

Perhaps hospitals should eliminate a medical degree from their job requirements for the same reasons?

I don't believe the majority of companies require your degree to be pertinent to your career, just that you have a degree of some sort. So not really the same as getting a medical degree to practice medicine.

Dealing with middle management at companies we work for it amazes me how many college educated people seem to lack all common sense and basic abilities. My elders always referred to these types as college educated idiots. They have the credentials, but not the common sense and ability to think on their own.

 

[PricelineNegotiator]

I don't believe the majority of companies require your degree to be pertinent to your career, just that you have a degree of some sort. So not really the same as getting a medical degree to practice medicine.

Dealing with middle management at companies we work for it amazes me how many college educated people seem to lack all common sense and basic abilities. My elders always referred to these types as college educated idiots. They have the credentials, but not the common sense and ability to think on their own.

What do you mean? They passed all of the tests and have a piece of paper. That means they know what they are talking about. They spent time and money to pass those tests. I can't believe in 2022 we have someone doubting our valuable indoctrination education centers. Hope you're saving up money for your kid's education! I hear the prices are going to be $100,000 per semester by the time they are of college age! But it'll be worth it!

 

[gordo]

They passed all of the tests and have a piece of paper.

Hey, they got paper! Which is better than a lot of printers are able to do these days

 

[keith1]

I always ignored what was filled in at the 'education level' part of the application. Speak with someone for 5 minutes and it usually becomes clear whether or not they belong on the planet with us. That approach to hiring generally served me well. College/university degrees are way overrated — unless they've studied for a specific field. Most people don't want a surgeon that's learning on the job.

 

[rcreveli]

I sold print to fortune 500 companies in the late 90's-early 00's and they required a minimum of an AA degree for any office position admin, receptionist anything. It was pointless then and it's pointless now. Many positions do not require college.

 

[Shawnd]

So much knowledge online now, half the battle is sifting though it for the relevant info you need.

 

[MailGuru]

Funny. Waaaayyy back in the day, I dreamed of working for IBM (I was a self-taught computer programmer & consultant). Could not get a job there because you have to have a college degree. BUT, they did hire me as an independent contractor making approx 4x what they were paying their own programmers to write high speed data file access routines that their "college-taught" people couldn't figure out.

IMHO, a can-do attitude, skill set, and determination are much more important than a college degree (with the exception of medical-related fields)

 

[keith1]

BUT, they did hire me as an independent contractor making approx 4x what they were paying their own programmers to write high speed data file access routines that their "college-taught" people couldn't figure out.

Underscores the hypocrisy of it all.

 

[Lorenzo lab guy]

I don't believe the majority of companies require your degree to be pertinent to your career, just that you have a degree of some sort.

Yes. The assumption is that the collge degree is about training. Not so much I think. It is more about getting into business networks and shaping buisness communication styles. See the excellent essay: How I Ditched My Poverty Tells.