Title: Minimize the impact of not having the "required" degree

Content:

Dear Sam: I am 49 years of age and for the past 7 years I was a senior plant manager of a small food processing plant. Recently, I had the pleasure of being replaced. My focus now is to find a new job and I haven't had any success to this point. I think that there are two major issues confronting my quest: I am near 50 in age, and perhaps the biggest drawback, I don't possess a degree.

When I read over the qualifications in a particular ad I find myself thinking, "I have experience with all of that and qualify for this position." Then I read the requirements for the job and the dreaded "degree" word takes the wind out of my sails. Am I wasting my time sending a résumé anyway? I do have approx. 60 credit hours of college work completed. Any advice? - Jim

Dear Jim: There are a number of strategies you can employ to minimize the impact of not having a degree when one is required. Let's touch on a few:

Never mention that you don't hold a degree: The worst thing you can do is to explain on your cover letter that you do not hold a degree. I read so many cover letters with statements such as, "While I do not possess the degree you require..." There is a possibility that if you present a strong enough image of your past, a hiring manager could qualify you for an interview before even noticing you don't hold a degree.

Define unique skills/strengths gained through experience: You possess a unique background and skill set, and your challenge is to sell that to the hiring manager. Review your background and identify what makes you different from candidates that hold a degree but may have less experience. Use your qualifications summary to promote your value to the hiring manager.

Highlight professional development and training: When you don't have a degree it is imperative that you highlight all of your related training and education. Whether these are classes you were sent to by your employer, training programs you pursued personally, or even more informal seminars you attended, highlighting these showcases your continued development in the field, and goes a long way to minimizing the impact of not having a degree.

Present the college education you do have: When a degree is required I tell my clients that it is best to highlight the college education they do have versus omitting the education section entirely. The omission strategy is often best when a degree is not required or simply preferred, as by placing an education section on your résumé in this situation, and the incomplete degree, you only highlight the fact that you do not possess that qualification. In your case however, and in most cases where degrees are required, it is advantageous to communicate that you completed some college.

Lastly, in response to your question of whether to apply for these positions when you lack the degree required, I'd answer yes every time! Most of the time you will be able to apply via email which costs just a few minutes of your time. It is always better to have more possibilities rather than too few, so I'd take any opportunity to apply for a role you feel qualified for, regardless of not having the required degree. After all, you'll likely be competing with candidates who lack other qualifications, so the playing field may be more even than your think. I hope these strategies help get your résumé and your job search on the right path.

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Dear Sam: I have 10 years experience working in as a programmer and recently graduated from college. My goal is to obtain an IS Management position and was wondering how I could, or if I should, put my experience as Trustee Chairman at my local church on my résumé to highlight experience with budgeting and management? - Anonymous

Dear Anonymous: There is often confusion over whether engagements more on a personal level should be included on a résumé. The rule I use to evaluate whether these types of positions make it on a résumé is to review whether they add "value" to your candidacy. In your situation, as you are trying to break into management, then yes, this position will likely add validity to your general and financial management capabilities. To incorporate this into your résumé I would be sure to make a note of the skills you possess due to this engagement within the qualifications summary on page one. Then, add a section at the end of your résumé titled, "Professional Involvement" or something similar, and detail this position as you have those appearing within the professional experience section. Remember that if you give this section some weight, then the hiring manager is also more likely to do so.

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Do you have a question for Dear Sam? Write to dearsam@semissourian.com. Samantha Nolan owns Ladybug Design, a résumé writing and interview coaching firm. For more information, call (888) 9-LADYBUG (888-952-3928) or visit www.ladybug-design.com.

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