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Thiam Hock Ng
Update: Udacity is now offering a job guarantee that their students will get a job within 6 months. Of course this further support that the tech industry is mature to take on graduates from MOOCs.
Off the top of my head, it depends on 2 questions as follows:
1. Are you able to showcase your skills effectively?
For example, it is easier for design and programming industry as there are online repositories such as GitHub / Dribbble where you can showcase your skills. It is well accepted that companies in this industry has started to hire employees not based on their qualifications, but their portfolio. In fact, whether do you have any verified certificates matter less.
In industries such as medicine, it is much more difficult. Most doctors need a medical degree in order to start practicing. Without practice, you are not able to showcase your skills.
Using your example in Finance, it depends on the nature of job.
If you are into investment analysis, you can post your personal portfolio and analysis using a blog. I have heard of cases where companies hire investment analyst because of their sharp analysis shared online. But I have no ideas whether do they have prior experience or knowledge beforehand.
But finance is a very big field. There are also roles that involve sales. In this case, you do not need the required knowledge. But most sales position requires at least a degree, though it does not really matter which degree the prospect got.
2. Are there reputable companies in your industry that is setting the example?
After working for a few years, here's the fact:
Your degree is only as good as getting you to the interview. It is not because people with degree is better. It is because it is much easier to justify the hire. Unless there are extremes, it is close to impossible to 100% determine whether the hire is a good hire based on the interviews.
There will be mistakes. Recruiters might have a bad hire here and there.
But...
If the bad hire turns out to be exceptional graduate from a reputable college, it is easier for the recruiter to justify it is not their fault. But if the bad hire is someone without any formal education, then good luck to the recruiter.
Success does not depends on the level of education you have.
But it opens more doors and gave them more opportunities than those who did not have education. This is the main reason.
However, if there is reputable companies who is leading the example by accepting hires without formal education, and they show this is a good practice, then you are lucky.
Back to the industry of design and programming, Google, AT&T, for example, has started to hire Udacity's graduates. They have set the example that a degree is not the pre-requisite. This will provide an additional excuse that recruiter can use if the hire turns out bad.
My Advice
If the industry that you are entering is receptive of someone without formal education, here's what you can do:
It is much more difficult, but it can be done.
Good luck!
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Update: Udacity is now offering a job guarantee that their students will get a job within 6 months. Of course this further support that the tech industry is mature to take on graduates from MOOCs.
Off the top of my head, it depends on 2 questions as follows:
1. Are you able to showcase your skills effectively?
For example, it is easier for design and programming industry as there are online repositories such as GitHub / Dribbble where you can showcase your skills. It is well accepted that companies in this industry has started to hire employees not based on their qualifications, but their portfolio. In fact, whether do you have any verified certificates matter less.
In industries such as medicine, it is much more difficult. Most doctors need a medical degree in order to start practicing. Without practice, you are not able to showcase your skills.
Using your example in Finance, it depends on the nature of job.
If you are into investment analysis, you can post your personal portfolio and analysis using a blog. I have heard of cases where companies hire investment analyst because of their sharp analysis shared online. But I have no ideas whether do they have prior experience or knowledge beforehand.
But finance is a very big field. There are also roles that involve sales. In this case, you do not need the required knowledge. But most sales position requires at least a degree, though it does not really matter which degree the prospect got.
2. Are there reputable companies in your industry that is setting the example?
After working for a few years, here's the fact:
Your degree is only as good as getting you to the interview. It is not because people with degree is better. It is because it is much easier to justify the hire. Unless there are extremes, it is close to impossible to 100% determine whether the hire is a good hire based on the interviews.
There will be mistakes. Recruiters might have a bad hire here and there.
But...
If the bad hire turns out to be exceptional graduate from a reputable college, it is easier for the recruiter to justify it is not their fault. But if the bad hire is someone without any formal education, then good luck to the recruiter.
Success does not depends on the level of education you have.
But it opens more doors and gave them more opportunities than those who did not have education. This is the main reason.
However, if there is reputable companies who is leading the example by accepting hires without formal education, and they show this is a good practice, then you are lucky.
Back to the industry of design and programming, Google, AT&T, for example, has started to hire Udacity's graduates. They have set the example that a degree is not the pre-requisite. This will provide an additional excuse that recruiter can use if the hire turns out bad.
My Advice
If the industry that you are entering is receptive of someone without formal education, here's what you can do:
- Take extra effort to showcase what you know. Create your own blog. Take part in relevant competitions. Create your own projects. Answer questions in Quora. Write in LinkedIn Pulse.
- Network with the right people. Follow them on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter. Communicate with them. Comment on their blog. Give them valuable feedback. Join relevant social media groups (Facebook, LinkedIn), and contribute to the group consistently.
It is much more difficult, but it can be done.
Good luck!
See Questions On Quora
Continue reading...
