Education prepares students and provides them with knowledge they need in getting a good job.
Unfortunately, with the rising cost of educational fees, not everybody can afford to study in Ivy League schools and be a degree holder.
There are also people who dropped out of school because they feel hindered by traditional learning. They would rather earn experience outside rather than earn course credits within the four walls of a classroom.
Since a number of companies list down having a college degree as part of their basic requirements, most candidates who haven’t earned their degrees feel anxious when applying for a job. They feel that HR personnel would pass up their resumes, just because they don’t have the necessary qualifications.
In this article we discuss how you can attract future employers even without a university degree.
1. Have Your Skills Certified.
Listing down your work history gives your future employers a glimpse into the kind of work you’ve been doing for the past ten years. But it doesn’t tell them the level of your skills competency.
Certification is a means for companies to assess and validate an applicant’s expertise. Having your skills certified through various Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) institutes helps show future employers that your skills are up to date.
It also affirms your work ethic and your efforts in pursuit of success. Having your skills recognized also saves money, time and effort as it can be done within weeks.
Ultimately, certification helps increases an applicant’s marketability and value to prospective employers.
2. Invest in Professional Development.
Learning is not confined within university campuses. Employers also take into consideration the efforts of applicant for self-growth.
An applicant’s resume should include activities for professional development.
Many high-end colleges now offer free online courses to anyone who wants to sign up. There are also a number of affordable trainings and workshops for skill-based jobs. Companies also offer apprenticeship programs, such as tattoo apprenticeship, that have a ‘hands-on’ approach to teaching you what you need to know.
Even if you don’t have a college degree, future employers will appreciate your effort and resourcefulness in gaining knowledge and upgrading your skills in some other ways.
3. Build a Strong Network.
Boost your resume by building in a professional network. Find people who share the same line of work as you want to do, and ask them for advice.
Expand your network by joining online forums, outreach and team-building activities in order to meet more people in your line of work. Search for connections within the company and ask them insights about the business and people who run it.
Having a group of people that you can discuss problems with and connect with is important in career building.
You’re not just going to learn skills from them, you’ll also gain valuable knowledge as to what it takes to get the job.
4. Strengthen Online Presence.
Nowadays, most companies also take into consideration an applicant’s online portfolio.
With the ever-changing landscape of technology, employers need to know if you are updated and if you have the ability to stay connected with others.
When looking for a job, make sure to maintain a smart online profile.
Joining industry blogs and forums can also help you get in touch with people in the industry. Make a good impression by being active in the conversation threads and contributing valuable comments.
A university degree is definitely an advantage, but not having one should not hinder anybody in trying out for their dream jobs.
Some companies place value on an applicant’s education, but they also give importance to the person’s work experience and character. More than your educational background, your employers need to know that you can do the job.
In the end, your skills are what matters most. The above suggestions will help in highlighting your work expertise, and will help add value to your application, even without a diploma.
