01-04-2007, 06:43 AM
In many fields, you probably won't make it past the paper screen unless you know someone. It's a fact of life these days. Even if your degree is in Kinesiology or some other completely unreleated field, the fact that you have a BA or BS is what gets you in the door.
While it's true that you probably know far more about what you're doing than someone who might've learned it from reading about it, the fact remains that potential employers don't know that and will look no further than the fact that you have no degree - unless, of course, you've been recommended to them by someone. ("It's not what you know, it's who you know.")
As Larry said, a degree may not be an optional thing for policy reasons, etc. Around here, an advanced degree is a requirement, so even those with solid BA or BS degrees don't make it past the paper screen. And obviously, we've missed lots of good candidates as a result. Still, that's policy. It's been questioned but never changed.
Of your options, the one that seems most likely to at least get you some provisional notice is to note your two years at whatever institution you were at. The lack of a degree will be noticeable, but you'll at least be honest about what you've done, and that might sway someone who really wants to bend a rule to hire you.
Good luck.
While it's true that you probably know far more about what you're doing than someone who might've learned it from reading about it, the fact remains that potential employers don't know that and will look no further than the fact that you have no degree - unless, of course, you've been recommended to them by someone. ("It's not what you know, it's who you know.")
As Larry said, a degree may not be an optional thing for policy reasons, etc. Around here, an advanced degree is a requirement, so even those with solid BA or BS degrees don't make it past the paper screen. And obviously, we've missed lots of good candidates as a result. Still, that's policy. It's been questioned but never changed.
Of your options, the one that seems most likely to at least get you some provisional notice is to note your two years at whatever institution you were at. The lack of a degree will be noticeable, but you'll at least be honest about what you've done, and that might sway someone who really wants to bend a rule to hire you.
Good luck.