Degree or no Degree, that is the question!

I spoke to a candidate earlier this week who was enquiring about a position we had in Dublin, the requirement for the role was a Degree qualified candidate with four years’ experience. The candidate had 5 years’ experience with no Degree and unfortunately was not considered, this is the reality of today’s market.

Although there is a very true saying “you can read volumes on swimming and jump into a pool and drown” I would always advise candidates to read the volumes none the less and to finish a degree if they have the opportunity to do so.  Understood it is a long commitment and can involve considerable cost, but in today’s employment market it is nearly a prerequisite and expectation from employers to see candidates with a degree even for entry level positions. 

Is it worth it?

What does a degree mean for you and more importantly tell your employer?  It explains to the employer that you obviously have a certain level of education, it suggests to the employer that you can think in a certain way, solve problems analytically and you have the ability to follow things through.  Completing a degree is not easy and it shows you have commitment and resilience.  Even when your job applications are unsuccessful or they go unanswered, don’t question the point in having your degree, rest assured that having the degree ensures your application a first consideration.

You are a brand.

Choose a reputable college and ensure that the accreditation of the degree is applicable to the National Framework of Qualifications in Ireland. Having a degree does make your job hunt easier but the process of finding that perfect job with the financial rewards you desire will take patience and time. Remember your degree in most professions is only 33% of your personal brand, the other 66.6% is made up of practical experience, life experience and your portfolio (CV) itself. If you are finding that your job hunt is disastrous and not landing you the job you want or none at all, then take time to review your personal brand and don’t be afraid to seek help if required.

Changing Career

Our working career usually spans 40+ years including part time to full time positions. During the early stages of our career we start to make inroads into the industry/position that we will ultimately spend most of our working lives in which is determined by our gained practical and academic experience guiding us there. If you want to change direction here are a few important points to consider.

Career Identification

Have a general if not specific idea of what it is you would like to do. Take the time to sit down and mull over ideas and identify what career paths/occupations are of interest to you and why. If you cannot make the decision on your own, organise a visit to a reputable career guidance and seek clarity this way.

Up skilling Needs Patience

When you have identified what occupation you would like to do, it is then time to assess your current ability and skill set versus the skill set required to enable you work in this profession. You may need to up skill or re-skill, you may need to do voluntary work, a part time course or go to college full time. This may take a considerable amount of time to achieve so be patient and expect a time period anywhere from two years to five years for this change to happen.

It will take Resources

This will be an expensive and difficult time if you have to go back to college as fees as a mature student are not cheap. Even if your career change does not involve a monitory investment it may involve a time investment which can impact your personal life. During this period, you should have a financial cushion to fall back on and a supportive team.

Support

Communicate to your family and close friends that you are changing career, this is really important as your transition will be demanding and their support will be required at some point.

The one thing to remember in changing career is, it’s worth it.  If you are in a profession that you don’t like or find the demand for your current skill set in today’s employment market is falling, then it is both necessary and rewarding to do something about it and it is within you to make this happen. If you don’t then what’s the alternative?

What to do after the interview

Interview

The interview is over, you have been grilled by a team of interviewing lions and you displayed a super performance. Now the waiting game begins, but wait your job is not done yet!

Firstly, contact the recruiter straight after your interview if you are dealing with one, and let them know how it went. If during the interview your realise that the position is not for you then tell all parties involved they will appreciate you not wasting time. 

If on the other hand the job is for you then it is always a good idea to email the hiring managers a quick thank you for the opportunity to meet with the team and discuss the role in more detail. Make sure to mention that you enjoyed the process thus far, you feel you would get on with the team and after learning more about the role you feel you have the skill set to execute the job effectively and it fits in perfectly with your career aspirations but don’t overdo it.

Plan to the last!

Job seeking can be a funny game so avoid putting all your eggs in one basket.  It is not uncommon for companies to take weeks to come back to you with feedback on your interview or not to come back at all or worse again to cancel the position altogether.  Plan B & C while you wait, your main objective throughout the interview process should be to interview for a couple of positions, have multiple offers on the table and choose the one that best suits your career aspirations and financial requirements. There is a tendency from some recruiters and companies to express positivity towards you after your interview with no real basis, so don’t let this situation make you think the job is in the bag so to speak, when you have the offer on the table that’s the time to pat yourself on the back but even then don’t take your foot of the gas.  When you receive the offer, seem interested but not over eager, take some time to consider and remember you still have the negotiation stage to play out.