Countless Degrees of Differentiation
It’s highly likely you’ll come across an employer (or several) in your career that will discard your resume because you have, for example, a hospitality/tourism degree and you’re applying for a job as an art historian. This is no one’s fault, per se. Employers place an emphasis on concrete hiring criteria to eliminate too much ambiguity. It helps them cut through the perceived clutter to find the “qualified” candidates for serious consideration.
Why is qualified in quotes? This word is at the root of the debate since it leaves much room for interpretation. Maybe your hospitality/tourism degree comes with a voracious appetite for contemporary art obtained through decades of visits to museums worldwide. A strong case could be made that your real world education is even greater than something written on a piece of paper.
Certainly there are several industries where education and certification are necessitated by the job. You wouldn’t want your kidney removed by someone who isn’t licensed to practice medicine. And it’s doubtful you’d want to be represented in court by someone who hadn’t passed the bar. So if you choose one of these careers, your academic path is rather straightforward.
But beyond these clear-cut examples lies a world of opportunities if motivated job seekers get creative…and employers open their minds to scholastic diversity.
We’ve all heard the saying, “the line has to be drawn somewhere”. Sure, this is true. But why does it have to be a straight line? The best employers have the agility to see hiring criteria as important guidelines that can be flexible, especially when it comes to a person’s degree.
Jack D. is a classic example. His Bachelor’s degree is in Microbiology, but he’s not wearing a lab coat, looking at organisms under a microscope. While that might have seemed the “traditional” path for him to take, he chose a new direction. He joined Hajoca’s Management Development Program and is expected to be running his own business by the end of 2014.
“No matter what you studied in school, you can effectively apply the skills you learned in that field to another”, says Jack. “My attention to detail and adaptability are some of the technical skills I’ve brought with me from the sciences. But my relatability and unique approach to tackling challenges are just a few of the reasons Hajoca saw beyond my diploma and gave me this incredible shot.”
One thing is certain – it will be a hard sell. Employers will continue to use rigid criteria (including your college degree) to narrow the applicant pool. And your degree, work experiences and extracurriculars truly won’t be a fit for every job opportunity.
But just like inspiration can come from anywhere, so can aspiration.