Don't Filter Out Success!

I have a confession. Formal classroom learning is not my cup of tea. But Jeff, you're a leader in learning & development!! It is my innate desire to continually seek knowledge which led me to build a career around adult learning and development. Ironic, right? Yet also the perfect path for me. I am the poster child for all those who learn best by doing, which is exactly how professional learning works most effectively. It doesn't mean I don't hold formal education in high regard. I absolutely do and put in the work to get a B.S. and A.A.S. However, some of us simply find ourselves on a different path.

What does all this have to do with filtering out success? Often, finding opportunities that align with your skills and experience is difficult. And most professional positions require a 4-year degree. While some job listing include "or equivalent experience", quite often the HRIS system filteres out applicants with a Bachelor's degree, even if the applicant has way more than equivalent experience!

That filter means those applicants rarely even get seen by a hiring manager even though they may be the most qualified candidates based on skills and experience. So on behalf of the "equivalent experience" candidates, I appeal to you: the recruiter, the hiring manager, the HRIS administrator, the organization leader. Please be careful about how you use filters. And please update your requirements to allow for equivalent experience unless the position is one that requires a very specific formal education. You may exclude a candidate with a proven track record of success in their field who just happened to get there a different way.