Job Search Without a College Degree

A post from Patra Frame, ClearedJobs.Net’s HR Strategist

Many enlisted military and retiring federal workers who do not have a bachelors degree face a surprise in the civilian job world – the demand for a degree for jobs that they have held.

Many federal contracts demand a degree for such jobs when contracted out. Some still have the “or 8 years equivalent experience” types of clauses as an alternative to the degree requirement, but you are competing with applicants who have degrees.

So what do you do?

If you are in the military, be sure to have all your education and training evaluated for college credits. Here is one resource.

Then start looking at the jobs which interest you. If many of them show a college degree requirement, you may want to consider using your credits and finishing your degree. You have the best access to assistance while on active duty and as a vet that you will ever have.

If you do not want to get a degree, you will need to hone your networking skills. You need to find those targets which do not require a degree but will see the value of your experience.

If you are retiring from the federal government and the jobs you want require a degree, you may find that networking your way into a new position can help you get around that requirement. You might consider work outside the government contracting world. And there are contractors which use the equivalent experience concept. Use your network to help you find those opportunities and to find contacts in such companies.