How to Find Jobs That Don't Require a College Degree

College degrees are becoming a minimum requirement for many jobs these days, including ones that used to be performed by high school graduates. In fact, more and more students are opting for graduate degrees to achieve a greater edge in the job hunt. However, are these individuals gaining enough work experience to perform in jobs in the real world?

When it comes to careers in social impact, Fast Company Co.EXIST reviews a report by the Amani Institute, demonstrating how employers want more experience: 

“If you’re seeking a career in the social sector, an advanced university degree may not be the best ticket. While many prospective staff have abundant analytical and research skills, the employers rank leadership, problem solving, and communication as more important. They also think such attributes may be better gained on the job, or by working abroad, than in a classroom.”

So if you're a job seeker without a college degree—good news! Some employers are ditching unnecessary prerequisites to focus on what really matters when it comes to evaluating candidates for an open role: Can they get the job done, and will they get the job done?

It's clear that, for a variety of fields, employers do not need to focus on whether or not an applicant has a Bachelor's degree. However, when it comes to hiring, too many organizations aren’t doing a good job of figuring out when a college degree is important and when it is not:

"When you have experiences that give you practical exposure to something, you can more easily assimilate and retain the learning, and then apply what you’ve gained in future contexts. The result of this learning-by-doing is what Robert Sternberg, the past president of the American Psychological Association, calls experiential intelligence."

While the case for landing a job without a college degree is clear, how can you actually find a role that values your experience and skillset?

Here are some solid tips from Idealist Career Advice contributor, Amy Bergen:

• Search for jobs that fit your experience, not your ideals. When you see a promising job advertisement that specifies a bachelor’s degree, don’t count yourself out. First, read the position’s responsibilities and other requirements and ask yourself if you’re capable of performing the job—degree or no degree. If the answer is yes, and you’re interested, go ahead and apply. 
• Emphasize your skills in application materials. Take note of any keywords in the job listing that describe skills the ideal candidate should have and add them to your resume and cover letter. This helps ensure your resume will be seen, since some larger organizations screen their initial flood of applicants by using online keyword search tools. It’s also a way to show the hiring manager you’ve paid attention to what they’re looking for. 
• Pursue alternative education opportunities. College and university courses are great tools for learning, but they’re not the only tools around, and there are plenty of other ways to develop professionally. Volunteering, learning new languages, and attend career-related networking events or workshops are great ways to highlight wide-ranging and relevant experiences on your resume.

While every organization is different, social impact may be growing more accommodating to employees without formal degrees. Keep searching—your next job is out there!

by Kimberly Maul