Interview Chatter

On A Personal Note - Degree or No Degree

by Darlene McDaniel on March 21st, 2007

My passion for the hiring process was birthed out of closed doors I experienced early in my career. The doors I experienced felt and seemed impenetrable. I had no one to help me understand the corporate world. My desire was promotion and yet I didn’t know how to traverse the proverbial “corporate ladder” As a result, I began to read, ask questions and study the hiring process. Why did some people get promoted and others not? Why do some people get the job and others don’t. The reasons are vast, but I do believe some things are absolutely in the hands of the candidate.

Here is one of my stories:

One thing I learned early in my studies, was the importance of the interview. My first major lesson came when I had the opportunity to interview for a HR Generalist position with a large company. I got the interview through relationship. I had become friends with a senior HR manager in the organization. He opened his network to me and I had the opportunity to interview for a position with his boss.

The interview went very well. At the end of the interview, I knew I had nailed the job! Let me stop here before I tell you the end of the story and just say, I had no idea how to effectively interview for a job at that time. What I did know was that I could do any job offered, and I knew I could learn anything you could teach me. I was raw talent at the time.

Back to the story…, The interview came to an end, and I was being told about the training I would receive and to expect a call back with the details. As we stood to shake on it, The Director of HR reached across the desk to shake my hand and she said, “by the way, I forgot to ask, do you have your degree?” That question was like a knife stabbing me in the heart. I had not finished my degree at that time. And I had to say so. Could I have lied? Possibly! Anyway, let’s just say the great interview turned into what I call “Black Friday.” I lost the opportunity and kicked myself for months for quitting school after my junior year.

What’s the point? My point in sharing this story is to share with you one of the foundational blocks in my career that motivated me to understand the hiring process. To understand that as potential employees, we have a responsibility to position ourselves with the organization we want to work, in such a way that the only thing they evaluate you on is your skills and abilities.

Having an undergraduate degree was important to me, but it became even more important when I wanted to climb the corporate ladder. Prior to having my degree, that is all I ever heard about why I could not get jobs I wanted. Today, I have a degree. Today, that issue is off the table and we can talk about other reasons I may not get a job, but education is no longer the issue.

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POSTED IN: Coach's Cornor, On A Personal Note, Preparation & Planning