qualified for job but no degree to back it up

shoes34 · 23-01-2017 12:31PM #1

I am applying for a position that most other candidates will be Solicitors or Barristers, i am neither but have the relevant work qualifications for the position and can apply for the post.

I have worked in this job for over 10 years and it has been about 14 years since I have done an interview and as I don't have degrees or anything to back up my application form but do have the necessary experience, more than others who will be going for this role. Would it be a good idea to go to a company who deal with interview techniques - has anyone found these to be any good.

Thanks

livedadream · 23-01-2017 02:54PM

not sure how to assist without knowing the role to be honest.

if its an inhouse consultancy role etc and you have been doing the job for 10 years i cant see why the company would be interviewing others tbh...

Red Kev · 23-01-2017 03:02PM

Might be an idea to contact somebody who does CV's and cover letters professionally. They can give excellent advice. I was in a similar sounding position to yours about 15 years ago, though not in Ireland, did that and was offered two jobs.

You'll need letter references from various employers or project managers, some of which you might draft yourself. The idea behind this is that you don't want a generic reference letter, but one from somebody whose name or role may be recognised in the trade, who will make specific recommendations based on previous work and directly related to the job that you are applying for.

Write down any projects that you've been involved in, anything that you've done at work that makes you stand out from the crowd. Bring these to the CV/Cover Letter writer. Don't be shy/modest, but don't write lies either. A good cover letter and CV will help you a lot.

You might also consider using personal contacts in that area and see if somebody can personally recommend to to the employer for that job.

I ofund when coming back to Ireland that businesses here tend to look a bit quicker at qualifications and less at experience than other countries, though I accept that that is my subjective opinion.

AlanG · 23-01-2017 03:02PM

I have done an interview prep session with Carr communications. I think it was 300 for a couple of hours one on one plus some prep work. I found it good and they match it to the job description. Not sure it made a difference in my situation but if you are not used to interviewing it would be very good.
Is the job in your existing company? If not you should look at things from the interviewers point of view. They have a short time to assess someone and most people exaggerate their experience and can get someone to back them up. The only thing they can be really sure of is qualifications. These are like a safety blanket that the HR person can use if they misjudge a seemingly experienced person during the interview.

shoes34 · 23-01-2017 03:03PM

It is not an inhouse role - it is advertised on publicjobs.ie and it is Government Departmental appointment. I have been one of two people doing the job in the area for the past 10 years and as the other person is retiring the job is being advertised.

sohsoh · 23-01-2017 03:10PM

I was in a similar situation to yourself and went to a interview consultant as I hadn't had an interview in 17 years. I found it very useful and she helped me prepare for questions I was asked in the interview. Personally I would recommend it.

c_meth · 23-01-2017 03:50PM

OP, I know the job you are applying for. It's very niche. You would have to be a strong candidate (irrespective of your lack of degree) due to your experience in it.

I would definitely recommend a session with an interview consultant. It will get you more focussed and ensure that you are covering all the bases. Competency based interviews are a skill in themselves. You will need to know how to score well in them and to exploit them to your best advantage.

shoes34 · 23-01-2017 04:36PM

I have been given the name of two clinics -

Carr Communications and the Communications Clinic

Does anyone know anything about them, is one of them better than the other?

Thanks for all the assistance.

shoes34 · 29-03-2017 09:56AM

I had the interview with public jobs a few weeks ago and not to sound bitter but I am the only person qualified to do the job as I have worked here for the past number of years. The other candidates had to be Solicitors/Barristers of at least 5 years. I was advised I was unsuccessful. I have written to them asking them to advise me why I was unsuccessful as I have managed the office without any complaints for the past number of years and what qualifications the successful candidate had over me. From what I can see of other's in the same position in the country they all have University degrees and I do not. Has anyone ever queried why they did not get a position they applied for?

Thanks

_Brian · 29-03-2017 10:02AM

Firstly you've the experience for the job not the qualification, they're very different things.

You indeed may ask why you weren't successful but I'd imagine it's likely that you will be told it's because you didn't have the required qualifications.

You will not be told any details about the successful candidate. It's none of your business what qualifications that had above you. You either make the qualifications requirement or you don't, if you don't then your out.
Actually I think it was unfair to interview you at all if you didn't make the minimum qualifications and other candidates did, but they may have been "polite" in including you.

When I set a minimum qualification the first cv's in the bin are those who don't meet it no matter what their experience, now if we set a "desired" qualification that's very different.

livedadream · 29-03-2017 10:24AM

it may be possible that the qualification you do not hold is a professional one?
solicitors have qualifications other then just a degree- a law degree effectivly means nothing if you want to be a practicing solicitor ,you need to go to get the professional qualification, its possible that you need to hold that for the position.
I know in my job there are numerous people with the experience but many do not hold the professional qualification or membership so dont get looked at.

....... · 29-03-2017 11:28AM

This post has been deleted.

Ash.J.Williams · 29-03-2017 11:30AM

shoes34 wrote: »

I am applying for a position that most other candidates will be Solicitors or Barristers, i am neither but have the relevant work qualifications for the position and can apply for the post.

I have worked in this job for over 10 years and it has been about 14 years since I have done an interview and as I don't have degrees or anything to back up my application form but do have the necessary experience, more than others who will be going for this role. Would it be a good idea to go to a company who deal with interview techniques - has anyone found these to be any good.

Thanks

I'm in the same boat. It's true some recruiters look at qualifications first and pass/reject the cv on that alone.

Gael23 · 29-03-2017 09:43PM

This is a very unfortunate situation which is quite common. I was in college with someone who like the OP had significant experience in her field but no third level education and found it impossible to find work.

Musicman2000 · 30-03-2017 05:38PM

A lot of companies will consider experience or a degree but thats in the IT sector .

Ash.J.Williams · 01-04-2017 06:50PM

Musicman2000 wrote: »

A lot of companies will consider experience or a degree but thats in the IT sector .

I don't have any mcse certs and with 20years experience my cv is not even being read.

Musicman2000 · 01-04-2017 07:30PM

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

I don't have any mcse certs and with 20years experience my cv is not even being read.

Very strange someone out of college thought by people that never worked a day in the lives in the real world, or someone with 20 years experience .

01-04-2017 07:37PM

shoes34 wrote: »

I am applying for a position that most other candidates will be Solicitors or Barristers, i am neither but have the relevant work qualifications for the position and can apply for the post.

I have worked in this job for over 10 years and it has been about 14 years since I have done an interview and as I don't have degrees or anything to back up my application form but do have the necessary experience, more than others who will be going for this role. Would it be a good idea to go to a company who deal with interview techniques - has anyone found these to be any good.

Thanks

If you get a interview, this means they have reviewed your cv and are aware you don't have a degree. Just sell yourself well in the interview. In my own personal experience, not having a degree has never held me back

Ash.J.Williams · 01-04-2017 09:32PM

Musicman2000 wrote: »

Very strange someone out of college thought by people that never worked a day in the lives in the real world, or someone with 20 years experience .

One company said no mcse no job

(so I'm doing them

)

beauf · 02-04-2017 01:55AM

Musicman2000 wrote: »

A lot of companies will consider experience or a degree but thats in the IT sector .

I think that less common now. Qualifications are becoming mandatory. In my opinion anyway.

The other issue is that if you have experience and no degree it's likely you are older than those with a degree but much less experience. That appears to be a factor also.

beauf · 02-04-2017 02:02AM

....... wrote: »

Sorry to be a bit dim but earlier you say:

If you are already in the job for 10 years why are you applying for the job? Are you being made redundant?

You are entitled to ask why your application/interview were unsuccessful but they will probably just tell you its due to the missing qualification.

I can't speak for the op. But I see a lot of people who have to do the work of a higher grade if that person leaves and the embargo leaves the role vacant. Unfortunately when they come to recruit for the role, they spec the job higher than the person going the job. All sorts of reasons for that.

jimd2 · 02-04-2017 06:20AM

shoes34 wrote: »

I had the interview with public jobs a few weeks ago and not to sound bitter but I am the only person qualified to do the job as I have worked here for the past number of years. The other candidates had to be Solicitors/Barristers of at least 5 years. I was advised I was unsuccessful. I have written to them asking them to advise me why I was unsuccessful as I have managed the office without any complaints for the past number of years and what qualifications the successful candidate had over me. From what I can see of other's in the same position in the country they all have University degrees and I do not. Has anyone ever queried why they did not get a position they applied for?

Thanks

Were the academic requirements new in that they were not required when you originally commenced acting in the role?

The academic requirements may be there not to cover the day to day requirements for the position but to allow the position / department to be developed in the future.

In hindsight if you had known these requirements you should have endeavoured to do whatever qualification that was required through part time study. Not easy but many gardai etc get legal qualifications part time.

Best of luck.

Miose · 02-04-2017 07:32AM

One thing that you said is that you have the relevant qualifications for the job. It depends on how the interview is being scored. I'm assuming that you are applying for a promotion and that your boss is a barrister / solicitor. Do you have everything that is outlined in the job spec? Generally in the public sector there are a certain amount of points given for qualifications. It may be that they require a solicitor / barrister to meet the legal requirements for the job in order to sign off on things. If the job spec doesn't specifically ask for it, you may be ok. If it does, you might be in trouble. It would be worth your while to investigate possible avenues to qualification and be able to discuss that at the interview.

Chuchote · 02-04-2017 07:37AM

OP, are you saying that you have been doing the job for 10 years without being staffed, and when your on-staff colleague retired you applied for the job as a staff job, permanent, pensionable and secure, and were rejected? Are you still doing the job? Maybe go and talk to your union within the civil service?

Avatar MIA · 02-04-2017 07:50AM

jimd2 wrote: »

The academic requirements may be there not to cover the day to day requirements for the position but to allow the position / department to be developed in the future.

Yip.

OP,

Most if not all the reasons you didn't get the job have been highlighted above.

1. People with qualifications are hired, because if an unqualified (academically) person is hired and it goes wrong, the first question to be asked of the recruiter would be... 'I see X doesn't have a degree, were there any unsuccessful candidates with degrees?'

2. The recruiters may be looking to the future, and want someone experienced in the areas they are moving to, rather than what was done in the past.

3. Simple interview scoring. People with a relevant qualification will score points on that section, you will have scored zero. That might have been the difference.

Finally, you were experienced in the niche area you work in. The other candidates will have been very successful in the areas they have been in and the recruiters want that in the new role and think these successful people will get up to speed quickly in the new role.

Are you going to seek to get qualified in a relevant area?

Chuchote · 02-04-2017 08:01AM

Avatar MIA wrote: »

Are you going to seek to get qualified in a relevant area?

Yip eile. A law degree isn't as scary and unusual as it used to be; and the civil service looks kindly upon people who develop their qualifications while working. Interesting study, too

qualified for job but no degree to back it up

Comments