To ask if you would hire a non graduate over a graduate?

[tequilasunrises]

If they both met the job criteria?

Asking on behalf of my DH. He has seen a trainee job in a field that he is would love to go into. He is 30 and currently works in a totally different field but has worked in lots of teams and (I think) has plenty of transferable skills.

It would be a salary cut initially until he is qualified but he is worried that he wouldn’t stand a chance against all the graduates out there and that they will filter him out immediately due to him not having a degree.

If you were recruiting - would you use being a graduate as a ‘filter’ if you had a huge volume of applications? It will definitely be competitive as all training programmes in this field are and he doesn’t want to waste his time even though he is keen for a career change.

Thanks!

It totally depends if it's listed as an essential requirement or not.

In my recruiting experience, I would rather employ someone with previous work experience and actual skills than a straight out of uni graduate. I don't have a degree (or A levels) either and used to worry that I would lose out to people who have. All my bosses have said experience in the actual workplace counts for a lot. Your transferable skills, how you interview all count. I have found when interviewing graduates that they don't really have the communication skills.

Cyber security is a tricky one. No degree necessary but few places can afford to risk hiring someone without their own knowledge and experience - mainly because this is a new/constantly changing area so it's very hard to 'train someone up' because often (as a company) you don't know enough about it. That's why you are hiring in.

All depends on the specific role and company, though. e.g. a junior position may well consider someone with some relvant experience, even if it's limited.

Loads of £££ in it for those that DO gain the knowledge/experience. Six figures plus, easily. In a modern day form of gansters offering 'protection' for money. Companies cannot afford not to spend £ on security but rarely know how to spend the £ so pay £££ for someone else to tell them...

I'm a chartered accountant (no degree) and I've met some really stupid graduates it all depends on the person who is hiring. A lot of people are convinced no degree = no brains, equally there's plenty of people who have a reverse snobbery and prefer non graduates with life experience. No way of knowing without applying!

There is no reason not to apply. It very much depends on the job and his relevant experience and the necessary/desired qualifications. It's often quite difficult to get relatively unskilled jobs if you do have a degree (because employers will assume you won't stick around if you are a graduate and will be seeking a higher paid/skilled role somewhere else). But if having a degree is a desired but not essential qualification, then he may not do as well compared to those who have more to offer than him.

There's absolutely no reason not to apply though as you never know who you are competing against.

It’s a kind of cyber security/investigative sort of role

I know a bit about this and would say it won’t matter as technical skills are the main requirement in this sector

My ex worked in this field and his main quals were being expelled for repeatedly hacking his high school and government systems

Unless it specifically mentions a degree as an essential or desirable criteria then that shouldn't be used as a filter when shortlisting.

I've hired graduates, and non-graduates and on the whole, if the non-graduate has bags of enthusiasm, you can teach them the rest. If the graduate doesn't then you can't really teach them how to be enthusiastic and keen on the job.

You're overthinking things, he should apply for the job and the employer will decide who they think is best qualified, it doesn't matter what anyone else would or wouldn't do.

He may as well apply - what’s he got to lose? But if it is a lengthy application, he could telephone and ask whether a degree is a prerequisite, to avoid wasting his time.

If the job is not degree-related like engineering or something then I'd say definitely apply. Experience can be vastly preferable over a academic qualifications in certain roles.