Cannot progress without a degree... 😡

[Hmmmmminteresting]

I'm early 30s. I chose not to go to uni and to instead do 2 years at a business college (qualifications do not equal a degree, they were less). I then was promoted to an office manager at the age of 22 to 25, managing 17 people. Since moved on to a job I love and have been there 7 years. In this company you cannot progress without a degree. They are 100% adamant, 2:1 or more is minimum. They dont take any of your history into account. So many people getting promoted above me with no managerial experience but have a degree in random subjects not relevant. A few have since left as they just weren't suitable for that role.
I know I could do it and I have been told by so many others that it's frustrating I'm not qualified enough as I would be first choice.
AIBU to think this is a pretty old fashioned way of thinking?
I dont want to leave the company, I just wish they would change their rules.

Would you consider a degree apprenticeship in order to progress?

You are being unreasonable to want them to change there rules. Just look for another job with a company that dose respect experience.

YANBU to be frustrated but it won't change so you either need to consider a degree or move to a company which would reward you for your experience.

I work in a professional role for a company that hires candidates from within the business for their experience and then they do further training (as I did) and from external applicants with a relevant degree. It's a good approach and appreciates skill and experience.

There are lots of jobs you can't do without a degree, so I'm not sure why you think it's an old-fashioned requirement.

Sounds like you need to find a new job somewhere that will value your experience.

There’s nothing to stop you doing an OU degree part time whilst working.

So do an OU degree and suck ot up for another 6 years? Or find a company that will let you progress.

Do a degree then if you want to stay

I totally agree with you. They’re happy to promote someone with a degree but who doesn’t their arse from their elbow, but overlook a wealth of experience who could do the job standing on their head! I’ll look for another job OP as I think seeing others being promoted ahead of you is really going to smart.

You had it in your second sentence. You chose not to do a degree.

You can do a Masters degree if you have sufficient experience plus some qualifications.

One of my relatives had to do that as she couldn't progress in management otherwise.

I've also worked for some companies with a stance like yours and quite a few staff had OU degrees.

You need to just get the qualification - everyone else had to - so why should you be the exception? My Dh had to return to uni as a mature student at 30 to get his degree in order to progress in his career - lots of people do. I get that it’s annoyingly though.

Very short sighted of them to not promote within with a member of staff experienced for the role over non experienced with a degree not relevant to the role.

Speaking as a manager with a 2:1 degree in management, the policy is idiotic. My degree taught me none what I know about doing my job; actually doing my job taught me all of it. However, you won't convince your company of this. Move.

Not unreasonable, seems quite arbitrary and also bad for business. I'd look for something else based on the latter, that's not good decision making so you have to wonder what else that company is getting wrong. Can understand your frustration.

I think it's a more recent phenomenon to have a policy of requiring a degree.

What's stopping you pursuing one now to open doors for yourself?

Would you need to start from scratch with a degree? Can you top up your qualifications to degree level?

The obvious answer is to do a degree or equivalent.

Do a degree if this career is so important to you.

Yes it’s old fashioned (I have a degree) personally I couldn’t work for a company where I was stagnant in my career development due to their rules. Why don’t you look to see what else is out there?

Do a degree equivalent with CMI or ILM - they take a lot less time (online and coursework) and are much cheaper.

You've got the same options as anyone else though, you chose to not go to uni so this is one of the downsides.

• do a degree (part time, masters that counts experience for application, open university)
• don't do one and stay where you are
• look for alternative employment

It's as simple as that.

I find this statement odd though: "an office manager at the age of 22 to 25, managing 17 people".... In all the professional offices I've worked in, that would be an administrative/support function. Not management. The former you're in charge of office inductions, facilities queries, etc.. the latter you're directly responsible for performance management, hiring and firing, overseeing output... So which were you doing? You should make that absolutely clear in your job applications if you look at alternative employment because it's not clear if you were the general admin girl for ordering stationary Vs managing 17 direct reports. The responsibilities of each role is quite different!

Friend who has 30 years of experience but no degree has now been effectively demoted - but is expected to train younger graduate staff who have been promoted over her. I'd be tempted to smile sweetly and say, oh, I couldn't possibly assist you with that as my lowly education prevented me from grasping it in the 30 years I was actually doing it! And yes, she has complained to management - and was told it's 'not fair' to graduates if she does 'their' jobs without a degree.

To all the people saying get a degree it's not as easy as that. You've got to be able to afford to start with.

Why should you be the exception to their rules? If you don't like them you need to find another job. It's hardly 'old-fashioned' at all. Do OU part-time.

I can't see how an "office manager" has 17 people reporting to them. What did all those people do?