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.

You've got to be able to afford to start with.

You can get loans, do part-time alongside work.

Forgot to add, Trending refresh button seems to ignore me and do nothing at all.

I actually had a page time out a few minutes ago which was when I had the message that my connection was fine but MN wasn't.

So do a degree with the OU. Or move companies. Or do both - do a degree that would move you 'diagonally' forward but also sideways into something that interests you.

Often, the content of a particular degree isn't very relevant. It's more the critical thinking, research and analysis skills and the self-motivation and organisation (I suspect you have the latter at least already!). But as you move higher, the way of working can depend more upon the sort of transferable skills you'd gain through a degree, than was the case in more junior jobs.

The obvious answer is to do a degree or equivalent.
No the obvious answer is go to a new company where experience counts.
My ds never completed a degree. He started at a company as a temp, within months taken on permanently, was promoted again within first year and they are creating an apprenticeship for him and at 24 he is earning more than all my friends DC who are around 30 who have degrees.

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...

I think it's a bit rude to assume that the OP doesn't know the difference. Plenty of office managers directly manage admin staff.

In my workplace the office manager who manages the secretarial staff is a very well regarded, senior role.

OP - take it as high as you can, convince them to make an exception.

If you love your job do a degree. As you dont have a degree you will be able to get full funding to do one and 30s is definitely not too old to do a degree. There are plenty of places you can complete a degree part time and via distance learning such as the open university, but you may find your local university or other universities offer part time/distance learning options. You could also speak to your employers as if they want you to be promoted they may come up with a agreement which allows you to attend uni while working so you dont have to do it distance/evenings

Do a degree then. You chose not to so you need to accept that.

You could certainly ask your employer to fund your studies and/or give you a day, or even half a day, off each week for them. If they think you're worth developing, they're likely to do something like that.

If they say 'sorry no, stay where you are, or go off and do your own degree,' then they've told you all you need to know about their interest in continuing to employ you.

The job I do states must have a degree, I applied for it anyway.

I asked my Line Manager, why he chose me out of the other 7 applications, who all had degrees.

His answer was very informative, “You had experience, the others did not”

No the obvious answer is go to a new company where experience counts.

Which are getting fewer and fewer because plenty of people have experience and a degree, an increasing number of them.

OP - take it as high as you can, convince them to make an exception.

Jesus wept! Do you realise how replaceable such jobs are? There are plenty of people qualified to do them who have degrees, especially as more and more people are made redundant and willing to take anything going.

The reality is more and more jobs have this type of requirement. You have to move with the times. They're not the 'old-fashioned' ones.

Are they big enough to be paying by the apprenticeship levy? (Is their pay bill over £3m per annum?). If so, can you convince them to offer you a degree apprenticeship so that its benefiting both of you? it's a lot of work to balance working and studying, but ultimately you'd get what you need? And rather than paying the levy, they're investing in their staff?

I agree - it's outdated.

Where I work it's the same, although for some jobs we accept an NVQ level 6 or 7 as an alternative.

It may well be "old-fashioned" and not fair. But then, life's not fair.
And "they" make the rules.

You have 2 choices:

1. find a job with a company that values your experience
2. stay where you are.

If you stay where you are, you have another 2 choices:

1. do a degree in the hope of being promoted once you have completed it, whatever it costs you in terms of money, time and your effort (is there any chance they would pay your fees/ loan you the money ...?)
2. don't do a degree and accept that you can't progress.

Nothing else is under your direct control. And nobody else can make the decision for you. Whatever you do, own the decision!

Life isn't fair, unfortunately :(

Could you study for a degree part time or with the OU or something, or as @StillSurviving says, there might even be a way they can help you?

@EngTech Inspiring!

YANBU. If they are going to insist you have a degree it should be because its impossible to do your job without a specific, relevant degree.

Which are getting fewer and fewer because plenty of people have experience and a degree, an increasing number of them.
I have seen an increase in DC friends taking apprenticeship routes rather than go to uni.

It's not unusual in lots of settings for staff to be allowed to fulfil a senior role as long as they are actively working towards the relevant qualification. Ask your employer if they'll consider this, and if they'll fund you!

‘Old Fashioned’ nope. It’s a relatively recent idiotic move.

‘Ridiculous’ absolutely.

Having a degree in bloody textiles or marine biology does not make someone the better candidate over someone who has experience & skills. It’s bloody ridiculous and a lazy way of narrowing down applicants.

Why on earth won’t you move to a company that will appreciate your experience

.

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 It is as easy as that, you get a student loan and you can fit OU round work and family/whatever other commitments you have.

Hi OP, I don't think YABU however, if they want degrees then they want degrees unfortunately. With 20 years office experience myself of varying levels, there are so many jobs that I know too I can do. But I also know that if you can't beat them, join them. So I signed up part time with the OU. When I was younger, inexperienced and desperate for a break, getting a job over someone with work experience was hellish, so fair play to companies who give others that chance.

I understand police officer entries will need a degree later this year. This sounds weird.

There's a good chance that your business qualifications will have some transferable value towards a degree. You may find that you don't actually need that many credits to top them up to a BA.

It’s a rubbish company to have that policy.