Why do so many organisations now require degrees and other Hugh level qualifications for what are administrative roles?

[Freedfromdesire]

Noticed this recently whilst job hunting. So many administrative positions seem to require a really high level of qualification? Why is this? What’s changed?

I fully appreciate a lot of admin roles are very technical and skilled and couldnt be done by someone who had just left school. However, when i was younger there seemed to be a lot more day release, evening courses and on the job training. They tended to be more specific and could be at a very high level. I think its a shame that a generic degree in anything is becoming the norm to access these jobs and im sure many end up doing additiinal training anyway.

@Mildredandmaud no.

Anything to lighten the load and sticking 'degree educated' Las a requirement is a quick way to cut the applicants in half

@LadyDique
"Las" i think you mean "as" . Sticking degree educated "as" a requirement is better than sticking degree educated as " las" a REQUIREMENT
As a recruiter, i would have expected you to at least spell "as " correctly

@Fanacker1 😂😂

Including this one you've written a total of six separate posts trying to pick apart my SPAG 😂

You ok Hun? Do you need a hug?

@LadyDique You ok Hun?

I am fine. Just expected recruiters, filtering degree only candidates , to be able to spell.

Please do not call me "hun", it is so....erm... ...common!

"Recruiting is often mind numbingly fucking boring"

Sorry that that is part of the job you are paid to do. People applying for jobs you have advertised eh, how annoying!

You know it is said that those using swear words , indicates a lack of intelligence ?

The only thing missing from your reply was "lol".

Did Hugh Laurie sit Hugh Levels?

I thought the same. They at least want somebody that can actually spell or notice their errors...

YANBU. There are lots of jobs that don't require degrees but ask for them. This doesn't mean that they're unskilled jobs, but that the skills necessary don't require a degree. People without degrees may have them and people with degrees may not. I have a degree, but got it at the age of 30. I now know a lot more about the subject I studied, but I'd be no better or worse in an admin job than I was before.

I'm sceptical of any job advert that states that a degree is required but not what that degree must be in - either specific qualification or general field. If a graduate in astrophysics or art history would be equally suitable, why not an experienced person without a degree?

Many admin jobs are also more complex than they were 30 years ago. Nowadays you could be expected to be proficient in PowerPoint, Excel, PowerBI, databases, etc. as well as Word. They might also want to bring in someone who may have the potential to be promoted through the ranks - growing talent from within the organisation means you’re less likely to make costly mistakes when you recruit for leadership positions. Bringing in someone with a degree (of whatever type) means they are more likely to have a range of more advanced skills (e.g. research skills, data analysis skills, communication skills) that the company can benefit from. The question is, ‘why wouldn’t you choose a graduate?’

@LadyDique

Ime it's often just a way of filtering.

Recruiting is often mind numbingly fucking boring. You have to plough through 30 CVs, read the same old 'A highly motivated and passionate individual' starters twenty times and often the majority of the CVs are much of a muchness anyway. Anything to lighten the load and sticking 'degree educated' Las a requirement is a quick way to cut the applicants in half.

It's worth bearing in mind that no one is prohibited from applying for anything, regardless of the requirements. And recruiters are looking for applicants that stand out amongst the bulk of carbon copy applicants they'll get.

It won't always work - but one sure fire way to make your CV stand out is to apply for a role stating degree needed without one. Then write a shit hot CV and wear your lack of degree status like armour, citing your wealth of experience instead.

I've known several people get interviews this way, out of sheer cheek or because as the only person in the pool who's been employed since 18 they truly do stand out - and the employer is pleased to see someone different, despite it being their own advert that created the opportunity.

This is spot on. I’m an exec assistant (I work for a high profile, high net worth individual). I am paid v well, the role is highly pressured, etc etc. I was told by the agency that head hunted me that the role was advertised as ‘degree holding applicants only’. I have no degree but as I had years of experience and my CV was impressive, they wanted to put me forward. I got the job over a large number of applicants with degrees. If I’m in the market for another role in the future, I’ll apply no matter the stated educational ‘requirements’. I’m shit hot at my job and my CV speaks volumes