To suggest DP gets a degree

[Hooploop]

DP doesn't have A levels and didn't go to uni. But he's very intelligent and articulate, a bit of a geek actually, and just hated school/education system. He's done well in his career and made it to a senior job in an industry which usually requires a degree as standard. He has 10 years of experience in this industry and is genuinely good at what he does (I used to work with him, that's how we met).

Earlier this year he was made redundant, along with 5 colleagues, and is struggling to get another job. The job market seems to be great for most people at the moment - his laid off colleagues have all got great new jobs, some earning double their previous salary.

He's getting interviews for senior roles at some great organisations (possibly because his last company is a household name, very respected) but not progressing past final interviews. He was offered one role but for £15k a year less than what he was earning previously. I suspect part of it is because he doesn't have a degree.

AIBU to suggest he actually gets a qualification? He's been unemployed for 5 months now, is getting down about it, and his redundancy pay is running out. Just for background, I have a degree and have always been the higher earner.

If he is making it to final interviews, then I'd suggest that the lack of degree is not what is holding him back as that would have stopped him getting interviews if it was a barrier.

Maybe he should have taken the lower paid role as a chance to get back into the job market.

Bottom line it's only worth doing a degree if he wants to. It may mean he earns more in the future, but unless he does it through OU he'll miss out on 3-4 years earnings and pension contributions.

Is there a university running an appropriate course he could attend from where you currently live? Does he know what he’d want to study? Does he want to do a degree? It’s almost the worst possible time to decide this as courses are about to start and if he can’t jump onboard with your plan he’ll have to wait a year.

I mean it's not an unreasonable idea but the idea of academic study might terrify him despite his experience, and he'd have to really want to do it himself not just because you think it's a good idea.

Also it's a very long term solution isn't it? It's not a quick fix. What would you do for money while he is studying? If you're concerned about money despite your own income, he needs to be earning. And if he's working he'd have to do a degree part time which will take a lot of years considering they take 3years full time!

It might depend on his industry but generally 10 years experience and his senior position would make a degree irrelevant.
I'd invest in some help with his CV and interviewing prep/technique first . One hell of a lot cheaper than a degree - have you worked out how much a degree would cost?

I’d be very surprised if anyone cares if he has a degree at this point in his career.

He should have taken the lower paid role tbh.

Has he asked for feedback post interview? With 10 years experience and a household name on his CV I can't imagine a degree is that relevant. I mean it could be but when recruiting I'd have sifted out his application at a much earlier stage if that was the case.

All a degree will do is put him in loads of debt.

He’s getting interviews and has a solid background. I’d swerve on the degree tbh.

Chances of someone asking to see his award certificate all these years later are slim

I know we always require certicates for required qualifications.

OP, maybe worth looking into a degree apprenticeship when he does get a new job.

His redundancy is running out but a degree wouldn't fix this. It's so expensive and years out of the industry. If you can afford it, yes by all means. But I think he has to be really into the idea and throw himself at it. Otherwise it's not worth it. I am not sure it would improve his earning power... But it might be something that improves him. My friend left school with no qualifications, very successful business, very affluent. This didn't really validate him in the way that his recent 1st in an English degree did. But this was not about earning power for him. I think it needs to be for self improvement.

If he's getting past the CV review then his qualifications aren't a problem, if someone has 10 yrs experience in role then that is vastly more use than a degree anyway.

I'd suggest it's his interview that's the issue, either he isn't answering the question with enough detail and evidence or something about his personality and how he presents himself isn't hitting the mark.

I wouldn't have thought the degree was the issue if he's getting so far in interviews and has 10 years of experience.

A bit of interview coaching and asking for detailed feedback/ insight from former senior colleagues might be useful.

That said, if he wants to consolidate that experience in a qualification then maybe he could look at a part time masters? I don't know what field he's in but I know that some accept substantial relevant experience as an entry requirement as opposed to a degree. It would be much quicker and cheaper than either doing an undergrad part time or taking 3 years out. There are loads available remotely.

I have fired people for lying on their CVs.

This is terrible advice.

Absolutely do not lie about having a degree on a CV.

Oh yes, please do not advise him to lie on his CV at all. Even if he gets a job, if he is found out later on then he can still be sacked.

If he’s getting to interview stage I would think it’s not his lack of a degree that’s holding him back. He should definitely ask for constructive feedback and work on his interview techniques. Good luck to him.

It's not a bad idea. I don't think the lack of a degree will stop him from getting a job if he has made it to the final interview round but it could stop him from getting through the first round, ie the HR shortlisting process in larger companies where they filter CVs according to the job requirements. In larger companies it will also affect his pay unless he is at a very senior level. I work in a large company and when your starting pay grade is calculated they take into account things like your degree and age.

Surely he'd be better off taking a role for 15k less than doing a degree?

This is terrible advice.

CV Fraud is a criminal offence under the 2006 Fraud Act, carrying a penalty of up to 10 years in prison or a large fine.

Is he in an industry where contracting is an option? Recruitment for contract positions tends to be a much quicker process, the rewards tend to be higher than perm, and once you are in, there may be an opportunity for him to convert to perm, once he has proved himself.
Might be worth a look.

This. There is such a skills shortage at the moment, that if he's getting to final interview stage, it isn't the lack of a degree.

What feedback has he had?

And to confirm, inventing a degree on his CV would be a fucking stupid idea.

It sounds like he just needs to improve his interview skills, especially if he's only had this one role for a decade and therefore not much relevant interview experience.

I don't see how stepping away from the industry for years and making his experience out of date will help.

Fraud and a misconduct dismissal definitely won't do much for his career. Baffling suggestion.

My other suggestion is that he contacts his previous colleagues to see if they have any opportunities. Word of mouth tends to count for a great deal. (That's how I got my current job)

Does he work in engineering? DH does and he has a degree but not from a traditional university, and this has lost him jobs. There are certain favoured engineering universities. He still has quite a good job but its definitely lost him jobs (he was told outright in one interview).

This is one of the issues that mumsnetters really hate, as they like to insist that degrees are unnecessary and a waste of time and money. But in the real world (not that world where everyone is a SAHM married to a millionaire builder/roofer/plumber), degrees as important.

But I don't know if it would increase your DH's earning potential at this stage in his life that much. Some employers will still want to see a degree at the usual stage in life, other employers won't mind. How old is your DH and would he need to take time out of the workplace to get a degree? Or would he do something like an MBA which gives direct entry to anyone who pays? Would an MBA really be of use in his career if employers are looking, for example, for an academic knowledge of how to draw up algorithms and advanced university standard maths? If he did get a degree of some sort, he might be expected to start at graduate trainee level.

Unfortunately, the choices you make at school and as a young adult do often affect your career potential. He could keep trying to get an equivalent job to his old one or take a pay cut, after tax its not going to be that much different anyway.

I can't believe a poster suggested committing fraud by lying on his cv. I am always asked for my original degree certificates plus transcripts for any job I am offered.