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 you can afford it, he can start an online parttime degree (like those with the open university) and then under education he can list the degree and say '2022-present' or 'currently undergoing' or whatever. It will also help these months not be a waste. People will glance at it and see that he is capable of doing one, they might even think he has a degree if they don't look at the dates properly, if it comes up he can point out that his CV says clearly he's still doing it.

He should ask for feedback from his interviews. That will give him better information about whether a degree is holding him back or not. Maybe he just needs better interview preparation.

Taking time out to do a degree is a very big financial commitment, and doing a degree through the OU is a massive commitment - I know, I've done it.

He should really take the lower paid job. The longer he is out of work, the lower any potential offers will be, because employers know he's been out of work for a while so not in a strong negotiation position. Once he's back in work, he can decide whether to study part time, focus on promotions etc, but his priority needs to be getting back into his industry, even at a lower salary.

His experience will count for far more than a degree could now. Do you seriously want him to spend years out of the workplace achieving a qualification that won't make much difference to his employability? He's getting interviews, so it's not that which is holding him back. What feedback is he getting from these? Why didn't he try to negotiate the salary up and take the job that paid less than his previous role but far more than his current unemployment does?

His friends that he used to work with, do any of their companies offer a " refer a friend scheme " to get him a job ?

Has he been networking with his past contacts ?

Is he on LinkedIn ?

I agree take a lower job to gain entry into a company & move jobs internally

Do all this before a degree

If he's progressing in interviews it can't all be about the degree, but despite it being possible, theoretically, to do my job without a degree, I don't think I'd have got it without one.

Also, I know that the last company DH worked for doesn't recruit non graduates to that post anymore. DH did really well without a degree, but I think he'd struggle in the same industry now.

Depends on sector but im in tech and past entry level degrees become irrelevant, i would be very surprised if this was the issue. Is he asking for feedback of interviews and when he's getting rejections? Is he doing any interview prep with contacts in the industry where he can get feedback on his aproach?

Much more likely to be his interview skills than his lack of a degree.

Who would care about a degree if he has ten years experience? And how would getting a degree help in the immediate future? And how would you pay for it?

It’s not his lack of a degree if he’s getting to final interview. Better off with interview coaching I expect. Why did he turn down the other job? For how long is he planning to hold out for a higher paid one than that offer?

A few colleagues and myself were made redundant in 2011. The first person to find another job in that group was one without a degree. She had 12 years experience and is v knowledgeable despite no formal degrees. So it's possible. I think a pp's suggestion to ask feedback is the best idea. I did contracting for slightly lesser amount to get back into the industry and was able to network and my work itself was a testimony rather than interview process.

Why didn't he take the job at 15k less? Better to be in a job. How much of a drop was this if his other told was very senior?