[Popman]

From experience I can say that not having a degree does make it much harder to get interviews....Getting past the screeners in most major HR departments is still an issue.

I recently become unemployed 6 weeks ago and had to look for a position for the first time in 14 years...

To say the job market certainly has changed would be an understatement...

I do not have a degree and it was extremely frustrating looking at positions on job boards were I was an excellent fit based on the job description, but the degree was a requirement...

I finally added on my cover letter why I did not have a degree, but four years of night school, and I was very qualified based on my long track record of success and accomplishments in my field...

The doors started cracking open...

After I added that section to my cover letter I received about six responses and got three interviews...

I think the requirement for a BA in a lot of cases, except for STEM degrees is simply to cut down on the number of resumes HR gets...

I also figured out the cover letter is far more important than you resume' to get the HR to look at your resume' in the first place.

Cover letters need to be a sales pitch on why you will be the best candidate, not some dry summary of your resume'

I start my new position on Monday...!

[momtothree]

CONGRATULATIONS, Popman! I’ll be thinking good thoughts about you all day Monday!

[fulltlt]

Thanks for the advice. I’ve been looking and sending resume’s out for quite a long time now. I get a few interviews but no offers.

[Oatka]

Cover letters need to be a sales pitch on why you will be the best candidate, not some dry summary of your resume'

Back in my contract programming days (1990-2000), with every resume I sent out, I attached a "Technical Addendum". In that business, your energies were concentrated on solving a problem, forgetting about it and moving on. About half-way through listing the challenges and how I handled them, I blurted out "Hell, I'D hire me!".

I led off by stating that resumes have a blue smoke and mirrors tag attached, but if the reader would pass my Addendum to the guy I would be working for (think positive), he would know in a minute if I was blowing smoke.

I had a couple of Head Hunters tell me it saved them from a call back as to some question of my ability, and I got one job in a chemical plant because the manager figured that if I knew of Bill of Materials, I'd easily pick up on the chemical equivalent - "Recipes".