No college degree? First, get in the door

< Prev | 1 | 2

Most viewed business videos

Tips to find the best Cyber Monday deals
Nov. 29: AOL consumer advisor Regina Lewis joins CNBC’s Carl Quintanilla with some advice on how to get the best bargains.

Incident to dent Woods’ brand power?

Bill Gates: U.S. economy on a ‘plateau’

Hot holiday gifts

I've got tons of practical experience and have moved up the ladder into management at my current firm. It's a small company, there's only so far to go and I can't take the 60-hour workweeks any more. I'm smart, quick, logical, loyal, have a good attitude and an excellent work ethic. The downside is that I don't have a degree. I know I could do just about any job I set my sights on. How can I get in the door with a new firm when as soon as they see that I don't have a B.A., they won't even consider me?
--TS, Lacey, Wash.

If you tried everything suggested above but still can’t get past the HR department, go straight to the top, or at least to the hiring manager.

James says you have to get to the person at an organization that is feeling the most pain as far as needing to fill a position. Get your resume in the right hands. That means you’ll have to research, network and make a lot of calls. If it’s a big company, go online and scroll through all the vice presidents or heads of divisions listed and figure out what division head you should try to contact. If it’s a job in marketing you want, for example, call the department and ask which manager is handling the hiring for that position. You might get directed back to HR but at least you can try to make a case for yourself on the phone. This is when you have to get thick skinned and be pushy, especially if you believe the job was made for you.

Again, I’ll recommend the book “What Color Is Your Parachute?” by Richard Nelson Bolles, and so does James. “The best way to get a job is act as your own recruiter,” she adds.

< Prev | 1 | 2