I am currently in the line up to receive a promotion into the sales-research-marketing department where I work. I have been working in the warehouse for just under a year now. When I was initial told about this position I informed them that I was interested, but I was sure there were more qualified candidates. I was told that my 2-ish years experience in a similar field was plenty, and since I had a B.S. I met the education requirements. I laughed, and reminded them that a B.S. in Theology is hardly a sales associated field. They said a B.S. is a B.S.

Then there is my brother. He has been with the same company for several years. They have given him a few pay raises (nothing substantial), but will not make him full time and will not promote him to a shift lead because he does not have a college degree. Although he has been with the company longer than I have been with mine, and has gained more experience related to a lead position in his field than I, his lack of a college diploma keeps him from a leadership and/or FT position.

That. Is. Ridiculous.

If this was the difference between an IT phone operator and IT Manager understandable, but we are talking the difference between a retail team member and retail shift lead. The retailer, whom shall remain nameless, is not Nordstrum’s or a Dillards; we are talking the middle-class Wal-Mart.

I was an Asst. Manager for Dollar General for around 6 years. I was hired on as an Asst. Manager with only a H.S. Diploma at the time. Every skill I learned, I learned on the job. By the time I left Dollar General, I had managed at 9 stores in KC Metro (I was in high demand as a fill in), and 1 in Nashville. I was involved in the hiring and firing process, and I can assure you that even the Manger position doesn’t really require anything higher than a H.S. diploma. Even then, I promoted people into Asst. Manager positions with no GED or HS Diploma on merit and tenure alone.

There is, of course, the opposite issue. I know people with a college degree in precisely what a job is looking for, but won’t hire them because they have no experience. How can they gain experience if no one hires them?

Employers need to rethink the requirements for certain positions. From personal experience, in an employer and employee position, experience, for a non-field specific job, is far more valuable than generic education of any kind. Character is actually the most important quality. I would rather have a positive, consistent, employee willing to learn with no HS Diploma or GED, than a B.S. in the field that is bitter and lazy.