<p>And if the $120,000 job is the one they are saying will pay $300,000 in 3 years, I’d have to really believe my ex boss!!</p>
<p>Kirmum, most companies don’t care about the degree as long as you have the experience. Though, most will list the degree as a qualifier. It sounds as if LTS has the reputation in her field to overcome any degree limitations. </p>
<p>The companies that seem to stick hard and fast to the degree rule are the pharmaceutical and biotech firms. I know I would make a killing in this field because I enjoy health sciences and can sell ice to an eskimo, list rate, exclusive contract. But, I know I can’t break in - their loss.</p>
<p>Regarding the degree issue, for candidates lacking an internal advocate or referral, it’s a real problem. In a poor economy, education completed is used more as a screening tool or rather a way to reduce the huge stack of resumes. With, say, 200 resumes for one opening, screening out all those who lack degrees, or, even screening out those who merely have undergrad degrees helps narrow the list of candidates. </p>
<p>In the background check process, I still had to prove my high school completion. For some reason their background checking company could not reach my high school, which is a correspondence school. Lucky for me, I have my transcripts and the school profile - I requested it some months ago when I was completing my list of target colleges. I faxed it to HR; they in turn faxed it to the background check company, who in turn took three days to verify its authenticity and approve it. </p>
<p>They also did a complete credit check, driving record check, criminal history, etc., plus drug screens. It took four weeks and I was told prior that they were “very thorough” - I’m guessing this was my chance to withdraw if there was going to be something troubling in my background.</p>
<p>LTS, were you hired by a search firm? I’ve found that search firms really put you through the ringer when it comes to background checks. It’s easier when you are going directly into the firm.</p>
<p>No, I was recruited directly by a former boss. I reported to him for four years. The company requires this of all new hires. </p>
<p>All of the job offers I’ve received in during my search were conditional based on successfully passing a background check. My impression is that all companies are doing this, perhaps also because of the poor economy? Perhaps because of liability issues? I read something somewhere that companies with staff with poor credit histories in all disciplines had higher incidents of employee theft or performance issues - not sure how valid that is but - if the economy is poor, and if ten perfectly qualified applicants are available for a position, perhaps the background check serves as an additional screen?</p>
<p>latetoschool, how would you rate the economy for job seekers?</p>
<p>Momsdream-
Boy are YOU right about the nightmares of managing people. My H. has that nightmare-- it was much less stressful when all he interfaced with was hardware. the liveware is a serious pain.</p>
<p>Latetoschool-
I see your point about maintaining the relationship with your old boss. I hope you can comfortably keep the time boundaries there so the new job doesnt eat up all your time. You mentioned that as a concern in one of your early posts.
You’ve obviously put a lot of thought into this decision. Good luck to you in your new job! When’s the move??</p>
<p>Momsdream, if you can sell ice cream to an Eskimo you can break through the bs. Hand deliver the resume and sell them! Happens every day, especially for people in sales. People here love to say it doesn’t matter what your degree is or where it’s from after the first job. I don’t really think that’s true, but if you have a 20 plus year track record, who the heck cares where you graduated from? My brother is a $600,000/yr salesman for a tech company with his 11th grade education.</p>
<p>We’ll keep this anonymous, but of you want business advice, Zagat is unusually qualified to give it! Amazing to have that kind of free resource!!</p>
<p>dstark, from my perspective it’s tempting to say “poor”, because in these past 13 months, it’s been clear to me that owing to the sheer number of applicants, hiring officers can choose the exact skill set and experience they want for any given position: if they want an MBA from a specific school with 15 years of industry experience in like-companies who speaks Spanish, French and German who can also tap dance, cook, sew and change flat tires, they’ll have ten to pick from. </p>
<p>Also, I was in a job search from the position of (1) terminated from last position and subsequently unemployed; (2) no college; and (3) over 40. </p>
<p>On the other hand, there seems to be a lot of opportunity - after all I did turn down a number of other offers. I think the key is that the job seeker has to be very flexible and have a broader range of skills and education than ever before; approaches to specific employers need to be very, very targeted. </p>
<p>Kirkmum: in my world, if someone attempted to hand deliver a resume with intentions of selling the hiring officer, they’d likely be stopped by security.</p>
<p>LateToSchool, good luck with your new job! And good luck with admissions.</p>