No Degree? A couple Tips

If you don't have a degree and you're looking for ways to land a job in spite of it, here are some tips on how you can sell your experience, regardless of your education.
1. Be a problem solver "Millions [of people] graduate with vague degrees that only attest to one's ability to read books and take tests, but not necessarily solve problems," Murphy says. "Industry experience conveys that you can solve problems for an employer right away or with little learning curve. Examine your experience and spell out how you helped solve problems, any problems. Competitors with degrees won't be able to compare."
2. Tell your 'Rocky' story"Not having an impressive academic pedigree -- or any degree at all -- can be a plus if you've found a way to succeed to this point without one. The more you can demonstrate a history of success relative to more pedigreed peers the better. You can paint yourself as a self-made professional, as compared with the silver-spoon Ivy Leaguer who had all the odds in their favor.
3. Be open to education,Many companies have favorable back-to-school plans for their employees. If you're speaking with a prospective employer that places a large emphasis on you might want to indicate a desire to take advantage of their plan. Demonstrating a desire to make up any gaps in your résumé while on the job might just tip the scales in your favor."
4. Don't make it a big deal. If it is an impediment to you, then you are going to reflect that when you talk with the company. There are really very few companies where the degree will stop [someone] from hiring a person if they are the best out there.
5. Focus on achievements over education. If you don't have a degree, it's very important for you to shine in every other aspect of your résumé.Don't settle for a list of tasks, but really demonstrate how you can do the job better than anyone else can. The best way is to do this is by providing concrete evidence of how you have excelled at similar tasks in the past through accomplishments."
6. For the interview, prepare several stories of success that showcase how you have accomplished tasks similar to others who possess a degree. If you are a sales professional for example, focus on how you exceeded your sales targets and have done as well as or better than your colleagues. If you are an accountant, prove how you have uncovered errors and recouped money for the company -- despite the fact that you didn't formally study accounting. If you are a high school graduate competing against a recent college graduate, talk about the experience you have garnered injobs you had while others your age were at college.
7. Create a combination résumé, The most important task is to market your key skills and accomplishments to the employer by creating a résumé that focuses on your contributions to your previous employers and your experience that is most relevant to the position for which you are applying. By creating a combination résumé that lists your relevant skills and experience first, you are sure to capture the hiring manager's attention. You initially want the employer to be able to fold your document in half and just by reading the top portion they know you are someone they should contact to schedule an interview. Does that top portion list education? Not necessarily.

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