The Resume Filter

I've written a lot about resumes, particularly about matching your job skills and competencies with those listed in the job description. It really is a tough job to modify your resume to each and every job but if you want to get noticed, it is something that has to be done.
The other day someone emailed me and asked if he should apply to those positions that require a college degree even if he doesn't have one. I told him that if the position states that a college degree is required, then the resume key word filters will reject his resume no matter how great it is. I have talked to various hiring managers who concur. These days when there is an abundance of applicants for one or two positions, they will be swamped with resumes and will screen out those applicants who don't have the stated requirements.
How can you get around this? That is a tough call. There are a couple things you can do:

1. Look for the words, "highly desirable" or "equivalent experience" when it comes to skills, education or certifications. These words are not the same as “mandatory” or “required”.

2. Look for positions that state the responsibilities but make no mention of degree or certification. There are some listings from reputable companies that do not state educational requirements, especially in some of the technical positions.

3. Network. Go through your list of physical or social networking contacts and see if there is someone who can work with you to get you in the door. Once someone interviews you they may see that your experience and skill set far outweigh the need for a degree. Another networking suggestion is to join a professional group and volunteer to make a presentation or lead a team. This helps make you more visible.

4. Consider returning to school. There are many schools who will count work, experience and other skill set factors towards credits. If you are interested, it may be in your best interest to speak with a college placement office representative.

I am sure that some of you have other suggestions, please feel free to talk about them.