What's in a diploma?

While watching the Food Network’s “Who Wants To Be The Next Food Network Star?” finale last night (the right candidate won in my opinion!) I couldn’t help but ponder Jag’s position and situation. For anyone not familiar, he was one of the final two contestants but ended up taking himself out of the competition when it was discovered that he had lied on his application, listing both service in Afghanistan and graduation from culinary school; none of which he had accomplished. Why anybody would lie on a resume or application when you’re vying for a public job on national TV is beyond me but that’s not what I was thinking about. Jag showed up for the finale and seemed to have tremendous camaraderie and respect from the rest of the cast. It seems that his skills and performance had left a strong enough impression on them that they chose to disregard his fibbing a resume which made his presence on the show even a possibility.

It brings up a topic that is very relevant to the business world as well; the measure of a candidate’s true skill versus what is on his or her resume. Some of the most brilliant people I know never graduated from college. Other very talented professionals (I know) graduated from a community, or non-name brand, college. Michael Dell (Dell), David Geffen (Dreamworks) and Richard Branson (Virgin Air) are among some well known executives never graduated from college.

The pressure to present excellent credentials and an impressive resume weighs heavily on applicants to Fortune 500 companies. In a world where hiring managers and recruiters look only at “names”, whether that is prior experience with a Fortune 500 or a top school, it is tough to stand out. But the question remains, are those candidates without a degree or without the pedigree lesser qualified? I don’t always think so. Unless I am hiring for an entry-level position, I usually look at work experience as the main indicator of a person’s talent, with education being secondary qualifiers.

One might think “once you’re in, you’re in” but think again, a lady I worked with (highly skilled and super sharp I might add) was not applying for higher level management positions because she did not have a college degree. She worked for the company for over 15 years but worries that she wasn't qualified for senior level positions. Frankly, I didn't know anyone MORE qualified!

A college diploma and/or a name-brand school are wonderful qualifiers for those that have them. I would however like to see more “… or equivalent work experience” added next to the required degree in job postings. It opens up the playing field to include some truly wonderfully qualified candidates, many of whom I have been fortunate and honored to work with.

A person shouldn’t have to lie on an application if they truly feel that they qualify. Jag might have had his own TV show today had he not fibbed the resume (though he never was a favorite of mine, for reasons other than his background). He apparently was skilled and personable enough; both of which carried him through to the finals. If anything, that should tell America something about what really matters.