I graduated with an associate's degree from a top two-year college in Japan, built a 10-year career at a prestigious company. I never considered pursuing bachelor's degree since it didn't seem to be that meaningful at that time. Fast forward, I moved to the U.S., got a job in TA at a global bank, got promoted twice and got to VP level, but recently I was laid off due to team relocation. I'm now struggling to land interviews since most roles require BA/BS. Any recommendations how to navigate?

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In my master’s program in HR (a decade ago) I was in a compensation class and we had to write job descriptions and integrate them with market pay lines. The people in the class were regularly putting BA/BS degrees in simultaneously as a means of winnowing out less-qualified people and raising the bar due to a pay increase. Suspiciously absent was any justification for the degree to perform the job.

In other words, it’s often a “wish-list” item used to “see what floats to the top” (as several HR professionals once told me, 25 years ago) and, as plausible deniability if someone gets turned down.

There are hundreds of reasons to turn people down—including immutable characteristics such as race (in an affirmative action environment).

Moreover, if there are not any enforcement mechanisms to adjudicate unfair treatment in the hiring process, then there’s no way to stop bad behavior of hiring personnel.

We’re dealing with human nature, self-interest, bosses who want results at any cost, and actions intentionally kept out of the light of day.

I am beyond qualified. I have multiple graduate degrees, years of experience, all the certifications, and a clean record. Yet I’m not even considered because I’m an over-60 White male (application portals ask people to identify).

Companies and their agents can turn people down for anything. Now, with HRIS and even AI agents, undesirable applicants get filtered out unceremoniously. Computer settings regularly make the cold decisions now.

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What is the golden rule of Talent Acquisition?

I have worked with people who progressed without a degree and delivered more than others. I would lean into your experience and results. That still carries weight if positioned well.

I will also lean towards excellence over degrees

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