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True, until you attempt to move into an officer position at a company. It's a requirement for every organization I've spoken to or with colleagues about, both

True, until you attempt to move into an officer position at a company. It's a requirement for every organization I've spoken to or with colleagues about, both large companies and at startups. For very early stage startups, or if you're a cofounder, that's different. The further into in a company's lifetime, the more required it is, in my experience. In other words, it's a barrier to some things. Not to say that it's everyone's path, but I don't think everyone realizes that there is a ceiling, and it does not get easier to obtain an undergraduate degree than it is if you're 20 and have already completed three years worth of the program.

paxys 5y ago
What is an "officer position"? I work at a large tech company (and have worked at several others, including Microsoft) and several of my directors, VPs and equivalent have had no formal degree. This is common when employees rise through the ranks or come in via acquisitions. Companies aren't going to ask for college transcripts when offering you a promotion. What matters is your experience and performance, that's it.
- TameAntelope 5y ago
  A VP is an officer (a director is not), and I've worked with people who were asked for exactly those things when interviewing or being considered for such a promotion, both internally and interviewing for a role externally. I agree that what you say about experience and performance should be the only thing that matters, but it's naive to think that's simply "true", with no caveats, qualifications, or exceptions. I don't think it's as common as you think as you progress in your career beyond an individual contributor, generally in the tech industry, and specifically at Microsoft I'm 75% sure what you're saying is not the case, with a very small handful of exceptions.
  - zahllos 5y ago
    Another aspect to consider: this is all a very US-centric view. In the UK, getting hired without a degree is not impossible (I did it) but very difficult, and some processes will simply filter you out. Large employers like IBM want a 2.2 equivalent degree from a good-ish university, doesn't matter what, and you can potentially go and work for them. Even FAANG, those that are here, e.g. Google, Amazon, Facebook, will primarily recruit people with degrees. Ditching the degree will also make it harder to move abroad if you want to in the future, since most immigration formalities evaluate education level. This is definitely true when it comes to emigrating _into_ the US, for example. Also, if you ever decide you need to go back to university (school) to learn about something in the future, I don't know about the US, but in Europe, a condition of entry to masters programmes is always holding a bachelors degree. So if you have to go back to school here, likely you'll be going back to bachelors level. I don't even know how valuable your existing credits would be - I can tell you that they tend to expire in the EU. So, there are some consequences to this choice. I'm not judging, each to their own, but if it were me, I'd say life isn't a race and unless you are already sat on a potential unicorn and it 'has to be now' Bill-Gates-style, a couple more years while you finish your degree is nothing.

paxys 5y ago

What is an "officer position"? I work at a large tech company (and have worked at several others, including Microsoft) and several of my directors, VPs and equivalent have had no formal degree. This is common when employees rise through the ranks or come in via acquisitions. Companies aren't going to ask for college transcripts when offering you a promotion. What matters is your experience and performance, that's it.

TameAntelope 5y ago
A VP is an officer (a director is not), and I've worked with people who were asked for exactly those things when interviewing or being considered for such a promotion, both internally and interviewing for a role externally. I agree that what you say about experience and performance should be the only thing that matters, but it's naive to think that's simply "true", with no caveats, qualifications, or exceptions. I don't think it's as common as you think as you progress in your career beyond an individual contributor, generally in the tech industry, and specifically at Microsoft I'm 75% sure what you're saying is not the case, with a very small handful of exceptions.
- zahllos 5y ago
  Another aspect to consider: this is all a very US-centric view. In the UK, getting hired without a degree is not impossible (I did it) but very difficult, and some processes will simply filter you out. Large employers like IBM want a 2.2 equivalent degree from a good-ish university, doesn't matter what, and you can potentially go and work for them. Even FAANG, those that are here, e.g. Google, Amazon, Facebook, will primarily recruit people with degrees. Ditching the degree will also make it harder to move abroad if you want to in the future, since most immigration formalities evaluate education level. This is definitely true when it comes to emigrating _into_ the US, for example. Also, if you ever decide you need to go back to university (school) to learn about something in the future, I don't know about the US, but in Europe, a condition of entry to masters programmes is always holding a bachelors degree. So if you have to go back to school here, likely you'll be going back to bachelors level. I don't even know how valuable your existing credits would be - I can tell you that they tend to expire in the EU. So, there are some consequences to this choice. I'm not judging, each to their own, but if it were me, I'd say life isn't a race and unless you are already sat on a potential unicorn and it 'has to be now' Bill-Gates-style, a couple more years while you finish your degree is nothing.