My community college certificate got me a job over a bachelor's degree candidate

Last month I applied for a junior IT support role at a local clinic in Austin. I only have a 6-month certificate from Austin Community College, but I had done a hands-on project fixing their actual network setup. The manager told me they picked me because the other guy had a 4-year degree but zero real experience. Has anyone else seen a certificate or trade program beat out a traditional degree in hiring?

3 comments

3 Comments

shane_wilson19h ago

One story doesn't prove the whole system is broken, it just means that one manager valued hands-on work over a degree.

fiona_lane18h ago

Shane, here's the thing, I've hired maybe fifteen guys over the years and I can tell you exactly how this plays out. A degree gets your resume in the door, but if you show up with a chainsaw in your truck and know how to use it without cutting your foot off, that's a different conversation. Degrees are great for some paths but they don't teach you how to read a tree's lean or where the rot is hiding inside a trunk. That hands-on experience, it counts for more than people want to admit, especially in trades where the proof is in the work you leave behind.

irisg5715h ago

Gotta call this out differently. That degree guy probably did get his resume tossed for lacking real work, sure, but that doesn't mean certificates are better across the board. You landed a good gig because you showed up with actual proof you could do the job, not because a piece of paper from community college is some magic key. Most places still filter by degree first, especially for anything past entry level. One win is great, but it's not a trend. Respect the hustle though, just don't bet your whole career on one lucky break.