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Recruiters are finding on-the-job experience is a better gauge of a candidate’s future success than a post-secondary degree.
“Like, if you need a bookkeeper and that person needs some experience with a software such as QuickBooks. If they don’t have that experience they can learn that program in a week on the job. So why filter out good candidates if you can teach them the software in a matter of days?” However, Buxbaum says employers have a difficult time attracting talent to Sonoma County. “If they are young, they have to want to move here, but big cities tend to snatch those people up. We are also competing with candidates from other places. Remote work is a wonderful thing, and a lot of people in California work remotely. But if they can work remotely here then, say, someone in Michigan can also do that job just as effectively, or even someone in eastern Europe. It’s a tough labor market for sure.” What his company is experiencing with postings of technology jobs is that having certifications in tech earned outside of college can qualify the applicant for a job that pays $50 to $80 an hour. “And a discussion about holding a degree doesn’t even come up. Frankly, there is some part of this generation in college right now who are very disenchanted that they might come out of school with a degree but facing $200,000 in debt.” Next One finds qualified tech workers for several financial institutions in Sonoma County, who need skills in mastering specific software and programming. “These clients are not looking for a degree but a specific skill set, such as being a Python specialist. With that verified certification in hand, the college degree requirement was never brought up with
a certain applicant because it simply wasn’t a criteria for qualifying for the job,” says Buxbaum. Unfortunately, he adds, there can still be applicants who fudge the truth on their resume about having a degree. “In the early 2000s there was a run of shady diploma mills where you could send your information, write a thesis and be issued a master’s degree or a doctorate. We had to vet those credentials on resumes to spot the bogus ‘schools’ that were issuing that paper. It’s just not possible anymore to fake having a degree.” Skills over formal education Lawson says the concept of the “paper ceiling,” the invisible barrier that excludes capable individuals who lack formal degrees, resonates deeply with his hiring philosophy and the companies he works with. “We have consistently observed that candidates with strong portfolios, relevant work experience and demonstrable skills often outperform those who simply possess a degree. In the fast-paced tech landscape, what truly matters is an individual’s ability to deliver results, adapt to new technologies and contribute to innovative solutions.” Many of the companies he recruits for have already shifted their hiring practices to prioritize these attributes over formal education. “This approach not only broadens the talent pool but also fosters a more diverse and inclusive workforce. We’ve seen first-hand how candidates from nontraditional backgrounds bring fresh perspectives that drive our companies forward.” Gen Xers and millennials, he adds, are also attracted to
August 2024
NorthBaybiz 25
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