As is the case with many jobs on the market today, a degree requirement is simply a means to an end. Most successful companies can attest to the fact that a degree doesn’t really produce skilled labor – in fact, talent is the only ‘skill’ you need in order to secure most jobs.
Why then is a degree a requirement for most jobs?
Sounds nice to have “Dr.” next to your name doesn’t it?
The answer to put it in simple terms – is the weight of a degree. It gives you credentials that attest to your ability to properly perform a certain skill better than others who don’t necessarily have that degree. There are, of course, some careers where having a degree before entering the industry is an absolute necessity. Professions such as neurosurgeons and other health practitioners obviously shouldn’t be allowed to practice in the health industry without undergoing proper training in a school and then working under a professional’s supervision first.
This is not to say that HR degrees are not important either. It has become one of the most popular choices for business students – to practice in the art of dealing with humans. In order for you to climb up the corporate ladder and bag a higher position within the company, it is an absolutely necessity for you to have a bachelor’s degree in HR at least. The current job climate for HR specialists is already competitive for degree holders as it is – the odds are further stacked up against you if you aim to enter the market without a degree.
Dual degree
It has become a trend these days to combine a bachelor’s degree in human resources with law. Because it is becoming increasingly important to familiarize yourself with the state’s laws on labor and employment before beginning the arduous task of hiring employees (or firing them) while remaining within the confines of the law.
At the end of the day, a person with a degree will always be preferable over a person without a degree because they are expected to be more knowledgeable. Larger companies which tend to have a large turnover of employees tend to be more selective with the hiring process. Your resume wouldn’t even be entertained in most cases because there already is an entire pile of CVs of people with HR degrees to choose from.
You want promotions don’t you?
If you do manage to land yourself a highly competitive job in a large company’s human resources department, your prospective of moving up the hierarchy might not be looking to bright either. You’re surrounded by a mix of employees holding master’s degrees and PhDs, while you only have a high school diploma. Even though you might have raw talent that the company could benefit from, it may just overlook you when it comes to promotions. You’ll be left to toil over your relatively mundane job while the fresh recruit straight out of college gets promoted to become your new boss.
Having said all this, to seriously pursue a career in HR, you need a strong base of theoretical knowledge and the ability to successfully implement HR concepts in practical scenarios. Without an HR degree, you might just end up reading and researching HR related content one too many times.
