Gone are the days when a college degree was the sole gatekeeper to a promising career. Every day, innovative companies are waking up to a profound truth: real skills aren&rsquo;t stamped on a diploma. It&rsquo;s built through life&rsquo;s hands-on experiences. This shift opens doors for many capable individuals who choose not to pursue traditional college paths but are equally skilled and deserving of opportunities. It&rsquo;s a powerful truth: when we choose to value skills and experience over college degrees, we don't just open doors for the overlooked&mdash;we revolutionize our businesses. By prioritizing experience and potential over formal education, businesses can address the systemic barriers keeping brilliant individuals from underserved communities out of the workforce.&nbsp;
<h2 style="margin-top: 18pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;">Why Move Away from Degree-Dependent Hiring? </h2>
When we cling to college degrees as the primary hiring criterion, we inadvertently sideline a vast pool of talent. Many individuals from underserved communities face significant barriers to higher education, from prohibitive costs to systemic socio-economic challenges. By prioritizing degrees, we perpetuate these inequalities but also deprive our businesses of diverse perspectives and innovative solutions.&nbsp;
 Moreover, the high cost of education and a dynamic job market have prompted many to skip the degree path and directly develop specific skills through alternative routes such as certifications, apprenticeships, and self-directed learning.
 Focusing on what people can do rather than where they studied can build stronger, more diverse teams. Turning our backs on degree-centric hiring can transform workplaces and bring about profound social change.
<h2 style="margin-top: 18pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;">The Business Case for Skills over Degrees</h2>
Think about the last time you were truly impressed by someone's work. Was it because they listed a prestigious university on their resume? Or was it because they delivered something spectacular, something that demonstrated ingenuity and skill? The world is full of self-taught innovators, tireless achievers, and imaginative thinkers. These are the people who bring fresh perspectives to challenges&mdash;yet, traditional hiring practices often leave them on the sidelines and it&rsquo;s almost always to the detriment of the business. 
According to Robinson, McKinsey research shows that over a several-year timeframe, <a style="text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/why-diversity-matters">racially diverse companies are 35% more likely to outperform their less diverse counterparts</a>, while from a gender standpoint, companies with strong women representation are 25% more likely to outperform. It&rsquo;s clear&mdash;the future of business is inclusive. 
Surveys and studies increasingly show that <a style="text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2023/01/12/survey-finds-recent-grads-emotionally-unprepared-work">many graduates feel underprepared for the workplace</a>, and the skills they acquired in college may not align with what is needed in today's jobs.&nbsp; 
A staggering number of capable individuals from lower-income backgrounds are sidestepped by the degree demand. With the rising costs of education, organizations that are still adhering to this strict requirement are actively contributing to a cycle of inequality.&nbsp; 
 It's time to recalibrate our focus towards skills and actual job performance potential. How to Scout for Skills: Strategies That Work
Sifting through resumes flush with academic accolades tell us little about the person behind the paper. As we embrace a new era of talent discovery, we focus on uncovering the raw, untapped skills that can spark real change.&nbsp; Here&rsquo;s our blueprint for identifying those abilities, ensuring that a team is skilled and every candidate gets the opportunity to showcase their abilities.&nbsp; Zero In on What Really Matters
<a href="https://go.careercircle.com/skills-centric-job-descriptions-visual-roadmap" rel="follow">Before you post that job listing, ask: What skills are absolutely essential for this role?</a> Strip away the fluff about degrees and focus on the real meat of the job. This clarity will help you spot the real performers who can walk the talk. 
Put Them to the Test
Don't just take their word for it&mdash;see them in action. Implement task-based assessments that mimic real job challenges. Whether it&rsquo;s a coding exercise, a sales pitch simulation, or a design challenge, these tests speak louder than any diploma could. 
Recognize the Power of Certifications
In many fields, certifications can be as telling as degrees, if not more. These often require specific skills and a practical understanding of the field, making them a solid indicator of a candidate's readiness and expertise. These qualifications demonstrate a focused mastery of specific skill sets and are frequently more accessible to individuals from underserved communities. 
Dive Into Their Real-World Experience
Portfolios, past projects, freelance gigs&mdash;these are gold mines for assessing a candidate's capabilities. They provide a tangible track record of what the candidate can achieve and are often more relevant than theoretical knowledge. 
Value the Builders
Look for those who&rsquo;ve taken initiative: internships, volunteer work, or community projects. These experiences often build skills that are perfectly transferable to professional settings but are overlooked in traditional resumes. 
Turn Interviews Into Storytelling Sessions 
Invite candidates to share the story of a project they&rsquo;re proud of, a complex problem they solved, or an innovative idea they brought to life. This approach does more than surface their skills&mdash;it brings to light their passion, creativity, and problem-solving prowess. Importantly, it provides a powerful platform for candidates from underserved communities who may not have traditional career paths but have rich experiences and unique perspectives to share. 
These stories allow them to illustrate their resourcefulness and resilience, invaluable qualities often overlooked in standard interviews. By listening to their experiences, we gain insight into how they&rsquo;ve navigated challenges with limited resources, showcasing their potential to contribute meaningfully to our teams. 
Valuing the Roads Less Traveled
Give due credit to the unconventional paths. Freelance projects, volunteer roles, and even personal passions can hone skills just as effectively as formal jobs. These experiences often forge resilience, adaptability, and a drive that can&rsquo;t be taught in a classroom. 
Expand Recruitment Channels
To reach non-degree holders with high potential, broaden your recruitment efforts to include industry forums, <a style="text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.careercircle.com/jobs">niche job boards,</a> vocational training centers, and online communities where these candidates like to spend their time. 
Investing in People
When you come across a candidate who sparks interest but may lack some skills, consider the potential of on-the-job training. This investment can pay dividends in loyalty and innovation. Stop looking for the &lsquo;unicorn&rsquo; candidate and build the workforce you need by nurturing the talent you find. 
Building a Learning Culture
Finally, foster an environment that values continuous learning. Encourage all employees, regardless of their educational background, to pursue growth through new experiences and ongoing education. This not only enhances their skills but also keeps your team at the cutting edge of industry developments.
<h2 style="margin-top: 18pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;">The Future is Skills, Not Degrees</h2>
In the near future, the most successful companies will be those that can recognize and harness talent in all its forms. By embracing a skills-first hiring model, businesses can prepare for the future&mdash;equipped with a team that&rsquo;s diverse, dynamic, and driven by more than academic achievements. 
After all, the next industry leader, tech innovator, or creative genius might not come from an Ivy League school but could instead be the self-taught coder who has spent hours every day after school, problem solving and tinkering with complex coding challenges. Or perhaps the future leader in sustainable business isn&rsquo;t coming from a top-tier business school, but from the grassroots environmental activist who has been making changes in their community with little more than sheer determination and a deep passion for the planet. It&rsquo;s time to reassess how we definite qualified human potential and cultivate an environment that acknowledges and advances genuine skill and creativity.

When we choose to value skills and experience over college degrees, we don't just open doors for the overlooked—we revolutionize our businesses.

Assessing Skills Without a College Degree

Gone are the days when a college degree was the sole gatekeeper to a promising career. Every day, innovative companies are waking up to a profound truth: real skills aren’t stamped on a diploma. It’s built through life’s hands-on experiences. This shift opens doors for many capable individuals who choose ...

Assessing Skills Without a College Degree: A Practical Guide for Employers

While a good resume and cover letter can open the door to a job opportunity, a strong interview is often the most significant step in the hiring process. Job seekers that truly desire to land a job should move beyond interview basics, such as dressing professionally and arriving early for an interview, to implementing techniques that will set them apart from other applicants.
Here are 5 ways you can make a lasting positive impression at a job interview:
1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Refer to your resume and cover letter&nbsp;&ndash; Most employers receive numerous resumes and cover letters for job openings. While they may have selected you for an interview, this doesn&rsquo;t mean they will remember everything about you. Use the interview as a time to refer to information on your resume, such as work history or major accomplishments, to help refresh interviewers&rsquo; memories. Then elaborate on a few of your more significant roles and achievements, even explaining how these experiences relate to the job for which you&rsquo;re interviewing.
2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Do your research and apply it&nbsp;&ndash; While it&rsquo;s important to conduct research about an employer to understand their history, successes and challenges, doing the research and talking about the information you learned is simply a first step in ensuring interview success. It&rsquo;s even more important for you to demonstrate that you can apply that research. For example, if you&rsquo;ve found that the employer is experiencing a consistent problem, come up with ideas for how you&rsquo;d plan to solve it. Perhaps they&rsquo;ve released a new service or product. Share how you&rsquo;d market it or improve existing services. Ultimately the goal is to show that you&rsquo;ve already considered how you can make a difference as an employee.
3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Prepare questions and answers&nbsp;&ndash; The interview is the time for both you and an employer to determine if you are a good match for one another. As the job seeker, this means you should be prepared with both questions and answers to demonstrate your interest in the position and how much you fit the role. Ask very specific, meaningful questions relating to things discussed in the interview. You can also ask about articles you&rsquo;ve read about the employer or industry insights, as this is another way to demonstrate that you&rsquo;ve done your research.
In addition to developing questions to ask the employer, prepare answers to common interview questions. This will help develop your confidence and eliminate silence or long pauses during the interview. While interviewers may not ask the exact questions you prepare answers for, it&rsquo;s likely you can apply the answers you&rsquo;ve prepared to similar questions they ask.
4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Decide if and how you&rsquo;ll disclose a disability&nbsp;&ndash; If you have a disability, discussing it during the hiring process or after being employed is a personal choice and is not a required. However, it can be beneficial if sharing details about your disability would help a potential employer make reasonable accommodations to improve the hiring process or help you better perform the job functions. Remember that you can disclose a disability at any time, even during an interview. If sharing during an interview, it&rsquo;s important to also remain focused on demonstrating how you are qualified to perform the essential job requirements.
5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Don&rsquo;t forget to say thank you&nbsp;&ndash; Offering appreciation at the end of an interview isn&rsquo;t enough to help you make a lasting impression with an employer. Sending a &ldquo;thank you&rdquo; shortly after is a great way to show your continued interest in a position and even to address or follow-up on matters from the interview. For example, if you&rsquo;ve thought more about a question that you didn&rsquo;t have a strong answer for during the interview, share your answer in the thank you note. Or, simply reiterate why you feel you are the ideal fit for the position. Although written notes are not very common, sending both an email immediately following the interview and a written note in the mail soon after will certainly set you apart from other applicants.
Making a lasting impression at an interview takes preparation and practice but implementing these tips can definitely help you land the job you desire. For more tips on how to make a lasting impression at a job interview,&nbsp;contact the CareerCircle team.
Contributions to this blog were made by Andra&eacute;a LaVant of Solutions Marketing Group.&nbsp;

Stand out in job interviews with these 5 tips to make a lasting impression and boost your chances of success.

5 Ways You Can Make a Lasting Positive Impression at a Job Interview

For many people, interviews are simultaneously the best and worst part of job searching. When you schedule one, it means that your resume knocked their socks off and your skills align with what they&rsquo;re looking for, but it also means more than a few nerves to face.
The key to kicking those nerves to the curb is to be prepared and this whole blog post is dedicated to exactly that. You&rsquo;ll learn how best to research a company, what notes to have on hand, and we&rsquo;ve even got a template for your follow up email.
This post is part of The Layoff Series, a series of blog posts built to help jobseekers get back on their feet after a layoff. Be sure to check out the other articles in the series <a href="https://www.careercircle.com/blog/post/what-to-do-after-a-layoff" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">What To Do After a Layoff</a> and <a href="https://www.careercircle.com/blog/post/the-layoff-series-7-tips-to-organize-your-job-search" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">7 Tips To Organize Your Job Search</a>, to learn how to handle a layoff from step one.

<h2 style="text-align: center;"> How To Prepare for an Interview</h2>
You did it! You got past the application stage and you&rsquo;ve got an interview. Now it&rsquo;s time to get ready&hellip;here&rsquo;s what you need to do.
<h3> Do Your Research</h3>
Before interviewing, do a deep dive into the company, products or services they offer, and the person (or people) you&rsquo;ll be interviewing with. The easiest way to do this is to check out the company&rsquo;s About page on their website and look through their LinkedIn to see some of their history and current initiatives. It&rsquo;s also a good idea to do a quick Google search to see any recent news article about them.
If the company sells a particular product or service, sign up for a free trial or test out whatever you can. If it&rsquo;s not accessible to you, look through case studies on their website to learn more about their customers and the problems they&rsquo;re solving for.
To really impress, make note of the things that are particularly appealing to you and mention them early in the interview. For example, &ldquo;I loved that [COMPANY NAME] shared those pictures from your in-person meeting. Is that a meeting you all do often?&rdquo;
It can be a great way to break the ice and learn more about the company&rsquo;s culture before diving into the full interview.
<h3> Use Notes</h3>
One of the biggest misconceptions I see when people are talking about the hiring process is thinking that candidates aren&rsquo;t allowed notes during an interview.&nbsp;Remember, the recruiter or hiring manager you&rsquo;re working with is likely taking questions off of notes and taking notes throughout the interview&hellip;you can, too!
It&rsquo;s great to have a few things memorized, but there&rsquo;s nothing wrong with having notes for any particular stories or achievements you want to remember to convey.&nbsp;
In your notes, make sure you have:
<ol>
<li>
Your elevator pitch: A 30 to 45-second pitch about who you are and how you&rsquo;re a fit for the role. Career and Executive Coach, Renata Junkova, explains, &ldquo;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-craft-perfect-job-interview-elevator-pitch-renata-junkova/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">A persuasive and memorable pitch, perceived as an opening speech that summarizes: WHO YOU ARE, WHAT YOU DO, WHY THEY SHOULD HIRE YOU.</a>&rdquo;&nbsp; So keep it short, clear, and relevant to the job you're interviewing for.
</li>
<li>
Answers to common interview questions: Prepare for questions like, &ldquo;Why do you want to work at this company?&rdquo;, &ldquo;Tell me about a conflict you faced at work and how you dealt with it.&rdquo;, and &ldquo;What are you looking for in a new position?&rdquo; The Muse has some excellent templates for answering all of those questions and more <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/interview-questions-and-answers" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;
</li>
<li>
How your skills align with the requirements of the job: Remember to focus all of your answers towards how you can do the job. Don&rsquo;t be afraid to highlight the keywords in the job posting in your answers!
</li>
<li>
Overviews of any impressive projects you&rsquo;ve handled: Brag about yourself! Remember to highlight the goal of the project, what you did, and what the results were.
</li>
<li>
A response to any gaps in your employment: It&rsquo;s likely the recruiter will ask about any gaps in your employment. When you&rsquo;ve faced a layoff, it can feel overwhelming to tackle this question. Remember to be honest, optimistic, and bring it back to the role you&rsquo;re interviewing for. Here&rsquo;s an example to work with: &ldquo;I was recently laid off due to internal restructuring at my previous company. While it certainly threw a curveball my way, I took it as an opportunity to reevaluate my goals and focus on applying for roles that align with my hopes of growing as a Project Manager. I began working on my <a href="https://www.careercircle.com/blog/post/why-you-should-earn-a-google-career-certificate" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Google Career Certificate</a> in Project Management. I&rsquo;m excited to apply what I&rsquo;ve learned to this role!&rdquo;
</li>
</ol>
<h3> Practice, Practice, Practice</h3>
We&rsquo;re going to say it again. That&rsquo;s how important it is. Practice!
It can feel awkward at first to practice for your interview, but it really does help! You don&rsquo;t have to put a ton of effort into practicing. You can just record yourself answering the questions, or video call with a friend and have them play the interviewer. You can even utilize our <a href="https://www.careercircle.com/quizzes/interview-prep" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Interview Prep tool</a> that takes you through some simple quizzes to make sure you&rsquo;re all set to sit down with that interviewer.
If you&rsquo;re doing a virtual interview, be sure to record in the same location using the same audio setup you&rsquo;ll be using in the interview. Then you can feel confident that your headphones work and the interviewer can hear and see you!
<h3> Dress For Your Best</h3>
Now that doesn&rsquo;t mean you need to wear a floor-length ball gown, but wearing an outfit that makes you feel confident, comfortable, and powerful is the way to go. If you&rsquo;re doing a virtual interview, be sure to try out the outfit with any virtual or real-life background you&rsquo;ll be using. Some colors or patterns may become distracting when on camera so when you&rsquo;re practicing your interview, throw on your outfit to be sure you won&rsquo;t run into any problems!
When in doubt, dress up. <a href="https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/starting-new-job/guide-to-business-casual-attire" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Business casual</a> is the best option for pretty much any interview.&nbsp;
<h3> Take a Deep Breath</h3>
Interviews are nerve-wracking. Whether it&rsquo;s your first or your 50th, interviews often make people feel judged, uncomfortable, anxious, etc. Take a few minutes before your interview starts to take some deep breaths. We recommend trying the <a href="https://youtu.be/a7uQXDkxEtM" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">box breathing technique</a> which can help to calm your nerves and help you come to the interview with your best foot forward.
If you can, try to get some fresh air as well. Go on a walk or open a window before your interview to help get your creative juices flowing and get in the right headspace to impress!
<h3> Have Questions at the Ready</h3>
Most interviews end with the interviewer saying, &ldquo;So did you have any questions for me?&rdquo;
One of the biggest mistakes that candidates make is not asking any questions. It can feel like it&rsquo;s better to let the call end naturally, but asking thoughtful questions shows that you&rsquo;re engaged and invested.
Here are some questions to consider asking:
<ol>
<li>
How does your leadership team interact with lower level employees?
</li>
<li>
How is [COMPANY NAME] planning to evolve in the next five years?
</li>
<li>
What do you like most about working for [COMPANY NAME]?
</li>
<li>
What sort of collaboration with other teams and colleagues can this role expect?
</li>
</ol>
<h3> Pre-Write Your Follow up Email</h3>
Following up after an interview is an easy way to stand out from the crowd. If you have a template put together, it&rsquo;s easier to get that email sent out right after your interview!&nbsp;Remember to plug in some details from the interview that can help reiterate important points you want to hit home.
If you&rsquo;re facing some writer&rsquo;s block, here&rsquo;s a template to start with:
Dear [Name of the Interviewer],
Thank you for taking the time to meet with me about the [job title] role. It was a pleasure to learn more about the position and [company name] and I was so impressed to hear that [company&rsquo;s recent accomplishment].
I&rsquo;m confident that I can excel as a [job title] on your team and I would love to bring my experience with [experience or skill] to the position.
Please don&rsquo;t hesitate to reach out if you or your team has any questions or needs any additional information.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Thanks again,
[Signature]
 We hope that every interview goes off without a hitch, but remember, if you need some extra support, 1-on-1 career coaching is available to our members. Simply <a href="https://www.careercircle.com/candidates" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">login</a> and schedule a time with our team of expert coaches!

You did it! You got past the application stage and you’ve got an interview. Now it’s time to get ready…here’s what you need to do.

The Layoff Series: How To Prepare for an Interview

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18 Articles

Assessing Skills Without a College Degree: A Practical Guide for Employers

5 Ways You Can Make a Lasting Positive Impression at a Job Interview

The Layoff Series: How To Prepare for an Interview

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