We are in the skills revolution. And some of the top brands in the world are giving preference to skills over degrees and qualifications. That means, if you have the right talent, you can work in organizations like Google, Apple, Bank of America, and Starbucks, even without a college degree. In this article, I will share with you some of the companies that don’t require candidates to have a college degree.
Indeed, the world is changing fast in the 21st century. A few years back, you would not have been able to work in some of the top brands in the world without a good university or college degree.
But a lot of companies don’t care about your formal education these days. It’s none of their business whether you graduated with low grades. All they need is for you to have exceptional skills.
A recent tweet by Elon Musk through his confirmed Twitter handle further emphasizes the skills revolution. The tweet, which was a recruitment pitch, stated: “join AI at Tesla! It reports directly to me & we meet/email/test almost every day.”
In a subsequent tweet, the billionaire Entrepreneur clarified that candidates’ educational qualifications are not a requirement for the job. He stated that “A Ph.D. is not required. All that matters is a deep understanding of AI & the ability to implement NNs in a useful way (the latter point is what’s truly hard). Don’t care if you even graduated high school.”
Outside Tesla, several other companies don’t require candidates to have a college degree. Some of these companies are;
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#1. Google
Google is one of the top companies that don’t require candidates to have a college degree. If you are a network specialist, software engineer, sales expert, programmer, etc., you can work in Google.
You don’t need any professional certification to work at Google. All you need is to hone your skills and be on the top of your game.
Once you are outstanding in your skills and experience, you have a higher chance of working with the search engine giant. And that’s why Google has some of the best brains in the world.
#2. Apple
Apple is currently the most valuable company in the world. Of course, almost everybody works with Apple because everything about the brand is unique. Their products, organizational culture, employees, etc.
However, if you have the right skills, you don’t need a four-year college degree to work at Apple.
When the company’s CEO Tim Cook visited the White House on March 6th, 2019, he discussed their hiring practices with the sitting US president. He said, “the company was founded by a college-drop-out. So, we don’t consider a college degree as a prerequisite for success. It’s part of our practice to expand our horizons”.
Tim Cook further told the President that about half of Apple’s 2018 employment in the US were people without college degrees. You see, anybody can work in Apple; all you need is exceptional skills, not good grades.
#3. Starbucks
Starbucks is also among the companies that don’t require candidates to have a college degree. People describe Starbucks as the United States’ second wave of coffee culture because it’s the largest coffeehouse chain.
Experience and educational qualifications are not requirements to work at Starbucks. But you must be skillful and willing to put in much effort to achieve great results.
#4. Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young is one of the leading professional service firms in the world. The company was founded in 1989. It offers consulting, assurance, tax, and advisory services. Ernst & Young also provides accounting, operations, HR, financial services, etc.
However, the Uk division of Ernst & Young offers job positions like Machine Learning Engineer, AA Consultant, Financial Services Manager, and several other positions that candidates without degrees can apply for.
However, the company stated that they still take academic qualifications into consideration during recruitment, but it won’t be the only parameter. Otherwise, they may miss out on highly talented people without degrees.
#5. Hilton
Hilton is one of the world-renowned companies that don’t require candidates to have a college degree. The company was established in 1919, and it has become one of the fastest-growing hospitality companies in the world. Hilton manages and franchises an extensive portfolio of resorts and hotels.
Interestingly, Hilton has an annual revenue of over $8.9 billion dollars and 5,500 properties worldwide. The company offers juicy job opportunities for candidates without a university or college degree.
#6. IBM
The International Business Machine is a multinational technology company based in the US. Since its inception in 1911, the company has been developing computer hardware, middleware, and software. IBM also offers consulting and research services.
Like most top companies globally, IBM offers countless opportunities for candidates without a college or university degree.
So, if you are a data scientist, product manager, digital marketing manager, or a research scientist without a degree, IBM has a place for you.
Working with IBM goes beyond earning an attractive salary. You will be working closely with some of the best minds in the world. And you will also have the opportunity to work on some of the leading technologies in the world.
#7. Penguin Random House
Penguin random house is a leading publishing house globally. The company has over 10,000 employees worldwide and publishes about 15,000 titles every year.
The company also offers excellent job opportunities for people without a degree. With the right skills, you can work as a web designer, social media marketing manager, and editorial assistant without a degree.
Conclusion
From what you have read so far, you can see that several companies don’t require candidates to have a college degree. So, even if you can’t afford a college or university education, try to hone your skills and become the best at what you do. You can still work in some of the best companies in the world.
