Moving to Boston with no Degree?
#1
Just Joined
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1
Moving to Boston with no Degree?
My wife has been offered a relocation package from her company which will involve us moving to Boston MA. I have 14 years IT Channel Sales and Management experience and now having looked into similar roles in Boston, MA most, if not all employers hiring require you to have a Degree, which i don't have. So can anyone tell me what my chances will be (once I get my working permit) of landing a similar role to the one I do here in the UK without having a degree?
#2
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Joined: May 2009
Location: DC Metro Area
Posts: 305
Re: Moving to Boston with no Degree?
It's not impossible to find a decent job in the US without a degree, but it is difficult. You will need to demonstrate equivalent work experience. Also, be aware of the ATS (applicant tracking system), which uses keywords to filter out 'unsuitable' candidates.
I would suggest networking (LinkedIn) to make contact with hiring managers or specifically targeting firms that will recognise experience in lieu of a degree. Smaller firms tend to be more flexible with this, particularly startups. Good luck!
I would suggest networking (LinkedIn) to make contact with hiring managers or specifically targeting firms that will recognise experience in lieu of a degree. Smaller firms tend to be more flexible with this, particularly startups. Good luck!
#3
Re: Moving to Boston with no Degree?
My wife has been offered a relocation package from her company which will involve us moving to Boston MA. I have 14 years IT Channel Sales and Management experience and now having looked into similar roles in Boston, MA most, if not all employers hiring require you to have a Degree, which i don't have. So can anyone tell me what my chances will be (once I get my working permit) of landing a similar role to the one I do here in the UK without having a degree?
#4
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 46
Re: Moving to Boston with no Degree?
You may not get the exact job you think you deserve first time, but if it's in a good company they will appreciate someone who brings the right approach and works hard. Make sure you bring in some written references which highlight your abilities.
#5
Re: Moving to Boston with no Degree?
I've no degree, was able to demonstrate equivalent work experience and still haven't been able to get into the field of work I was in back in the UK. It seems to me without a degree you're shafted, but then I live in a relatively rural area, you may have a lot more luck in a city.
#9
Re: Moving to Boston with no Degree?
My wife has been offered a relocation package from her company which will involve us moving to Boston MA. I have 14 years IT Channel Sales and Management experience and now having looked into similar roles in Boston, MA most, if not all employers hiring require you to have a Degree, which i don't have. So can anyone tell me what my chances will be (once I get my working permit) of landing a similar role to the one I do here in the UK without having a degree?
http://www.geteducated.com/life-expe...-degree-a-scam
The requirement for a degree here seems the norm, however, given that requirement, I occasionally wonder how many of my colleagues genuinely have a degree. I suspect some of them just put they have a degree on their job application form. In all my time here, I've never been asked to prove I hold my degrees or other certifications I earned. In June I have 108 hours of training to attend, 9 consecutive 12 hour days. It would save me $7,000 and 9 grueling days to simply claim I have the certification already. I'm not going to do that, but I wonder how many people I may be competing against in the future will just make the claim . . .
#10
Re: Moving to Boston with no Degree?
Without a degree, it'll be really hard here.
Best be is taking something a bit shit on and building up a local network of connections.
Sure, you could land a great job off the bat, but generally it's tough even if you are connected. Lot of jobs, but a lot of bods, who also have the connections here.
Plenty of places out in the burbs too though, Natick/Burlington/Waltham/Lexington and the likes.
Thing is, there's plenty of networking events here. Adobe have a meet up group, there's also Autodesk with their products, Wacom have an event up in Salem, NH which isn't far.
Microsoft in the NERD building, do regular meet ups, there's Made in MA, Tech Thursday, Mass Innovation Nights, IBM do a drinks night, there's a Unity night, game devs have a monthly meet up and even the Brit Consulate host events now and again.
Best be is taking something a bit shit on and building up a local network of connections.
Sure, you could land a great job off the bat, but generally it's tough even if you are connected. Lot of jobs, but a lot of bods, who also have the connections here.
Plenty of places out in the burbs too though, Natick/Burlington/Waltham/Lexington and the likes.
Thing is, there's plenty of networking events here. Adobe have a meet up group, there's also Autodesk with their products, Wacom have an event up in Salem, NH which isn't far.
Microsoft in the NERD building, do regular meet ups, there's Made in MA, Tech Thursday, Mass Innovation Nights, IBM do a drinks night, there's a Unity night, game devs have a monthly meet up and even the Brit Consulate host events now and again.