Entry-Level Job Candidates Should Be Ready to Answer This Make-or-Break Question While Interviewing at Top Companies Like JPMorgan Chase, Talent Expert Says A college degree might not be the strict requirement it once was — but successful applicants must be prepared to showcase another aspect of their resume.

There are many things that can help applicants rise to the top in today's job market, but as it turns out, having a college degree might not be one of them, at least when it comes to certain companies and roles.

The share of jobs on hiring platform ZipRecruiter that required a bachelor's degree dropped from 18% to 14.5% in 2023, CBS News reported, and an increasing number of companies, including big names like Amazon and Walmart, are considering hiring non-degreed candidates.

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And it's about time, Josh Millet, founder and CEO of talent success company Criteria, tells BIZ Experiences.

About half of college graduates end up in jobs where their degrees aren't needed, The Wall Street Journal reported, and even those who do assume roles based on their studies and credentials might not have an advantage in the workplace: A Florida State University study found that experience doesn't predict a new hire's success.

According to Millet, a candidate's skills and abilities — and how relevant they are to the role — give them an edge. Organizations should consider skills-based hiring because it widens and diversifies a candidate pool and minimizes bias, allowing companies to make more objective decisions when it comes to who they hire, he says.

"Ultimately, skills-based hiring leads to better hiring outcomes for both the candidate and employer by focusing on a candidate's potential today and in the future," Millet adds.

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Hiring managers should consider both hard and soft skills if they want to attract the best talent for their organization, Millet says. Meanwhile, candidates should clearly understand how their abilities fit into a company's bigger picture.

In an interview with a top company — whether a finance company like JPMorgan Chase, a tech giant like Google or just about anywhere in between — a candidate should be able to answer a critical question: Can you demonstrate mastery of the skills listed in the job description? If you can, you'll stand apart from the other applicants, Millet says.

"Even job postings with education and experience requirements contain a list of desired skills," Millet notes, "and candidates must understand how their current skill set aligns with what employers are looking for."