Minimizing a potential disqualifier

Dear Sam: I am a self-taught artist. I am very passionate about art and design and continue to learn every day, but feel the lack of any college studies and a degree are preventing me from getting a good design job. I know as much, if not more, than a college graduate about art and design, but don’t know how to communicate that. How can I do this, and what do I put on my resume in the education section? – Sam G.

Dear Sam G.: I can feel the frustration in your words, and while there is little you can do when a degree is a staunch requirement for a position, there is a lot you can do on your resume to ensure you are the candidate that stands out regardless of your academic background.

First, I hope your resume looks fantastic, meaning you designed something unique and eye catching to really showcase your design talents. Your resume should be a representation of who you are as a creative, showcasing some of your work, coupled with great content, to really minimize the impact of the potential disqualifier. From taking a peek at your websites, I can see you are very talented in many forms of design; maybe this could be your key selling point. If you develop a resume that presents your vast design talents (print and web, illustration and computer graphics, etc.), really highlights your notable professional and freelance engagements, and also presents a little of your personality, your experience is sure to jump off of the page! Be a tad conservative in the overall design of your resume, just to ensure you don’t offend anyone who doesn’t share a right-brained style of thinking, but definitely showcase your talents through an amazing aesthetic and possibly a snapshot portfolio. In regards to your question of what to include in the education section, change this section to a “Strengths & Style” section and use it to note all of the programs and techniques you have taught yourself over the years. Don’t include anything about not having a degree; it is entirely likely the reader may not even realize a degree is missing when presented with a great-looking, well-written resume. By following this strategy, you will only present reasons to bring you in for an interview, not reasons to disqualify you from going further in the process. I wish you great success.