Getting a college degree is overrated, especially in this day and age. They cost a lot of money and chances are, unless you’re a doctor, lawyer or engineer, you may not be applying what you learn in school in your actual job. So these 15 top global companies have come out to say that you don’t require a degree to work with them!
What a great time to be alive! It’s been a long time coming and we’re glad it’s finally being implemented by these forward-thinking companies.
According to job-search site Glassdoor, 15 of their top employers have said they no longer require applicants to have a college degree.

Source: Pixabay
To no surprise, Google is on the list. But surprisingly, companies like IBM and EY have also joined the list. However, EY’s non-degree requirements are currently only applicable to candidates in the UK. It’ll be interesting to see if this culture will spread to Asia.
In 2017, IBM’s vice president of talent Joanna Daley said that about 15 percent of her company’s U.S. hires don’t have a four-year degree. Instead of gauging candidates by college degrees, the tech company has shifted its hiring practices to take into account those with hands-on experience via a coding boot camp or an industry-related vocational class.
Curious to see which companies don’t require a degree?
Here are the top 15 employers on Glassdoor don’t that require a degree:
1. Google

Source: Flickr
Google has time and time again proven that it is forward-thinking and is able to adapt easily to quickly changing times. Equal opportunities are in abundance at the tech giant!
Glassdoor rating: 4.4/5.0
2. Ernst & Young

Source: Flickr
Surprisingly, one of the “big four” has made it to the list. But before you go off discounting your accounting degree, check carefully which roles are open to this privilege.
Glassdoor rating: 3.7/5.0
3. Penguin Random House

Source: Flickr
Publishing house Penguin Random House is all about inclusiveness, so if you’re interested in joining one of their many arms, you can do so even without a degree!
Glassdoor rating: 3.8/5.0
4. Costco Wholesale

Source: Flickr
Costco may not be in our part of the world (yet), but they do operate in the US and Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, the UK, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Australia, and Spain.
Glassdoor rating: 3.9/5.0
5. Whole Foods

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Another giant retailer on this list is Whole Foods. The billion-dollar company operates in over 470 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
Glassdoor rating: 3.5/5.0
6. Hilton

Source: Wikimedia Commons
Here’s another famous global company that seems to be opening its doors with hospitable arms to allow in those with no degree. Operating in over 105 countries and roughly employing over 163,000 staff, there’s bound to be an opening!
Glassdoor rating: 4.0/5.0
7. Publix

Source: Wikimedia Commons
It seems many of these supermarket chains are willing to give those without a degree a chance to work in the company – and it doesn’t just apply to cashiers at the check out counters!
Glassdoor rating: 3.7/5.0
8. Apple

Source: Wikimedia Commons
Apple is one of the world’s richest companies and they did not get there by playing it safe. If Apple is willing to hire staff without degrees, perhaps other companies should consider this hiring practice too!
Glassdoor rating: 4.0/5.0
9. Starbucks

Source: Wikimedia Commons
To no surprise is Starbucks on the list. The food and beverage lifestyle brand has always been known to have inclusive hiring practices, including hiring baristas who are deaf.
Glassdoor rating: 3.8/5.0
10. Nordstrom

Source: Flickr
Nordstrom has 373 stores operating in 40 US states, Puerto Rico and Canada. So if you’re willing to move to one of these places to work without a degree, this is an option for you.
Glassdoor rating: 3.6/5.0
11. Home Depot

Source: Wikimedia Commons
The 40-year-old brand has grown to more than 2,200 stores in three countries and over 400,000 employees! You don’t have to have a college degree but you will need to walk customers at every skill level through most any home repair or improvement.
Glassdoor rating: 3.5/5.0
12. IBM

Source: Flickr
The VP of talent herself has said that 15 percent of her company’s U.S. hires don’t have a four-year degree. Let’s hope some of this spills over onto Asian soil.
Glassdoor rating: 3.4/5.0
13. Bank of America

Source: Flickr
Surprisingly, a bank is also on this list of companies that don’t require a degree! Banks are known for good pay and benefits, so why not give it a shot?
Glassdoor rating: 3.5/5.0
14. Chipotle

Source: Flickr
It’s super sad that we don’t have Chipotle in Asia, but with 2,250 stores and 64,500 employees, who knows, maybe the expansion into Asia will be sooner than we think!
Glassdoor rating: 3.4/5.0
15. Lowe’s

Source: Flickr
Another DIY retail chain makes the list! The Fortune 500 company is also one to be inclusive and willing to hire staff without a degree.
Glassdoor rating: 3.3/5.0
Source: CNBC
What wonderful news to know that you don’t require a degree to work at such successful companies! Know of any other companies which don’t require a degree too? Let us know in the comments.
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