Work Experience vs College Degree

Published/Last Modified on Thursday, October 29, 2009 5:20 AM CDT

Need a Job

I have been laid off for 4 months and have yet to find a job or even get a call for an interview. I have 10 years of medical billing experience and the last 4 was an office manager. I never imagined that I would have this hard of a time trying to find a job but yet I am. I have applied for just about every job that deals with medical billing from here (New Iberia) to Lafayette. The problem is (I'm assuming) is I don't have a college degree and a lot of the jobs either want a bachelors or an associates degree. What happened to work experience? Do these employers think that someone with a degree will know the ends and outs of medical billing out of school? I did attend a "technical college" but all I received was a certificate of completion. I have heard a lot of people (family or people just in passing) complaining about how some office staffs are charging for a patient's insurance discount or not filing a claim to their secondary in a timely manner. Why not get rid of these people who are costing more money than what the office is getting in.

If anyone knows a doctor's office that needs a office manager or an experience medical biller let me know cause I need a job and I also have a friend who is having the same problems. Oh and by the way I will be starting school (going to SLCC) in January so that I can start working on getting a COLLEGE DEGREE.

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Going back to College wrote on Nov 24, 2009 3:14 PM:

" In these tough economic times, my 20 years experience and Associate of Arts is not enough... In February 2009, my company laid off 10% of its workforce due to the ecomomy. Since that time, I've been applying for jobs that match my skills and experience, but because I don't have a Bachelor degree, I'm being passed by. So, I'm going back to school full time to earn my Bachelor degree in Business Management; and in a couple of years when things turn around, I'll get the job and better pay... I hope. "

goodlucktoyou wrote on Nov 3, 2009 6:55 PM:

" I doubt not having a college degree is the problem. It could actually be in these hard, economic times that there are more candidates and one with less experience may be more likely to get hired because they can pay them less. But then we live in New Iberia, the most cliquish place on Earth. Here, it's who you know, not what you know. I was thinking about going to school to break in the med. profession and called a few doctors offices. They mostly told me they prefer to hire someone they know and train them. Good luck. "

MeMeG wrote on Nov 2, 2009 2:17 PM:

" Oh, and I make $17.00hr plus bonuses without college. I'm smart and I work hard and learn new things quickly. It shouldn't matter if one went to college if he/she is qualified in every other way except a diploma that says you went to college, partied and quite often barely passed the classes. Prove yourself, don't depend on a piece of paper. "

MeMeG wrote on Nov 2, 2009 2:09 PM:

" To GO TO UNIVERSITY

Not everyone can afford college and I don't think every job should require college. I got out of the army as a SSG with more skills and knowledge than most college graduates I came across. A lot of the things that you have to learn in college are irrelavent and no one should have to waste money on it. No secretary should have to have a bachelor's degree to type and email... Experience and skill top someone with a degree/no experience/no skills. "

TO to to go to university wrote on Nov 1, 2009 7:49 AM:

" " You just made an interesting point. He was upper management and you were not with all of your EXPERIENCE. "<--- If you talking to me, no he was not upper management. He was a peeon just like I was. And my "experience" has landed me a job for which I have been at for the last 23 yrs and making good money. "Intimated by degree'd individuals. " No, because I work for what I earn noone gives it to me because I have a degree.
Or maybe you have to have a degree to be snotty "

Entertained wrote on Oct 31, 2009 6:11 AM:

" I've met quite of few "Educated " people throughout my career. Some talented ones had moved up the food chain due to hard work and dedication with the best of educations. Common sence. Countless college grads had only little book learning, and some, zero common sence. Manners and people skills will bring way beyond any education. The old saying what you know can get you in the door. Who you know can get you the job, Sadly ,who you blow, or kiss A$$ on gets you all the way, only temporarily. Management will marry them or tire of them eventually. "

Graduate from the School of Hard Knocks wrote on Oct 30, 2009 7:45 PM:

" You can have all the degrees you want, if you ain't got common since, it ain't gonna help you! I know, this isn't proper english.I know a lot of people that went to college and have no better job than I do! As a matter of fact I make double what they make. First and Foremost I thank GOD for blessing me. Second nothing was given to me, I had to work my way up, a value which was instilled in me by my father, GOD rest his soul. I've hired people with degrees. I'd much rather have the commonsense. "

hhhmmm full of bullllll wrote on Oct 30, 2009 6:29 PM:

" A person starts a buisness to make money. Employees are needed to perform tasks (to make money). A peice of paper showing you spent money to take classes does not get you a job. Most of the people I went to school with,work in fields that have nothing to do with their degree. But they do have that paper saying they worked for it. Except for nepitism promotions in the real world are given to people who produce! "

To experience counts wrote on Oct 30, 2009 1:33 PM:

" That is why you may find yourself in the same position as the original poster. They will keep the nurses and get rid of you. They will figure you are paid too much and will keep the degree'd nurses or minimal paid office staff that can do your job. "

To Need A Job wrote on Oct 30, 2009 1:31 PM:

" "Why not get rid of these people who are costing more money than what the office is getting in."

They did, they got rid of you and kept the college graduate. "

to to go to university wrote on Oct 30, 2009 1:29 PM:

" You just made an interesting point. He was upper management and you were not with all of your EXPERIENCE. "

lol wrote on Oct 30, 2009 1:26 PM:

" Sounds like alot of you are intimated by degree'd individuals. "

Experience counts wrote on Oct 29, 2009 8:11 PM:

" I graduated high school after taking four years of secretarial classes, typing, bookkeeping, shorthand & office practice. I was ready for anything. That was 1961 and my experience a few years later could run circles around the collage graduate. Everything I needed, I got in high school. Granted, I'm not a nurse or have a degree in anything but the school of hard knocks, but I get paid just as much as some nurses I know. "

BAM wrote on Oct 29, 2009 5:24 PM:

" It's good to have dreams, but you have to get out of bed to make them come true.
Hey all you slackers, your livin'n in a dream world right now. Just wait till the payback starts. You might not be able to
sleep at all. Stock up on gov. sleep'n pills
while you can. I will do everything I can to have you EARN (what's that ?) what you recieve. Peace Peanut Man. "

Relax wrote on Oct 29, 2009 3:59 PM:

" I work with a person who has a PhD, and knows absolutely NOTHING relevant to the job we do. They were hired based on the school they graduated from and fact that this person had a doctorate. When put side by side with this individual, I walk circles around them, based on REAL WORLD experience and I've only been doing my job for three years. Book smart is one thing, real experience outweighs it any time. I'd hire the experienced person over any college graduate any day of the week. Good luck to "needajob" "

hmmmmmm wrote on Oct 29, 2009 3:49 PM:

" As bad as it sounds, "university" graduates are promoted before vo-tech "college" graduates. Vo tech graduates are promoted before high school graduates. High school graduates are promoted before drop outs.In fact, I would not promote a high school graduate. Go to school, get the best education possible and get a job not vice versa. "

what wrote on Oct 29, 2009 3:03 PM:

" Maybe someone with a college degree would know the difference between "ins and outs" AND "ends and outs". I'm sorry you didn't go to college earlier, but don't fault those of us who did. It takes a lot of determination to get through it and that, in itself, shows who we are. Another point...it would be "AN office manager", not "A office manager". There's the difference. "

DI Reader wrote on Oct 29, 2009 2:41 PM:

" I work for a small company that employs about 10-15 women. Of all the women who work here only 2 have a college degree. Unfortunately those 2 think because they have a degree they don't have to work their way up the ladder. If you are 23 and fresh out of college please don't expect that you will start at the top. Believe me, those at the top got there because of EXPERIENCE!!!! Our vice president is one of the most intelligent men you ever met, and he has NO college degree. "

University isnt everything wrote on Oct 29, 2009 1:27 PM:

" I read with interest the posts from "need a job" and "go to university". If I were to hire a person based on these two letters, I would probably not even interview "go to university" because of the arrogant and angry attitude of his/her post.

To "need a job"; I hope that you find a good job soon. "

TO GO TO UNIVERSITY wrote on Oct 29, 2009 1:09 PM:

" I never went to college and I worked for a CPA firm. We got this one guy once, he was a college graduate. His words to me were " I will pay you to do my work for me because this is nothig like I learned in school". So much for a college degree! Work experience counts. That doctor had to work in a hospital setting before he got his license to practice.
Need a job, you hang in there, hopefully things will get better and jobs will open up again. "

GO TO UNIVERSITY wrote on Oct 29, 2009 9:13 AM:

" By the way, the guy that owns the office, signs your check and does the hiring i.e. the physician (s).....is a COLLEGE GRADUATE. Do you suggest that they "get rid of" him too???? lol He is not a vo tech graduate either. "

GO TO UNIVERSITY wrote on Oct 29, 2009 9:10 AM:

" I am thrilled to hear employers are giving credit for those people who did the right thing and continued their education. I am sick of hearing about people taking the easy way out and going to vo tech or screaming about work experience. I really laugh when they grad from vo tech and say I am college grad. I have a college degree and employers look for people to train and be able to PROMOTE to an UPPER LEVEL managerial position. This is why you obtain an UNIVERSITY DEGREE. "

An employer wrote on Oct 29, 2009 7:11 AM:

" My opinion is that your lack of finding a job has probably more to do with this economy rather than your qualifications. Don't give up, keep going after it. Hopefully the economy will start to turn around after the 2010 elections.
And just a little suggestion. Please do not be like 90% of your competition by inquiring about possible employment by simply asking "yahirin?" Whenever I get that phone call I simply hang up. Be better than the next person seeking employment, be more professional, use good english, smile and look the employer in the eyes, somebody will-give-a-chance. "

Mais Jamais wrote on Oct 29, 2009 6:32 AM:

" A college degree in many cases is a "nice to have". It does come with a bigger salary...which is also "nice to have". However, in these times...it's sad to say...but very few companies are hiring, fewer are giving raises, and fewer are getting bonuses. This will all pass and you'll find another job when things pick up. In the meantime, there are several options for you to learn more or different skills to help you earn more when hiring picks up again. You may even qualify for certain grants and interest deferred loans to help financially. "

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