Yes it is more than likely a commitment issue. Employers look at it like you should at least be able to obtain a high school diploma since most kids live at home and don't have adult responsibilities yet while going to high school. There are people like you that are unable to finish for various reasons. My cousin was in the same boat and had to go back and obtain her GED to get a job. I agree with you that it does not make you a model employee if you have the diploma but it does show the employer that you possesed the minimum requirements to graduate.

If you really want the job you applied for, maybe she would hire you if you agreed to go back to school at a junior college or wherever it is offered and get a GED within a certain length of time.

I think my next step is going to be to try and save the money to get my GED.I was also thinking about an online high school completion course.

((Mrs.Micki)) The state of the economy has alot of people down in the dumps and with the holidays upon us it's even worse. Everyone is feeling the pinch. Believe me we have been pinched so hard I'm numb.
I was never a very good student but never considered quitting school, so I have a diploma. I have no answers for you about that piece of paper. But I do have a suggestion, write that lady a thank you note, telling her how much you enjoyed your conversation and how much you would like to work for her. Ask her to take a chance and reconsider her decision. Write it in your own hand and write it from the heart. It's worth a shot and you don't have anything to lose.
I once applied for a job in an auto dealership, I had no experience but I asked how do you get experience unless some one is willing to take a chance and teach you. I got the job, received great raises and worked for the company for ten years. I learned every job in the office. I only left to take a position as office manager that a former coworker recommended me for.

I wish you luck.

I agree with CB let her know that you'd be willing to get your GED.

I *am* getting laid off next week, but I am eligible for workers comp so in that respect I'm going to be okay. I'd rather work, mind you but our company is having financial problems. I know that once my hand is healed and I'm able to go back to work, I'll have the same problem. Employers want employees with a diploma. I met a truck driver about six years ago with 25 years experience and a clean driving record. He applied with Co-op here in Calgary delivering to the various grocery stores through the chain and he was turned down for a job because he quit school. I have also heard that McDonalds will hire students, but will not hire high school drop outs. A lot of people are doing this to encourage those of us to go back and get our GED or diploma. I don't have the money for either. But if WCB will pay for vocational training, I may ask them to put me through the GED program so that I can get a better job.

Once a policy about education requirements have been put in place, it is difficult to rescend it for one person else it may offend the other employees. They might view it as favoritism. However, you could have been hired for a lesser position, but I suppose the only job that was open required the degree.

Employers use a degree as a screening tool. Although the job may not require all that was learned to get the degree, a degree is a demonstration of a willingness to work toward a goal and the perserverence to finish the work. Also, they may look at your grade point average, and pay attention to courses germain to the job. For example, a person who did poorly in chemstry, but had a good grade point average may be screened out if the job is about knowing chemical makeups of their products.

If, after stopping school, a person worked steady for 8 years and did not bother to get his/her GED, an employer sees "drop out" written all over this applicant, and they will want to see a very good reason why this happened, and you'll have to explain why you did not entertain getting the GED. Apptitude and attitude become critical. You will need to supply supporting data to back up your declarations.

I know this must have been very disapointing, but it was a job requirement, and it should have been stated in the job description.

A high school diploma is not a degree. Degrees are earned after you graduate from high school, such as an A A or a BA or a BS or an MBA or an MA or a PhD.

Getting a GED ought not to cost you extra money other than possibly a few fees, but not much. Call your local school district and ask to speak to the adult education department. Tell them you have a job but you want to work around that and earn your GED. Policy varies from state to state, but go for it. I have attended many adult ed graduation ceremonies, and the students come from many walks of life.

I can see why a diploma is required for a job. It helps the employeer see who was willing to work hard enough to get that diploma. In general, the conclusion is that someone who does not have a diploma doesn't have enough self discipline, persistence, carry through or what have you. I know that those of you here are the exception, but a stranger interviewing you has no way of knowing that.

So please go for that GED. It probably won't be that difficult at all. You have come a long way since the day you walked away from high school. You know more, you can perceive more, so go get that piece of paper. We are all rooting for you!!!!!

Mrsmicki, check into getting your GED, there may be grants that will pay it for you. Here in PA the cost is low, $40-60 for the series of tests, if you need to take the classes then the costs are whatever the sponsor of the classes charges. Here in our town the local vocational school offers the class and it is very inexpensive. I sponsored a person 2 years ago and it cost me under $200 including the testing fees.

Needing a high school diploma is so strange, when I think of some of the dolts that have them by barely squeaking by.

In today's world...you need all the tools you can get. A HS diploma or GED is a very minimal requirement that everyone must have to be self-supporting.
Call your local school district or high school and ask what will it take. Then, do it.

I know everything you're saying, but companies have to have a cut off point somewhere. I know 2 kids who had to drop out of HS and they obtained their diplomas on line. Don't know the cost, but for your own satisfaction (what an accomplishment!!!) look into it. You could probably pass the test just from the life experiences you've had. That does count for a lot. Go for it!!!

That would make me mad enough to go get my GED. Make it a personal endeavor. Call that women back and tell he what you are doing, maybe she will make an exception. You never know. Good luck!

Trin

Wouldn't online classes be a lot more costly than adult education? DS got his high school diploma from adult education when he was 18. When he was 17 he took adult education classes free of charge and then when he was joining the Army they paid for his adult education challenge exams because they wanted him to join with a diploma.

I don't know about the US Linda, but in Calgary a child gets a free education until they are 18 years old. Your son would have gotten his diploma here too at 17. But had he applied for it after he turned 18 he would have paid through the nose for one.

A GED exam here is $195.
The GED prep course is $497 or $166 per subject, there are 7 subjects.

There is also online education but those prices vary depending on what subjects you need to get your diploma. For those classes, you actually get a diploma, not your GED. I wish I had the brains to do that.........and the $$....

Here is a link that might be useful: Bow Valley College

Well, if this is what it takes to spur you to get your GED, at least something positive came out of the experience. I agree it isn't always necessary but unfortunately it is a requirement for many jobs and that's not going to change.

Beyond a high school diploma or GED, it burns me up that you need some kind of specialized education for just about every job these days. There's no more learning on the job or falling into new careers, even ones that aren't particularly lucrative. There is probably even a sanitation engineering certificate for garbage collectors. I don't think those programs are useless exactly but I think it's more a money-making business for the schools than anything else. So many people take these programs and come out with a certificate and a student loan but not a job.

I agree with what Sheilajoyce wrote:

Getting a GED ought not to cost you extra money other than possibly a few fees, but not much. Call your local school district and ask to speak to the adult education department

I glanced at the Google site re GED Fees and saw postings from $40 to $75, which isn't too outrageous. Check with your community. I bet it wouldn't be too difficult for you to pass the test after a little study.

I had my senior year to go when I quit school to get married. Back then you couldn't go to school if you were pregnant. (That changed the next year, when one of the school board members daughter got pregnant.) Anyway, 25 years later I got my GED. I had to take a refresher course in math, because I'd forgotten how to divide and multiply fractions. This was after I'd gotten hired at Kellogg's and didn't need it anymore. Except for my self satisfaction. That, and I couldn't insist my girls finish high school when they'd even slightly mentioned quitting.
Leslie

I often hear a commercial on the radio for a local school about getting your GED. I haven't really paid attention to everything they say, but the last line says it all:
"Come and finish what you started."

I think that line says it all.

Sue

My step-dad has a BachelorÂs in psychology, a MasterÂs in Social Work, and a Doctorate in Theology. The phone company still wonÂt hire him, because he doesnÂt have a high school diploma. ItÂs not that he wants to work for the phone company; what IÂm saying is that even with his level of education, he doesnÂt meet their requirement. If the company in question waived the requirement for one, they might be forced to drop it completely.

IÂd suggest you get the GED. Employers want some sort of baseline education. Clearly you are applying for a job that doesn't require a college degree, and the employer wants to know you have at least a high school education.

I urge you to take MsMarion's advice and write her a nice hand-written note on stationary that looks professional and business-like. Just thank her for interviewing you, let her know how much you'd like the job, and tell her that if she ever does reconsider, you'd love for her to keep you in mind. Don't imply that the requirement is unreasonable, don't make excuses for not having the diploma, just thank her for her time and let her know how interested you are in the position.

It may be that the company will never relax its requirement. But sometimes things happen. My husband's company once hired an employee, the employee showed up the first day, went to take the mandatory drug test around lunch time and never returned. Never called, nothing. It may be that the company you interviewed with hires someone else, they work out absolutely terrible, and the company needs someone at short notice and thinks of you.

Writing a professional thank you note on nice business stationary, with correct grammar and punctuation, nicely and professionally phrased, that helps to prove that you are a professional with an excellent attitude. It's cheap, easy, can't hurt, and may help.

I also encourage you to look for an inexpensive way to get your GED. You can probably brush up on your math, grammar, etc., by using free on-line sites.

Good luck!

Good idea, Daisy.

I have Googled many sites and it looks like it depends on which state you live in whether adult ed is free. In CA where we were living when DS needed to get his GED or diploma, the city run adult ed is still free. Here in Iowa, apparently you need to attend the community college to work on a GED.

Before quitting to be a S.A.H.M., I was employed by a Donald Trump like man, who owns the Theatre District in Toronto. Part of my job was employing staff for him. I was instructed that formal education shouldn't be a deciding factor in the hiring process, because he had no Diploma himself. Work experience with great references, followed by a neat and clean appearance, excellent communication skills and a pleasant personality were more important to him. Being an immigrant during the Depression, he had to drop out of school to help his family. He eventually became a self made millionaire, and said some of his best employees were those with the least education.

He was right. I too, discovered that many of the most loyal, hardworking employees I hired were the ones least educated, perhaps for that exact reason...they knew there were less options for them, so they had a much more desirable work ethic. Unfortunately, employers like my former boss are few and far between these days, so you really should consider everyone's suggestions to obtain your GED. It will really be worth it in the long run!

Thank you so much everyone.I have looked into the cost of both completing my education and getting the GED.To complete my education will run $125.00 per subject and the cost of the GED class is $150.00 plus $75.00 to take the test itself.It has always been a dream of mine to complete my education,so now is the time for me to start fulfilling my dreams.Thank you all for the kick in the butt to help me get started on it.Love Micki

We do have that obsession with the paper.

One type of paper is "stationery", by the way - "stationary" often designates the status of such as an engine without wheels that isn't intended to move.

And I've received hundreds of offers of diplomas/degrees ... pretty well take your choice. The message usually sent to multiple recipients, as well.

No courses to attend, no work requirements, no hassle.

Just please send money.

To receive a paper from some institution that no one's ever heard of ... if such even exists.

That said, Mrs. Micki, I somewhat agree with the others that it's probably a good idea to get thAt paper.

ole joyful

As my husband approached the end of his career, he was heavily recruited and one of the positions he was interested in was CIO for a hospital here in the area where we retired. He thought great, they can pay for our move back to TX and in a few years when my obligation is up, I'll retire. During his interview he was told the same thing...that he didn't have enough education ...mind you he is 65 and at the very top of his profession and highly experience with bigger companies...She then said something like...we require a higher degree, this position pays over XXX...He laughed and told her...Sorry but You would have to pay me more than twice that amount for me to run your operation...He said the look on her face was priceless...He said I just couldn't resist telling her exactly how much I made. So you don't get to laugh in her face but you get the privilege of knowing she blew away a good worker.

Whoever it was though that said it earlier in this thread is right...It's all about company policies and they usually are adhered to closely.

"I have been looking for another job and today I called this lady..."

How did you happen to call this woman? Did you read a job announcement in the paper? See a job opening announcement posted somewhere? If a high school diploma (or any level of advanced degree) is required for a position, that should be included in the "minimum qualifications" area of a job opportunity bulletin.

At the very least, though, this woman did tell you that "this is how it has been since the day they opened their business." If they have made all other employees meet that requirement, they really can't waive it for you, because that would open a can of worms -- other employees could claim discrimation, that you are getting preferential treatment.

About the only way this company could hire you without a high school diploma or GED would be on a "Temporary Authorization." You'd be hired with the understanding that it was only temporary -- by a specified date you must take, and pass, the exam for the diploma. If you don't have the diploma by the specified date, you'd be out the door; but if you do have the diploma, you'd be hired as a permanent employee.

The only other "way around" an education requirement is when the job announcement says that specific work experience can be substituted for the education; and it gives a "conversion rate." For example, if the job requirement is two years of education in a specific field of study, the announcement might say that two years of work experience in specific fields would substitute for one year of the required education...

Get the GED for your holiday (dare I say Christmas?) present!!

As my grandma used to say to me "education is the ONE thing THEY (whoever "they" is)... can NEVER take away from you"

I believed it then, and I believe it now!

Acey