Twitter Chat

#HireSTARsChat: Removing the college degree requirement can offer job pathways for millions of STARs

STARs – people Skilled Through Alternative Routes – are the talent pool ready to step in
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Stakeholders gathered today for a Twitter chat to discuss how to ‘tear the paper ceiling’ – unlocking the opportunity to good jobs for people without college degrees.

WorkingNation hosted the hour-long discussion – #HireSTARsChat – in collaboration with Opportunity@Work and the Ad Council.

Opportunity@Work reminds us that in the U.S., more than 70 million STARs – workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes – have skills that are transferable for higher-paid work. Unfortunately, many jobs continue to require a four-year degree, throwing up a barrier to competing for good-paying open jobs.

The nonprofit has long championed the abilities and skills of STARs, and notes there are many options for learning outside the college route.

Opportunity@Work on Twitter: “A1: STARs (workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes) can earn skills through military service, community college, training programs, partial college completion, or, most commonly, on-the-job experience. #HireSTARsChatCollege is not the only way to learn. / Twitter”

A1: STARs (workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes) can earn skills through military service, community college, training programs, partial college completion, or, most commonly, on-the-job experience. #HireSTARsChatCollege is not the only way to learn.

Cassidy Leventhal, VP with Achieve Partners, says parents and students should check out the array of post-high school options.

Cassidy Leventhal on Twitter: “A1 📣 Check out @4AtoC for alternative pathways to great careers… US families need more options for their kids! #hireSTARSchat / Twitter”

A1 📣 Check out @4AtoC for alternative pathways to great careers… US families need more options for their kids! #hireSTARSchat

Organizations like NPower create greater access to opportunity by providing no-cost IT training.

NPowerOrg on Twitter: “A1:#NPower aims to change the narrative around the value & potential of STARs, creating more equitable opportunities for all. We offer free IT training, industry-recognized credentials & high-quality job placement. 361% average salary increase for NPower graduates. #HireSTARsChat / Twitter”

A1:#NPower aims to change the narrative around the value & potential of STARs, creating more equitable opportunities for all. We offer free IT training, industry-recognized credentials & high-quality job placement. 361% average salary increase for NPower graduates. #HireSTARsChat

Per Scholas is another organization that opens career pathways with free training.

Per Scholas on Twitter: “A1 1/2: @PerScholas empowers learners to launch their tech careers with tuition-free IT training. We prepare them with hands-on, in-demand skills and connections to employers so they can have a high-growth tech career without traditional education and a degree. #HireSTARsChat / Twitter”

A1 1/2: @PerScholas empowers learners to launch their tech careers with tuition-free IT training. We prepare them with hands-on, in-demand skills and connections to employers so they can have a high-growth tech career without traditional education and a degree. #HireSTARsChat

Blue Meridian responded when asked what companies are stepping up to tear the paper ceiling.

Blue Meridian Partners on Twitter: “We’re proud to invest in organizations and strategies that prepare STARs for in-demand, well-paying careers-including @YearUp, @SocialFinanceUS, @PerScholas, @MeritAmerica, and more. #HireSTARs #HireSTARsChat #TearThePaperCeiling / Twitter”

We’re proud to invest in organizations and strategies that prepare STARs for in-demand, well-paying careers-including @YearUp, @SocialFinanceUS, @PerScholas, @MeritAmerica, and more. #HireSTARs #HireSTARsChat #TearThePaperCeiling

Social Finance gives a shout out to the state of New Jersey.

Social Finance on Twitter: “Q2: Stakeholders across sectors are teaming up on innovative initiatives designed to #tearthepapercieling. Some examples? @NJGov’s #PayItForward program: https://t.co/nKbV1FRSxz@Google’s $100M Career Certificates Fund: https://t.co/LQg6MdWrd1#HireSTARSChat / Twitter”

Q2: Stakeholders across sectors are teaming up on innovative initiatives designed to #tearthepapercieling. Some examples? @NJGov’s #PayItForward program: https://t.co/nKbV1FRSxz@Google’s $100M Career Certificates Fund: https://t.co/LQg6MdWrd1#HireSTARSChat

Meanwhile, Alison Lands, director of strategy, SkyHive, points to the state of Maryland.

Alison Lands on Twitter: “#HireSTARsChat A2: Who’s doing it right? Shoutout to @GovHogan and the @StateMaryland for eliminating degree requirements for civil service jobs. Government CAN and SHOULD be an engine of career mobility and upskilling; doing so also reinforces democratic norms (a 2-FER!) / Twitter”

HireSTARsChat A2: Who’s doing it right? Shoutout to @GovHogan and the @StateMaryland for eliminating degree requirements for civil service jobs. Government CAN and SHOULD be an engine of career mobility and upskilling; doing so also reinforces democratic norms (a 2-FER!)

Chat participants offered many reasons why employers should hire STARs. Among them, Daisy Magnus-Aryitey, co-executive director, Code the Dream – who is, herself, a STAR.

Daisy on Twitter: “A3: Employers should “tear the paper ceiling” because STARS exemplify all the characteristics of successful employees: curious, flexible, goal-oriented, committed to learning and growth. #HireSTARsChat / Twitter”

A3: Employers should “tear the paper ceiling” because STARS exemplify all the characteristics of successful employees: curious, flexible, goal-oriented, committed to learning and growth. #HireSTARsChat

Grads of Life notes being inclusive of historically underrepresented populations addresses the issue of equity.

Grads of Life on Twitter: “A3: Hiring #STARs allows companies to create economic opportunities for historically excluded talent which can lead to increased #DEI outcomes and expanded #racialequity across the #labormarket. #HireSTARsChat / Twitter”

A3: Hiring #STARs allows companies to create economic opportunities for historically excluded talent which can lead to increased #DEI outcomes and expanded #racialequity across the #labormarket. #HireSTARsChat

As the chat wound down, WorkingNation founder and CEO, Art Bilger stresses the strength and significance of the STARs talent pool.

Art Bilger on Twitter: “There are currently over 10 million job openings with several open positions due to a skills shortage. It is now more important than ever to start looking into alternative talent pools. Thank you to everyone who joined this critical discussion. #HireStarsChat / Twitter”

There are currently over 10 million job openings with several open positions due to a skills shortage. It is now more important than ever to start looking into alternative talent pools. Thank you to everyone who joined this critical discussion. #HireStarsChat

Just because the chat has ended you can still catch up on all the thoughts shared during this conversation. Keep it going by tweeting your ideas to #HireSTARsChat and #TearThePaperCeiling.


Learn more about Opportunity@Work.
Learn more about the Ad Council.
Learn more about The Paper Ceiling.