It depends on your career stage and industry. Early-career roles often lean more on credentials, while mid-/senior-level roles prioritize skills, experience, and results. In STEM, what you can do matters more than where you went to school. Fields like medicine and law require specific degrees, while finance and consulting may use school as an initial signal, but skills and results matter most.

Today’s hiring is hybrid: 70% of employers use skills-based criteria for entry-level roles, with Google, IBM, and Apple dropping degree requirements. Yet prestige still filters candidates—top diplomas offer instant credibility. What you can prove matters most, but where you studied still opens doors.

It depends on the industry, but the direction is clear. More employers now evaluate what you can do: practical assessments, portfolios, case studies, and professional certifications. Regulated fields still require specific degrees. Lead with proof of what you have built or achieved, then let education reinforce credibility. A diploma opens the door. Skills keep you in the room.