99% of Jobs Can Be Taught
If you give people a chance
Picture this: a hiring manager sifting through a mountain of resumes, each one boasting degrees, certifications, and meticulously curated LinkedIn profiles. Meanwhile, somewhere in that pile sits a hidden gem—someone without the "perfect" qualifications but brimming with potential. Hint: the manager never calls them.
This is the unfortunate reality of modern hiring. We’ve become so obsessed with ATS-conquering application materials, degrees, fancy credentials & certifications, and quite-often-arbitrary "years of experience," that we forget most jobs aren’t rocket science. (And let’s be honest, even rocket science involves a lot of on-the-job learning.)
So, let’s break the myth: 99% of jobs can be taught.
Your education doesn’t define you
There’s a big difference between what’s written on your resume and what you’re actually capable of. That degree hanging on the wall? It’s nice, but it’s not the whole story. Most skills that make someone truly great at their job aren’t learned in a lecture hall—they’re picked up in the messy, hands-on trenches of real life.
Hiring managers, listen up: if you’re gatekeeping jobs with strict degree requirements, you’re missing out on a pool of incredible candidates who could outperform your “perfect-on-paper” hire any day.
What really matters in a candidate
Forget the polished credentials and GPA flexing. These five qualities are what separate a high performer from someone who just checks the right boxes.
1) Show Up When Others Don’t
Life happens. Deadlines loom. Coffee runs out. But the people who consistently show up—rain or shine, good day or bad—are the ones who make an impact.
It’s not about being perfect every day. It’s about showing up even when you don’t feel like it. Reliability is a superpower in the workplace. You can’t teach grit, but you can absolutely reward it.
2) Do the Hard Stuff First
Let’s face it: procrastination is tempting. That tough email, the gnarly spreadsheet, or the dreaded meeting prep? It’s so much easier to push it off.
But the best employees know the secret sauce to productivity: tackle your hardest task first. Why? Because your brain is freshest in the morning, and momentum is a magical thing. Plus, nothing feels better than crossing the biggest hurdle off your list before lunchtime.
3) Learn Something New Every Day
Degrees expire faster than last year’s iPhone. What’s relevant today might be obsolete tomorrow, which is why curiosity trumps credentials every time.
High performers don’t wait for the next training session or certification course. They devour books, seek out smarter colleagues, and absorb new skills like a sponge. A little bit of learning every day adds up to major growth—and those are the people you want on your team.
4) Help Others Shine
Here’s a radical idea: work isn’t just about you. It’s about making your team better, too.
The best employees aren’t just focused on their own goals—they actively help their colleagues succeed. Whether it’s offering to proofread a report, sharing insights from a past project, or simply hyping someone up in a meeting, lifting others makes the whole team stronger.
And here’s the kicker: when you make others look good, you look good too.
5) Own Your Mistakes and Solve Problems
Mistakes happen. (Yes, even to that “perfect” candidate with a gold-plated resume.) But what sets great employees apart is how they respond.
Instead of dodging responsibility or pointing fingers, they own up to their errors and focus on solutions. This kind of accountability is rare, and it’s invaluable. Problem-solvers don’t just keep the wheels turning—they keep the whole machine running smoothly.
Why the hiring system needs to change
Hiring managers, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: by demanding degrees and experience for every role, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Not only are you excluding incredible talent, but you’re also wasting time and resources chasing “perfect” candidates who might not even stick around.
Here’s the truth:
A piece of paper doesn’t show resilience.
Years of experience don’t guarantee adaptability.
Fancy credentials can’t predict someone’s work ethic.
What you really want are people who embody the five qualities above—because those are the traits that create value, drive innovation, and foster long-term success.
Advice for job seekers
For anyone out there feeling stuck because they don’t have the “right” qualifications, here’s the deal: don’t let a lack of degrees or experience hold you back. If you get the chance to prove yourself, grab it with both hands.
How? By making people wonder why they ever doubted you. Show up early. Knock out the tough stuff. Stay curious. Lift others up. Take ownership when things go sideways.
When you demonstrate these traits, you become the kind of employee companies can’t live without.
Final thoughts
It’s time to rethink hiring. If we continue clinging to outdated notions of what makes a good employee, we’ll miss out on the incredible talent hiding in plain sight.
So, let’s give people a chance. Let’s bet on potential instead of pedigree.
And if you’re lucky enough to be given that chance? Prove them right. Show them what you can do.
Because at the end of the day, your credentials don’t define your potential. But your actions absolutely do.
If you’d like to discuss “rethinking hiring,” reply to this post. I am curious about your thoughts.
Becky, Founder - Jobity