The Case for Non-Traditional MBA Candidates: Part 2 Every Rejection is Personal

In Part 1 of my series about non-traditional candidates, I promised you an origin story. The purpose of doing so is to provide you with a lens through which you can view the recruiting process from the perspective of a non-traditional candidate. To fully understand the problems with the current state of recruiting and the frustrations they cause, you need context. I do so with the hope that sharing my story will shine some light on the plight of non-traditional candidates and demonstrate why we make great employees. In Part 2, we focus on non-traditional MBA candidates, what makes them unique, and the effects of rejection. Here is my story.

Sometimes, you need to analyze the preceding events to understand why things are as they are. My mother was born in Hawaii, before it became a state, and is a product of that great melting pot. She comes from a large family that fused the aloha spirit with military discipline. My father comes from a long line of hard-working people who escaped the turmoil of Eastern Europe to find a better life in America. This is almost certainly where I get my work ethic from. Fresh out of high school, my parents welcomed their first child, my sister. Neither of them had gone to college and in fact, neither had their parents (or their parents, and so on). Knowing that love alone wasn't enough to support a family, my father entered the workforce, taking whatever jobs he could find. Eventually, he would find his way into manufacturing, working grueling, physically demanding jobs in paper mills, battery plants, and steel factories. Despite his lack of formal education, he worked hard and provided well for his family. In the midst of all this, I was born. With four mouths to feed, my father stepped up his efforts, working overtime and taking the shifts that no one else wanted but paid better. Believing that upward mobility was possible, he continued working at this pace.

Fast forward several years later to my senior year in high school. My parents had long-since divorced and I lived with my father. Knowing that we were of modest means, I did not even consider the possibility of college, thinking it was unattainable. There were people that went to college and then there were us. Who am I to challenge the system? After graduation, I immediately entered the workforce, taking whatever retail roles I could, selling men's clothing or TVs. Shortly after, my girlfriend and I welcomed our first child. We were two teenaged parents with high school educations, working whatever jobs we could find, and we were well on our way to completing another generational cycle.

What I am about to explain is my unique experience, and hopefully, it will be relatable to others. The first time I set eyes on my daughter, something changed inside me. It was as if I had been drifting through life until this point and in that single moment, everything became clear. I didn't experience any of the fear or anxiety that many people report as part of bringing life into this world. Instead, I experienced a moment of intense clarity. I became hyper-focused and knew exactly what I needed to do: make the world a better place for those who come after me. I needed to do everything in my power to ensure that this little person in my arms never experienced many of the things I had. They would have a safe, loving home and access to everything they need to succeed in life, including a college education.

Today, I am the proud father of three daughters, one of whom just graduated from the University of Arizona. I have earned two college degrees and am less than four weeks away from completing my MBA. I am living proof that generational cycles can be broken and life trajectories can be changed.

Compared to traditional students, I accomplished all this despite several disadvantages. First, I worked full-time while going to school full-time, in addition to raising a family. If this indicates one thing about me, it is that I am incredibly efficient at managing my time and activities. I have mastered the art of setting priorities and executing on them. I had to, because my family's future was at stake. I know how to get things done despite the circumstances.

Second, I did more than pass my college courses and earn a piece of paper. As the saying goes "C's get degrees." That was never good enough for me. I graduated my bachelor's program summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA. I know this was not necessary. I am well aware that I could have put in a lot less time and effort and still earned the same piece of paper, but that is not who I am. Everything I stamp my name on must reflect the quality of the person responsible. "Good enough" is not good enough. To prospective employers, this should indicate the quality of work you can expect from me.

Lastly, I accomplished quite a lot before obtaining a formal education. Due to my grit, guile, and problem-solving abilities, I outperformed others and progressed in my career despite not having a college degree. This did not go away suddenly when I became formally educated. If anything, it's been bolstered by my education, and I've only become more driven. Prospective employers should see what I've accomplished despite the odds stacked against me and recognize the incredible determination required for these achievements. I am incredibly resilient and have already been pressure-tested.

However, recruiters and most employers do not see the benefits of hiring non-traditional candidates. They only see challenges. Instead, they create a singular mold for the ideal candidate and only consider those who fit within the confines of this mold. All others are cast aside and rejected as if they are less than.

I've been advised several times not to take it personally. That the recruiter is not rejecting you specifically; it's not their fault. It's the ATS (Applicant Tracking System). It's just the way things are...

In response, I pose the question, "How can I not take it personally?" Every time I receive a rejection, they are rejecting me. Each rejection is the result of a series of choices made by people. Whether or not an algorithm ultimately makes the decision is irrelevant. Every rejection is a value judgement of me and my background. It is no different from telling me to my face that my education, skills and experience will never be as good as someone who took the traditional route. Every rejection I receive for a position that I am well qualified for is directly telling me that you, the one that overcame adversity, the one that broke generational cycles, the one that completed your education while working and raising three kids, the anomaly, the outlier, you are not supposed to be here. Get back in your lane. Yes, you were barely smart enough to earn a piece of paper, but you will never be smart enough to learn the subtle nuances of _______ (fill in the blank: SaaS, FinTech, strategy, etc.). With all of this in mind, I ask you again, "How can I not take it personally?"