Credentials Shmredentials

I wanna stop credentialism (the valuing of credentials over other qualifying characteristics).

Not because the things that we call credentials are actually bad, but because why we get them and how we look at them is...not the best.

I first came across the term in Sociology 111. It interested me because I found myself in the camp of those who live their lives striving to satisfy its precepts (or, as I put it in another post, being "slave to this platypus").

As I continued to think about the idea of credentialism, I realized that it bases itself in certain outward expectations (as Jerrick commented, a definition of "success") that are the same for everyone (as Spencer commented). AKA, someone somewhere decided--when it was actually a worthy decision--to only hire people who had gone to high school. Later, they decided to only hire people who had gone to college. Then the colleges jumped in and decided only to accept people with a certain ACT score or higher. You see where I'm going? The world of business and education became more about lists of credentials than about the people who had those credentials.

EXTRA, EXTRA

INDULGE ME

When the Catholic Church reigned in Europe in the days of yore, indulgences were sold to generate revenue for the Church. As we remember, these priest-signed papers could grant a person pardon for certain sins-to-be, for only one small payment of $19.95! This developed an attitude of document-honoring which subverted penitence and repentance. This crosses over in our day in the form of resume- and diploma-loving (which, in turn, replaces focus on one's actual talent and potential). Can a piece of paper actually tell you how good somebody is?

GOD, GOLD, GLORY

mercantilism: n. amassing a hecka ton of gold, jewels, etc. to bring glory to your king and country; popular during the age of exploration

credentialism: n. amassing a hecka ton of credentials (service club, internship, awesome ACT score, check!) to prove you are the most glorious candidate for EVERYTHING...right?

'Nuff said.

I'VE GOT A DREAM

Media in the '50's portrayed the perfect family, the perfect home, the perfect vacuum cleaner, and so everyone had to have those things. If they didn't...well, that's just bad news. No American dream for them.

Today, it's like this: you get a degree or you lose. Oh, and by the way, employers like to see that you've done a bunch of other things besides school, too. You want the dream life as a CEO with a fat retirement fund--AKA, real success? You gotta get the credentials.

I should put this video on my resume.

• Now that I've done the video, all I can think about is what I could've done better.

• The point is: I realized (through the help of your comments) that credentialism stands on a deeper, less-seen dogma about how people define "success." 
• I also realized that it springs from our desire for easy, orderly, list-like lives that can be checked and checked off.

Down with Levittown.

In waiting for a response from my previous Sociology 111 professor about his ideas, I've been thinking and looking up articles about credentialism.

One thing I thought about was what Sean M commented on my post. He brought up the idea that we as a society simply have the wrong definition of success. We strive for a do instead of a be.

Credentialism's a Platypus

 Watch the video first, because you won't  understand the title or any of my clever puns  until you do.

 *Spoiler alert* My post will have a lot in  common with Jenna's. But this is a big deal. And  we call it,

 CREDENTIALISM!

 Chances are, you've been slave to this platypus  at one time in your life or another (even if you're  like Jenna and Jerrick, and aren't right now). So  many people go through school, go through  internships, go through jobs, only for the  diploma. Only for the extra bullet on a resume.  Only for the chance to gain the position they actually want.

And this cannot be right! Besides the fact that we are supposed to gain knowledge for our personal benefit and to "go forth to serve," the world is different now. People aren't just looking to see that you have a diploma. They want to know that you extended yourself--that you took advantage of the opportunities in your life and developed skills and experience.

Mind you, maybe you develop those things by doing an internship or getting a different job. That, however, is a different thing altogether. Doing something for more purpose than the diploma or the resume is good. Doing it solely for the credentials? Bad.

I could cheat my way to that diploma. Or, better yet, with our new, easy, and convenient friend the internet, I could just print off a diploma and give it a fancy frame. Doing things for the credentials does nothing for society and nothing for you in light of all the new jobs and masters degrees out there. You won't be able to get that cool job or that cool position just because you have a transcript and a loaded cover letter. You'll just be giving in to the platypus.