More than College

So, what matters more than a college degree? Intelligence, for one--along with emotional intelligence. The desire and ability to consistently learn and improve. And the hard skills needed to do the job at hand.

The more "exceptional ability" a candidate can demonstrate in these areas, the greater their potential to contribute.

Rather than focus on what school someone went to or what type of degree they have, a handful of companies have discovered that exceptional talent comes from various backgrounds.

For example, a few years ago LinkedIn pioneered REACH, an engineering apprenticeship that gives opportunities to candidates "who are passionate about coding, have a strong interest in continuing to independently learn and grow, and are willing to put in the work to achieve their goals and better their community." What was not required was a college degree.

Great companies know that there's always room for great talent. So, if you want to know what’s most important, remember these five simple words:

Clear evidence of exceptional ability. —Elon Musk.