The benefits of allowing people to work their way to the top

Credentialism has pretty much eliminated the possibility for employees to work their way to the top. We care more about a piece of paper than we do about what people actually have to offer. This allows families with means to essentially buy success for their families.

I openly oppose credentialism. This model involves slamming doors shut on people, some of them highly capable, for the crime of developing their skills outside of a restrictive schooling environment. Personally, I strongly believe that we would be better off if we restored opportunities to well-educated individuals who did not acquire a piece of paper.

The ideal for society does not involve prohibiting individuals from contributing. If someone has the ability, they should not be deprived of opportunity. Moving away from credentialism would allow those with lesser schooling to contribute. Employers could find skilled individuals that they currently overlook. This could give employers more skill among their staff.

Another benefit of moving away from credentialism is that this could actually reduce income disparities. People who simply buy their way to high-income jobs don't understand what their employees are going through. Someone who actually did these jobs is more likely to appreciate their workers. This could make it more likely to increase pay and show some respect for their workers.

Issues with credentialism come in different forms. Many employers openly reject applicants on the basis of not acquiring a piece of paper. Some employers impose ceilings on those without credentials. At some point, they will prohibit their employees from progressing unless they obtain that piece of paper. Even pay frequently shuns ability in favor of paperwork. We need to move off of this model. If someone is capable of contributing, we shouldn't slam doors shut on them.