📺 Stream EntrepreneurTV for Free 📺

This Major Publisher No Longer Requires Job Applicants to a Have College Degree The decision is intended to allow for a more diverse staff and a wider range of tastes.

By Carly Okyle

entrepreneur daily

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Shutterstock

Publishing powerhouse Penguin Random House no longer requires a college degree for job applicants in the UK. The company hopes this will lead to a more diverse staff and, therefore, a more diverse book catalog.

"This is the starting point for our concerted action to make publishing far, far more inclusive than it has been to date," Neil Morrison, the company's human resources director, tells the BBC. "We believe this is critical to our future -- to publish the best books that appeal to readers everywhere, we need to have people from different backgrounds with different perspectives and a workforce that truly reflects today's society."

Related: 6 Offbeat College Degrees Perfect for Entrepreneurs

The move comes at a time when the high cost of college has many questioning whether it's worth it. After all, while workers with college degrees generally command higher-paying jobs, most college grads enter the workforce with an average of $35,000 in loan debt.

We want to know what you think: Are college degrees necessary? Do you require them for the jobs at your company? What's most important to you when considering a job applicant? Let us know in the comments below.

Related: Entrepreneurial Thinking Will Solve the Skills Gap -- Even If There Isn't One

Carly Okyle

Assistant Editor, Contributed Content

Carly Okyle is an assistant editor for contributed content at Entrepreneur.com.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Growing a Business

The Only Way to Win Over Customers Is to Become Their First Choice. Here's How to Do It.

The best businesses focus their customer experience programs on doing the things that delight customers and put them ahead of their competition. Here are three little secrets to achieving this goal.

Business News

AI Is Transforming Drug Matching for Cancer, Rare Diseases — Here's How

One AI pharmaceutical startup works backward, starting from drugs already on the market.

Business News

A First-of-Its-Kind Flamethrower Robot Dog That Blasts 30-Foot Flames Is Now Available to the Public

Thermonator builds on existing technology — with a fiery twist. What could go wrong?

Business Solutions

Expand Your Business' Reach with This AI E-Book Generator for $25

Powered by intuitive AI, this tech enables you to easily create e-books that could generate income online.

Employee Experience & Recruiting

How Empathy-Based Leadership Can Transform Your Teams and Businesses

Empathy-based leadership is increasingly recognized as a valuable approach in the business world, where traditional strategic plans often fall short.