Students all over the world are busting their brains over their studies. Fair enough, as ‘Knowledge is Power’ and all that, and it would only be an idiot that didn’t advocate a full education to today’s youth.

It would also only be an idiot who didn’t advocate experience over anything a textbook can teach you. In some countries, there is a rather ridiculous habit of degrees and masters degree being quoted as essential requirements in job descriptions. Not only that, they are usually laughably specific.

How many Vice Presidents of Global Marketing Communications (FMCG) gained their degree, 20 years previously, in Global Marketing Communications (FMCG) very few, I’d guess. But that’s a very typical ‘essential’ requirement in today’s job ads.

Not to worry though, only the most shortsighted of employees would see beyond your skills and experience to the qualifications you did (or didn’t) gain during your misspent youth.

If you are concerned over your lack of further education (after all, you’ve just been too darn busy doing the actual job) take heart;

In the world of finance, those without degrees include David Herron, the chief executive of the Chicago Stock Exchange, who said he skipped so many classes at the University of California at Berkeley that he dropped out, after reaching ''mutual agreement'' with college officials. David H. Komansky, who retired this year as chairman of Merrill Lynch, and Richard A. Grasso, who resigned last month as head of the New York Stock Exchange amid a furor over a $140 million compensation package, also do not have college degrees. (Mr. Grasso's package could cover the cost of 921 Harvard degrees, room and board included.)

In the technology field, it sometimes seems that lacking a degree is a requirement for future success. According to the relevant corporate press officers, Bill Gates of Microsoft dropped out of Harvard in his junior year; Michael Dell, founder of the Dell computer company, dropped out of the University of Texas at Austin; Lawrence J. Ellison, chief executive of Oracle, attended both the University of Chicago and the University of Illinois but never graduated; and Ted Waitt, the founder of Gateway, left the University of Iowa after his sophomore year.

It seems that a degree matters more for younger workers than for those with experience. It’s valuable during the first 7 to 10, or 10 to 12 years, and after that you're being hired or promoted based on what you've actually accomplished in business. A degree can also be less relevant to success if you end up as your own boss.

Out of interest, there are a number of high paying 100k jobs that don’t require a degree from the get go, although industry specific training would of course be required.

Here’s the (un) definitive list!

Air Traffic Controller

Nuclear Power Reactor Operator

Information Technology Careers

Writing Careers

Police Officer

Automobile Mechanic

Plumbing, Carpentry, Welding, and Electrician Careers

Real Estate Careers

Mining Careers

In a world of uncertainty, it could be wise to look up some of the above in case one needs a swift chance from the life of a high flying C level executive!