Cap-and-gown time can be dismal when you have no degree. Competition in today's workplace is tough, and a flood of new résumés only makes it worse. This can dismay those without a degree - and no prospects.

The four-year degree is an advantage, to be sure, but it's certainly not a magic wand. Many times a person with little or no college overlooks a real advantage - experience.

A college dropout can compete effectively, but only if you demonstrate the outstanding value you will bring to a prospective employer.

How are you able to do that? Focus your résumé upon what you have achieved for others. Results determine value. Always remember this, the stronger your results, the higher your value.

A common résumé error is the inclusion of a long list of duties that tells only what you were expected to do. An employer wants to know what was accomplished. Did sales jump? Did costs drop? Good numbers suggest that you will prove to be a high-value employee, certainly one worth the effort to interview.

Another rich resource might well be the number of training classes and advanced seminars provided by your past employers, some in-house, others presented by reputable trainers. Often these are highly specific to your position and contribute strongly to the results you have attained.

Repeated successes will outshine any résumé that offers nothing brighter than a new diploma. Savvy employers always shop for value, and as a smart job seeker, be sure that you build that into your résumé, degree or no degree.