Mark ZuckerbergCEO of Meta, stated in an interview with Bloomberg that, to obtain a position in his company, it is not necessary to have a long list of diplomas. On the other hand, the entrepreneur values more the ability to learn and master specific skills, something that is not always reflected in academic degrees.
Zuckerberg highlighted that, in his hiring policy, he prefers those who demonstrate passion and tenacity to delve into a topic to the end. This statement occurs in a context in which large technology companies face a paradox: a shortage of specialized talent while at the same time reducing their staff to save costs.
The Meta founder, who has laid off more than 20,000 employees in recent times, noted that companies have learned to operate more efficiently with fewer middle jobs. During the interview, He used one of his daughters as an example to illustrate his philosophy.. “She’s writing a novel about mermaid crystals. The fact that he has dedicated himself with such passion to this task demonstrates his ability to delve into a topic and learn it in depth.”he commented.
Zuckerberg emphasized that the critical thinking and the acquired values in childhood they are essential. Although he didn’t mention a specific career path, he stressed that the ability to solve complex problems and learn how things work is more valuable than a degree in business or economics.
This is not the first time the Meta leader has emphasized the importance of skills over credentials. Already in 2015, he commented that he would only hire someone to work directly with him if he considered that he could work for that person, always seeking an alignment of values between the candidate and the company.
Additionally, in the Acquired podcast, Zuckerberg mentioned how he encourages these skills in his daughters from childhood, ensuring that developing problem-solving skills and creative thinking will be more useful for their future careers than any traditional academic training.
The technology leader concluded that tenacity and the ability to learn something deeply are applicable to various areas, and that is what he and Meta look for in future talents.