My employer has a software developer opening for which a friend of mine would be a great candidate; in fact, she's the best, most knowledgeable programmer I know (I'm a developer myself). Additionally, she is a very helpful person, which would fit in well with our rather inexperienced team.
When I submitted her resume, my supervisor noted that my friend had left college after only two years. (She started a company with some other people.) My boss dismissed my friend out of hand with the comment "We don't hire people who don't have a degree." I tried to tell my boss about my friend's skills and that she has told me she wants to complete her degree, but he wouldn't re-consider.
How might I get him to change his mind and consider her for this job?
Additional info: My current supervisor made the comment that our clients want our employees to have degrees. However, my supervisor before this one was a college dropout herself, so obviously that's not a rule written into company policy.
We don't hire people who don't have a degree
. Is it very different if it is a personal policy of your boss or a company wide policy.