A bachelors degree in CompSci, based solely on the requirements drastically reduces the number of candidates who can actually produce results, but chose not to apply because they feel their lack of qualifications will immediately disqualify them (or some will just lie). On the flip side, it might give them some outstanding candidates who have actually gone the distance and can think proactively. That's not to say people without BA's can't do the same. It's a dual-edged sword for a position like this.
Preface: I am a virtual recruiter.
Employers have found success at shrinking their candidate pool when adding even the slightest text in their copy when it comes to ability requirements. Some of my early jobs required skills and qualifications I never achieved or experienced; but I landed the job because my resume was slammed pack with solutions, and details of problem solving (as opposed to creating a resume that told the hiring manager nothing more than what my daily tasks were)
Dropbox may have plans to groom this web engineer into a larger role within the organization, and that often works well within organizations; providing the avenues for upward mobility. However they'd do themselves, and their potential job candidates a favor by indicating this up front instead of effectively discouraging great prospects the opportunity to apply simply because of a degree requirement that will lead to a career trajectory that far overshoots roles and responsibilities listed.
A four year degree in computer science for someone to be a web developer and an end-user support technician is asking for overqualified candidates who will very likely get more attractive offers later on down the road. But that's not to say Dropbox wont make their stay worthwhile, overqualified or under.
Shameless: I'd love to reach out to the DB team and talk about this.
The issue that I have is that some companies play this game where they ask for the sun, moon and stars in the requirements because they think that it will draw in only the best people, but others actually make their requirements exactly what they want.
Some people apply to job postings with the assumption that the requirements are only a rough guideline, while others apply only if they exactly meet the qualifications.
When you hear hiring managers complaining about how they put up a job posting for a Perl developer with 5 years of Perl experience, but got 100s of applications from people that are fresh out of college and haven't even heard of Perl, hiring practices like the ones you advocate are at fault. If job seekers can never know when to trust that the qualifications being asked for are really the ones that employers want, then there will always be a disconnect.
Preface: I am a virtual recruiter.
Employers have found success at shrinking their candidate pool when adding even the slightest text in their copy when it comes to ability requirements. Some of my early jobs required skills and qualifications I never achieved or experienced; but I landed the job because my resume was slammed pack with solutions, and details of problem solving (as opposed to creating a resume that told the hiring manager nothing more than what my daily tasks were)
Dropbox may have plans to groom this web engineer into a larger role within the organization, and that often works well within organizations; providing the avenues for upward mobility. However they'd do themselves, and their potential job candidates a favor by indicating this up front instead of effectively discouraging great prospects the opportunity to apply simply because of a degree requirement that will lead to a career trajectory that far overshoots roles and responsibilities listed.
A four year degree in computer science for someone to be a web developer and an end-user support technician is asking for overqualified candidates who will very likely get more attractive offers later on down the road. But that's not to say Dropbox wont make their stay worthwhile, overqualified or under.
Shameless: I'd love to reach out to the DB team and talk about this.