YES.  The key to your observation is the boasting.  A competent person gets on with getting the job done.  They let their results speak for their aptitude.  People who boast tend to have self-esteem (and often productivity) issues.<p>In my experience a competent person with an academic degree has an edge over a competent person without one.  But that depends a lot upon the organisation, the projects, etc.  Unfortunately some managers are impressed by boasters.