I have been offered a job in Germany (formal job offer / signed contract) for an IT position with a salary >55k EUR. However, I don't have a university or vocational degree and I'm aprehensive about applying for a visa. I believe my job position is in the shortage list.

How likely is my visa request to be approved? Would it be recommened that my future employer get a "ZAV pre-approval" letter before I submit the visa request?

Above all, is not having a degree something that will certainly get a rejection (even for shortage list)?

For future reference, my ZAV pre-approval request was denied due to lack of college degree.