The question of education versus experience in the workplace has never been entirely clear, even up to this century. There has always been a debate on whether to get certifications for a specific job or focus on getting the experience.
Here is an overview of education versus experience when it comes to getting hired.
Credential and Type of Job
To tackle this question, it is more important to look at what matters in the job you are getting. The position will determine what type of credentials the employer needs or need some level of job experience. Many people see that obtaining a higher education certification can evaluate your chances of getting a good job, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you can keep the job.
Being successful in the actual workplace is more than just the academic certifications; some employees look at an employee’s experience and enthusiasm. Employers do look at what more you have to offer than just the academic side.
What is the Value of Work Experience?
Academic papers mainly act as evidence of qualifications on skills for a specific job position. If it is a new degree, getting employed as a level entry employer is possible, but employers are always pessimistic that you can catch up without a lot of on-the-job training.
Having work experience, even if it is from a previous internship, can be a step up to getting a good job. But even with these credentials and a bit of experience, you will have to prove yourself in the workplace. Sometimes getting a particular kind of training or certification outside of the typical university setting can help you edge out other applicants, such as facility management training or technical certifications in trade careers like electricians, plumbers, and utility workers.
Employers don’t only look at the credentials; they also look at some of the other skills you can offer to increase your job position’s productivity and overall output. Skills such as time management and teamwork can be looked at to determine if it would benefit the employer to keep you as part of their workforce.
The Value of Education
Without a doubt, having more education leads to better pay, and that is how people refer to having a good job. Advancing your education means you have a higher chance of getting a job position that pays more and has more benefits than someone who only has some experience and maybe just a single certification. Countries with more education equate to lower unemployment rates, but this also varies depending on the geolocation.
It is not a question of whether education is better than experience and vice versa; it is about using the advantages of the two to make the most out of any job. It would be better to get the education and then go to get the most experience you can to get to a better job position with time.
As an applicant, always remember that you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, so even if you don’t fit the exact qualifications on the dot for a job description, you should still apply if you feel like you can perform the job duties as requested. It’s then up to you to convince the prospective employer and prove it with your follow-through.
