Experience Vs Education

[Dynamic]

In my field I went through an apprenticeship for a trade so I got both. Experience on the job was most of my training 10 months year while school was 2 months a year. I found the mix was pretty much perfect. Experience was important but the knowledge gained from school is invaluable.

[Sylvanfan]

I think for a first job education counts more, after that experience comes into play. I would guess that in the world of Academia, there are positions where education may be of more benefit.

Really for me, I try to hire personalities I think can fit the roles that need to be filled. The last guy we hired had less experience and less education than a lot of other candidates we interviewed. I figured the guy we eventually did hire was best suited to do the job we needed him to do. Granted he had fewer years of experience than a couple others, I think he had done more with the experience he did have. So experience isn't always measured by term of service. But a key thing I think is finding out if the experience is real, or just someone BS'ing you. Many resume's out there overstating peoples actual ability, both in terms of education and experience.

[calgarywinning]

Education in general and a commitment to life long learning, continual change and really listening are the key principles to employment regardless of your "educationally instituted" grade "a" egg certificates. It can happen within our outside an institution but is dependent on the individuals motivation. If you do happen to have grade "a" certificate and apply to the above you are more then well on your way. For me that's the difference, education versus certification.

Experience without the above is useless. It's kind of like going to the grocery store, and excuse the repeated analogy, but choosing the oldest carton of eggs because they are certified and have more experience from sitting on the shelf. Or going for the Milk that's gonna expire tomorrow.

Values and ethics and a like minded culture are important in business as well and can weight heavily on education or experience. You want people that gel together and have similar beliefs. Listing them in order and then developing job interview questions to determine if they are a cultural fit will save a lot of time.

[Inferno]

For my industry(3D graphics) it seems to be experience. It took me almost a year to find a job because I didn't have any experience. Though I think the reputation of my school helped.

[CaptainCrunch]

I think we're missing a key component here.

Yes education is hugely important especially when it comes to breaking into the work field, but because of the hyper competitive job market in the later on jobs its not experience, its results. A person with 20 years in his field with little to show is not going to get nearly as far as someone who has proven that he's become invaluable where ever he's been and not satisfied with punching a time clock so to speak.

Esperience means little to nothing without proven achievement and over achievement.

That's why the concept of the chonological resume is pretty much dead.

[Igster]

I just finally got the I.T. job I was really looking for because I had someone give me a chance. I'm 46 and have a ton of experience, including a programming background, but no real formal training or certifications.

It was hard landing a job like this and most turned me away without the formal education, so it really depends. I have lots of experience, but it doesn't always trump education.

[Rathji]

My opinion with IT jobs is that certifications get you an interview, but your experience will get you the job.

So many choices in hiring are made by HR people who have been given some (often arbitrary) list of qualifications in order to shortlist the candidates that they would skip by someone with experience that might make them an equivalent or better candidate.

[Igster]

Thankfully my boss looked past certifications to interview me and decided teaching me a few things and having my years of experience and knowledge in other things was more important.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by Igster

Thankfully my boss looked past certifications to interview me and decided teaching me a few things and having my years of experience and knowledge in other things was more important.

Did you let him know you were competent because you could carry your grocery store card in your wallet? That's likely what landed you the job.

[Igster]

Originally Posted by squiggs96

Did you let him know you were competent because you could carry your grocery store card in your wallet? That's likely what landed you the job.

Pretty sure that was the deciding factor.

[malcolmk14]

Kind of a related question I'm hoping someone who works in HR or recruitment can help me get a grasp of - I'm finishing up my Bachelor of Education this spring and my intention is absolutely to teach, but people keep telling me, "Companies highly value B.Ed's, you can do a lot of things with a B.Ed."

Can someone who works in an HR or recruitment role perhaps explain what said people might mean by those statements, or provide some insight on what value you or your department place in a B.Ed on a resume? What types of roles do people with Education degrees apply for outside of the world of teaching?

Just trying to get a grasp on what types of opportunities exist, particularly in Calgary but would appreciate people from elsewhere replying as well.