Formal Education vs. Experience
As a recruiter or hiring manager, is it typically more important to you that candidates have experience or a degree?
I have worked with several hiring managers that greatly value a degree over work experience, and not just for entry-level positions. I am talking about to the point of preferring to hire a recent grad with little to no work experience over a candidate with 2-3 or more years of progressive and relevant experience. I have even seen hiring managers outright refuse to even interview a qualified (based on knowledge, skills and abilities) candidate who does not have a degree.
I continue to be puzzled by this. I have asked some of these hiring managers why the degree is more important to them and none of them has ever given a response that directly relates to the job. It's usually based on some arbitrary (read: non-relevant) judgment they make about people based on whether or not they have a degree. I have heard the argument that some managers equate having a degree with maturity and stick-to-it-tiveness, but I'm sure we all know immature college grads, not to mention the straight C/D student who barely passed and the 8 year undergrad, etc. Not to mention there are various reasons why some people do not have a degree.
Is there ever any legitimate (read: job-related) reason why a degree should be valued over relevant experience for most jobs (non-technical, non-medical, etc.)? Please don't get me wrong, I'm not negating the work and commitment that typically go into receiving a B.A. or advanced degree, but I find that too many hiring managers are fond of saying that a B.A. is REQUIRED for a position and I have rarely come across a position for which that is truly the case. (I can do a whole separate post on dealing with hiring managers with unrealistic expectations...)
I'm interested in hearing your thoughts and experiences.
Clarification added 11 months ago:
Please note that I realize that for certain positions (techical, medical, etc.) a degree and most likely one or more advanced degrees would be necessary. Yet, I have seen managers who were literally hiring for someone just to sit at the front desk and answer phones and sign for packages and said that a degree was "required." I am in no way downplaying the importance of such a role, just questioning the necessity of a degree in performing it. Or, quite frankly, MOST administrative positions (all levels.)
I wouldn't expect a recent HS grad to be hired as a VP of Development, but if over the years since that person has graduated from HS they have held progressively more responsible positions, eventually becoming a Development Director for one organization, should they be held back from reaching the next level, just because there is no "Education" section on their resume? I can somewhat understand saying that a degree is "preferred", but not so much "required."
Good Answers (3)
Komal P
Conference Director at ExL Pharma
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Hi Tamara,
I was actually discussing this same topic with my sister earlier tonight and I think too many hiring decisions are based on the degree one holds rather than their actual capability. A Bachelor's is higher than a Diploma and a Masters is higher than a Bachelors and this distinction allows for a payscale adjusted to these levels - essentially the level of education allows employers to compensate workers on a generally accepted higher/lower rate, allowing for some simplicity in determining compensation and benefits. Also, there are some basic things one is expected to have some knowledge of through a formal education - often the result of having fulfilled pre-requisites or the like, so employers may hire with the hope that they are getting a somewhat well-rounded individual, however, this is by no means a guarantee. Finally, the individual who has dedicated a significant portion of their life to earning a degree feels this merits some reward in the working world - the degree allows them to demand a certain title, pay or benefit package.
Now, getting a job done requires ability, not a degree, it requires experience, but not necessarily in years of service but rather, in relevance.
I hold a higher degree and am a proponent of education in every way, but I think that many positions and many responsibilities are being fulfilled by people who may not be the best suited for the role simply because they have a degree that certifies them and most companies shy away from the potential risk of hiring someone based solely on their experience. Education gives one exposure to knowledge and the foundation for building a career, but it doesn't necessarily make one capable of getting the job done. A hiring decision based on degree is also a risk, but can often seem as a potentially less risky one...
Greg P
President ♦ Bluefin Productions Inc.
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People are strange.
It's odd how many people are blind to their own foibles.
Experience to me will carry a lot of weight.
The Degree means only that one had connections, got into school, and didn't drink too much to fail out. It has little relevance to what someone can do in the real world.
there are times when a degree is important, but relevant experience usually trumps in my book. All other things being equal.
Carl W
Co-owner & full time abstract sculptor at WSG Gallery.com - carl@wsggallery.com
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Tamara,
Good question. In fact you have hit on a reason that I went back to college shortly after getting married - to finish an AA degree. After being married for about 8 years and self -employed as an artist, my wife and I went back to college full time and finished up our BA's. We did that because if the business ever failed or we got bored with it we could fall back on our education and hopefully get another job.
To fully answer your question - I am always running into people who puff up their credentials from where their job is sweeping floors to now they are the "head of maintenance". HR people see this all the time, which is why I suspect the are interested in getting college graduates. The college graduates have a paper trail of what they did and an independent body of experts has passed judgement on this graduate and found them worthy. This paper trail is easily traceable and involves very little fact-checking. You college degree can never be taken from you.
On the other hand having "experience" is a whole different arena. Now your are entering the puffery area. How does an HR person sort fact from fiction? Take your word for it - I don't think so. Take your reference's word for it - have you ever known someone to put a reference down that was bound to give that person a bad review? All references are good. Call the supervisor to check on your work habits and duties? Maybe the supervisor wants you out of the company - how truthful will that supervisor be?
So the only way to make sure your "experience" is truely checkable is to get company-sponsored training. When you attend that training get a signed certificate - something tangible. Only problem with the training is that the HR people have to check up on the credentials of the training company - are they certified by a sanctioning agency to teach this? Then the HR people have to figure out is the training applicable for their client's position or not germane enough?
"Experience" is a great thing to have, but when the HR people are looking for someone to fill a slot - college education is easier to check and run with. Besides, after vetting potential hires for this one position there are several dozen positions after this one that need to be filled. The HR person gets paid to fill posts quickly and effectively. How is the HR person going to get promoted? By hiring more people with the best qualified prospects, with the least amount of double checking of "experience". Another words quantity and quality of candidates.
To bring the illustration home for you, if I was to go out looking for a job, with just a High School education, I would have a tough time. I have been self-employed at the same business for 20 years. My previous job was from 20 years ago and the company is out of business, my supervisor and everyone I knew from there are dead or moved. How would the HR people check my resume statements - particulary if I just have a High School education? Since I am the co-owner of the business (my wife is the other co-owner) will HR call me for a reference check on me? HR surely cannot call my employer from 20 years ago since they are out of business. Since a lot of potential clients overblow their credentials, I would be stuck.
Sorry for the windy explanation. hope this is of some help to you.
Carl
www.wsggallery.com
More Answers (4)
Peggy I
Consultant at Investors Group Financial Services Inc.
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Your question made me smile, as I happen to know one large employer who requires a BA for a certain position in the eastern half of the country, however the same position in the west does not require a degree. It can make things interesting when a staff member transfers from west to east.
George R
Sr. Design & Development Engineer at Cessna Aircraft Company
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It depends on the field of expertise: in engineering, to learn only by experience, it will take one forever (I don’t speak about geniuses, 1 in 1,1000,000). I’ve met some “experienced” engineers with no degree, and I was really disappointed. Excellent at performing daily, routine tasks, very reliable but having very limited knowledge and understanding of the advanced fundamentals, especially when integration and design-for-performance/ “white paper” design skills required. Though, the most notable exception I’ve met is in project management. I had the chance to work with excellent, outstanding project managers and project leaders, with limited or no formal business / project management experience. Again, even those were exceptions. The more complex the issues or the fundamentals required, the less likely for the average individual to replace knowledge with experience, for the obvious reason. Advanced fundamental knowledge is based on the experience (and previous acquired knowledge) of thousands of people, gathered along many generations. To shortcut knowledge just with experience it is very unlikely, at least in most of highly sophisticated fields, such as: medical sciences, advanced/nuclear physics, aerospace engineering, etc. It may work in some areas, such as: programming, project management, etc
I hope my answer helps, GR
Jim H
General Manager & Partner: The Roofing Company, Inc. & The Remodeling Company
Take all the experience you currently have and throw it away.
How good would you be at your job if all you were left with was your IQ?
Would you be that much better at it with just a piece of paper?
If you lost both...and could only get one back...would you want your degree back? or your experience?
Links:
Andrew K
Director and Owner - H2Otalent
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Tamara,
I would agree that it is foolish to write someone off simply because they do not have a degree. I think and hope that in a world which is less and less concerned with linear career paths that a degree will become less important.
I do however think that tertiary education can be extremely valuable, and can make a huge difference to the contribution a person can make to an organisation. I too would hire someone with a degree over someone with 2-3 years experience, if the person with the degree was high-potential and I was hiring them as a long term investment, not just to get the job done.
My personal first choice is the person who has gone straight into work out of high school and then gone back to complete university part-time while working. Now that shows courage, persistence and tenacity as well as meaning that they are getting the maximum benefit out of the course.
Good luck with your hiring managers.
Andrew
