Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.” – John Dewey
I have imagined a scenario, Joe and Tom apply for the same job, Joe has 8 years of experience and no college degree, and Tom is fresh from college, who gets the Job?The answer depends; there are various things to take into account when weighing experience and education.
The eternal dilemma about experience vs education is a constant battle in the minds of both employers and employees. Employers often seek candidates with a combination of education and experience. There are some careers where experience trumps education and vice versa.
In the event that one chooses education, an internship to gain work experience and develop important skills is required. If you choose to experience, pursuing relevant certifications or training courses to verify your expertise is also necessary.
Not all experience or education is created equal. A degree from a top school in your field will open doors for you in the corporate world. A college degree is often the minimum requirement for many jobs. Education is an important step in your early career.A degree often provides you with background information on the industry and helps you develop essential technical skills.
In high-tech fields, a recent college graduate with the latest developments may have a leg-up over the guy with the experience, who is out phased by current technological developments.
However, at the same time, employers also admit that possessing a college degree does not guarantee that a candidate will be any better at the job than someone without a degree. Sometimes employers feel that productivity levels are no different between degreed and non-degreed employees.
This has been the reason why some employers have been providing an opportunity for on-the-job learning through apprenticeship. Apprenticeship has given those who select the road of both experience and certifications a chance. Employers are willing to pay those who are eager to learn new skills. Apprenticeship programs may not be available in every line of work. Still, it has been covering the gap by giving people opportunities to gain experience and certifications simultaneously.
For students and recent graduates, volunteering is a terrific method to get experience, polish your abilities, and demonstrate that you have what it takes to accomplish the job.Volunteering also demonstrates one’s level of dedication to giving back to the community and level of devotion.
As important as education is, experience also teaches you about the reality of working life on a daily basis and gives you the soft skills you need to succeed in any firm. You may differentiate yourself from the pack of rats by having relevant experience. Experience allows you to create your own narrative in a society that values individuality above all else.
Experience and education are supplementary to each other, hence should not be put one against another. To start any entry-level job, you will need a certain basic education, be it graduating from high school or with a bachelor’s degree, it will vary. It’s only after getting the basic education that one can move towards aiming for work experience and then decide whether the industry requires you to gain a better higher qualification or learn on the job.
For me, education can never be looked down upon, and experience also has its own dominance. The two are equally important.
