Degree vs Experience

squirrelchops

I chose to leave work in 2007 to do a degree as had to for the feld it is in...social work as the company i worked for did not offer secondments etc. I chose to do this as otherwise I would have been 'stuck' on the ladder but being a qualified social worker will give me a much much larger array of jobs i can apply for.

Also when i graduate it is likely that the starting salary will not be that much different to when I left work plus better hours.

angle

It's been 4 years since I finished my post-grad and started looking for a permanent job. At the time I felt that everyone was looking for experience and that my degrees had been a waste of time.
It's only now that I have some experience that I am beginning to feel that my degrees are useful.

It's been said before, but in these times with a very competitive job market it seems to be best to have both.

brians_daughter

depends on the role. Some jobs where i work would like 10 years exp over 5years exp and a degree, where in other departments they will take no exp and a degree over 10 yrs exp. Alll depends on the role

If it is say for example account management exp would come 1st in my workplace, but if say HR assistant they would want a degree over exp!

Strapped

Andy_L wrote: »

Where I an employer it depends what sort of job I'm trying to fill. For an entry level professional job I'd want the new graduate as they're cheaper & won't get bored. For a job "higher up the food chain" I'd want the 15 year veteren, although depending on the industry I might want someone professionally registered so they'd need the qualifications as well

Unfortunately I agree that not having the right bit of paper can hold you back in your career. I speak as a "qualified-by-experience" accountant with 15 years' experience, including (highly paid) periods in senior roles with Big 5 firms...yet some companies refuse to interview me for the lack of the right bit of paper. Their loss I usually get the job if they do meet me. (I have a degree & some post-grad financial qualifications but am not ACA/ACCA).

angle

Andy_L wrote: »

Where I an employer it depends what sort of job I'm trying to fill. For an entry level professional job I'd want the new graduate as they're cheaper & won't get bored. For a job "higher up the food chain" I'd want the 15 year veteren, although depending on the industry I might want someone professionally registered so they'd need the qualifications as well

Exactly, but in my husband's job I don't see how they can expect to attract someone with a degree.

He's worked damn hard for them, but they've been messing him around recently and he's unhappy there. He just feels that because he doesn't have a degree he will struggle to get another job (not forgetting the very competitive job market at the mo)