Should previous experience count for something in present employment?

falko89

I've came across this in a few jobs now and it seems pretty unfair that previous experience is worthless especially when it comes to reviewing wages.

When I started working, I served my time as a workshop joiner and earned my NVQ's etc, now within that bracket of workshop joiner there are lots of other little smaller jobs that I had to be competent in such as using the various bits of machinery and tools, all the health and safety malarkey, all which I was assessed in by a qualified assessor before I gained my qualifications.

Since leaving that first job however I have came up against "Its not what you know or what knowledge you have, its what you are allowed to do in here" I've came across it my my past 2-3 jobs. This is the best example I can give of this, I was taken into the office the other day as I am in the process of training a new guy to do my job, anyway the new guy was to be left alone for a day or 2 so he could pick it up, the boss asked me "Now what else can you do while he's doing that" I explained I can pretty much do any job in the factory his response "No what can you do in here" I said I told you "No what have you done in here" I said I've only been doing that 1 job, in the end I had to tidy up for 2 days, previous experience totally irrelevant.

Its a bit like working in a small company with 5-6 employees, you might have to do a variety of jobs, then go to a large company where u only have to do 1 specific job, or in my current Open Uni degree, it complies of lots of different modules on various topics, to get the degree you have to be competent in all parts but your employer is only interest in this one part and the rest is totally irrelevant, And when the pay review forms come around its worded "What jobs have you done or do you do in X Company"

pink_princess

The past experince gets them to interview. Then how they come across in interview gets them the job. Then they keep the job, earn promotion and bonuses based on performance in the role.

If they weren't doing the job why would I care what they did for another employer?

I have also taken a few chances on hiring people without expierience who have turned out to be very good in their roles. Should I pay them less as they haven't had a job before?

lincroft1710

You do what your employer wants you to do, providing, of course, the work is not injurious to your health, is within the law, and is performed with due regard to all relevant legislation.

The fact that you are a qualified brain surgeon (or whatever) is of no interest to your employer (unless it's the NHS)