{"id":55588,"date":"2022-11-21T10:39:12","date_gmt":"2022-11-21T16:39:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/abound.college\/finishcollege\/?post_type=advice&p=55588"},"modified":"2022-11-21T11:18:27","modified_gmt":"2022-11-21T17:18:27","slug":"education-vs-experience-what-employers-want","status":"publish","type":"advice","link":"https:\/\/abound.college\/finishcollege\/advice\/education-vs-experience-what-employers-want\/","title":{"rendered":"Education Vs. Experience: What Employers Want"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Adults throughout the country regularly weigh their options when they\u2019re planning to make an important career move. Young people wonder whether hiring managers will be more impressed by a college degree or a wealth of workplace knowledge gained through experience. Non-traditional students<\/a> and\/or those weighing the pros and cons of finishing college might be looking for faster ways to move up in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The education-versus-experience debate has been around for ages and, speaking generally, there\u2019s not a concrete answer on which is better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, let\u2019s look into the differences between education and work experience. We’ll explore the benefits and downsides of each as well as what you should consider when making this important choice for your future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practical Differences Between Education and Experience<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s difficult to outline the key differences between education and work experience. Both routes of learning can be dynamic when it comes to the details and processes involved in each. With that in mind, let\u2019s examine some basic info about each route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When most people think about education, sitting in classrooms, listening to lectures, and completing written assignments come to mind. However, the path to completing a person\u2019s education can be more diverse than that. Many activities that take place throughout specific learning programs can overlap with activities performed in the workplace. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarly, the activities covered in the field or office can also resemble classroom learning. Plenty of onboarding and training modules involve reading, completing lessons, and answering questions based on the information covered. So the difference between learning on the job and learning in a classroom is not always clear cut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Differences<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Still, there are practical differences between obtaining a certificate at a university and performing work-related tasks through hands-on learning. College coursework and on-the-job training can go hand-in-hand in some situations, but the key differences between the two are quite simple. Education refers to the institutional instruction needed for an individual to be considered qualified to perform specific working roles. Experience refers to an individual\u2019s active involvement in performing and perfecting work-related tasks over time.\u201cConsider attending a university that works to weave these two together,\u201d says Megan Boone, Director of the Center for Career Development and Experiential Education at Morehead State University<\/strong>.<\/a> \u201cMorehead State University offers a unique program called Level UP: Experience Your Future that builds hands-on experiences of internships, service learning, undergraduate research or education abroad into required classes in a student’s major.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benefits of Work Experience<\/strong>
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Relevant work experience makes a positive impression on employers in a number of ways. A candidate can have significant experience working in their chosen field or be relatively new to the role they\u2019re applying for. In any case, relevant experience shows hiring managers that the candidate has a basic understanding of how daily work operations are performed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current work experience is especially favorable in a field that\u2019s evolving and adopting new technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take, for example, a manufacturing position that does not need a college degree to perform. One candidate may have a decade-old degree and no work experience in the field. Another candidate may have no degree but possesses five years of current experience. The experience the second candidate has will likely be more valuable to employers than the outdated degree. Experience shows that the candidate has taken the time to develop skills and grow along with the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Downside of Experience<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n