| While visiting a careers forum I came across a thread | | | | forget that there are dozens of other job applicants |
| that got me thinking about the importance of subject | | | | making exactly the same claim, so who is an employer |
| matter knowledge versus work experience on a | | | | supposed to believe? |
| resume. The argument was that knowledge is more | | | | Consider the following job candidates in order to press |
| important than experience because it can be applied | | | | my point; |
| on the job to produce good outcomes for the | | | | Job Candidate #1. Computer Technician with expert |
| employer whilst experience alone serves little purpose. | | | | level PC and Windows skills. |
| If this is true, why do employers value experience so | | | | Job Candidate #2. Computer Technician with three |
| highly? You might be old enough to remember looking | | | | years of experience in a computer support role. |
| for your first job and being frustrated at the number of | | | | Received two employee of the month awards and |
| job advertisements that requested previous | | | | was a key team member in a successful Windows |
| experience. It is also common for employers to pay | | | | rollout affecting over 20,000 desktops for a fortune |
| experienced workers more than inexperienced | | | | 500 company. |
| workers? Why? | | | | By demonstrating previous successes Job Candidate |
| I think that the answer is that knowledge and | | | | #2 shows much more than just computer knowledge. |
| experience are not mutually exclusive. Experience | | | | Whilst Job Candidate #1 may be as competent (or |
| includes knowledge of related matters that may not | | | | even more competent) in a team environment he |
| be subject to a training or course curriculum. For | | | | cannot demonstrate this claim on paper because his |
| example, a computer technician may be excellent at | | | | ability to deliver outcomes is still unproven. And this is |
| diagnosing computer faults due to his or her high quality | | | | really the key point in a resume..."it's not what you |
| training. But most computer technicians will tell you that | | | | know, it's what you can prove". |
| a portion of the job includes communicating with | | | | So what about students and graduates who do not |
| frustrated and annoyed customers. Extracting the right | | | | have experience? What content can be used to |
| information out of an emotional person can be difficult, | | | | prove certain abilities? Don't forget that experience |
| but with experience one can learn to negotiate that | | | | does not necessarily mean professional work |
| delicate situation. | | | | experience. Schooling, training, books, home projects, |
| Another reason experience is important on a resume | | | | professional memberships, interests and hobbies are all |
| is credibility. One can claim to have incredible prowess | | | | experiences. As long as they are relevant to the job |
| in a certain field, but how can this be proven? Don't | | | | they should be fair game in a resume. |