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Should you focus on gaining qualifications or experience to obtain your dream job? This post discusses the benefits and drawbacks of both to determine which one is really more valuable.
Some industries cannot be accessed without qualifications
It’s impossible to break into industries such as law and medicine without a degree. If you have your heart set on entering these careers, qualifications could be a necessity.
Some roles cannot be achieved without experience
Employers may ask for several years’ experience from applicants when advertising certain roles. Without this experience you may not be able to apply for these roles. Managerial roles often require experience.
Gaining qualifications may cost you a lot of money
Education is a big investment. The cost of university fees is now very expensive and you could be paying off student debts for many years. While there are employer sponsored degrees and cheaper options like studying abroad, these options may not be available to everyone.
Gaining experience may cost you a lot of time
Gaining experience often requires putting in a lot of time. You may have to spend several years in an entry role before you can rise to your dream role. Some people even take up voluntary experience as a means of gaining experience, which can mean giving up time without any financial reward for your work. Not all highly paid roles require a lot of experience and some may have fast track programs, but this isn’t always the case.
Those with qualifications, on average, earn more than those without
Research shows that having a degree still puts you in a better pay bracket. A higher salary could make the cost of studying worthwhile, allowing you to pay off the debts quickly.
Experience can also get you access to higher paid jobs
Starting roles at companies tend to be fairly low paid. However, if you’ve got experience, you’ll likely be offered better pay. Even if you’re not offered better pay, you can often more easily negotiate better pay with an employer.
The most credible candidates have both experience and qualifications
Employers are likely to look more highly upon candidates with both experience and qualifications. If you’re looking to get into a professional care position, it could be worth pursuing an aged care course and finding experience in a care role – an employer is likely to favour you over a candidate that has only one or the other. If you’re trying to land a job in accounting, it could be worth pursuing an accounting course and getting some experience at an accounting form.
Verdict: it’s good to have both
Both qualifications and experience are equally valuable in today’s job market. Both can get you access to more opportunities and more pay.
There are now more options than ever for obtaining both. Apprenticeships are a popular option for obtaining experience and education. There are also courses with sandwich years that can allow you to study a degree with a year of work experience included. Alternatively, you could study while working a voluntary or low-paid entry role on the side.
