Experience does not Qualify you, & Education does not Equal Experience

Back in the days of high school, you were heavily encouraged to study hard, get good grades, and go get a degree after graduation because a basic high school diploma/certificate would not suffice as a qualification for most entry-level jobs. Many of us only wanted to go to college because it was the right thing to do, but our mothers/fathers/parents did not have the financial resources to afford a tertiary education. And society does an excellent job of making you feel as if you're inadequate without that degree.

There is the superior and inferior effect because I am certain that because they do not have a tertiary level education many intelligent people doubt the existence of their intelligence. Tertiary education has its limits, because there are only some subjects being offered, but what about if what you are gifted in, or talented at is not being offered in the list of programs? I asked this question a few times and I was told, oh just do general studies, until you figure out what's being offered interests you. Has anyone ever wondered why many people have changed their major, dropped out, or ended up in a career they later on regretted? Perhaps the pressures from society caused them to choose the path of what was deemed the right thing to do.

I have read job descriptions for jobs that are being advertised, jobs that I know I can do based on my skills, intelligence, and experience, but was not even considered because I did not have a bachelor's degree. When I spoke to one manager, she told me it's not about you knowing how to do the job, pause, excuse me but what? If it's not about knowing the job then please do tell me what it is about. I thought that you hire someone based on their ability to do the job, a degree does not determine a person's professional ability to perform. This brings me to my next point, experience, it takes 3-5 years to complete a Bachelor's Degree education depending on the college/university and program(s) of choice, and on the other side, you have someone who used those years to work and gain experience.

Both persons apply for the same position, the experienced one applies based on, well their experience, and the grad applies based on the required qualifications and rate of pay. The employer turns down the one with the experience, interviews the one with the degree and either turns them down because they do not have enough experience or the experience that they are looking for, or if chosen it's at the lowest end of the pay scale. Although educated and met the academic requirements, came up short on the experience, the college grad is no longer interested because they have living expenses and student loans to repay, so taking the job for the inexperienced educated applicant would not be a wise call for both the employer and the potential employee, the reason being, if the employee takes the job it will only be temporary until they get a better paying job, and for the employer that position would be vacant as soon as the grad gets that better-paying job.

The experienced one after being rejected for lacking the level of education required for a professional opportunity, he/she decides to attend college part-time, but the demands of the job are overwhelming, especially as a dedicated employee. Their level of dedication to their current role poses a challenge to the attainment of a degree that would qualify him/her to be successful in being selected for a higher role. How can one win? How does one get the experience and the education all at the same time? When employers do not want to train you or educate you, they will tell you they want someone who can hit the ground running, they also want someone who has this level of education, how can you win?

Why is there not a market for independent thinkers, just as there's one for trained (educated) thinkers? Why do employers feel as if, if you're not educated you do not have anything worthy of offering to the company, ministry, department, or organization? I have seen with my own eyes, people so dependent on a book for information. It's like the presence of the degree replaced their common sense and God-given intelligence. I am asking about a balance, there is a place where everybody can shine and raise the bar, strengthening the force in the workforce. Everything cannot be taught, everything can be learned, do not try to make someone feel inadequate because of their level of education. It is my personal belief that the barriers are what cause certain institutions, organizations, companies, departments, and ministries to be stagnant because they are aiming to strike for limits instead of ideal balances.

Experience does not qualify you, and education gives you the knowledge that qualifies you but it does not give you the experience to hit the ground running. Challenges of the employed, in the modern times of gaining, maintaining, and changing employment. The employers will always find some way where they will get more out of you, than what you will get or benefit from being employed by them. When you look at the vacancies being advertised, they are almost identical, not many if any of them stand out, and there is a need for more independent thinkers.

It is impossible for everywhere to have the same vision and the same way in which to get there. If where we are going will be no different from where we are, what's the point of moving from here to there? This one here was successful, so because they were that means you will be too? Why do you want to copy someone else's formula, why not try something unique and different, you may achieve greater success. Why are so many people, especially leaders afraid to try something outside the box? Independent thinkers are the real leaders of the world we live in, every trend was started by an independent thinker, yet they are the ones being shut out because not many of them have degrees.

Let me put this out there, I am in no way knocking a formal education, life indeed is a greater challenge without it, however, it is also a greater challenge to progress as well, if one does not know the true reason why they are doing it, and the purpose of it. Many are just doing it because it's the right thing to do, it's the smart thing to do, so they are leading a life that is blind. Some even think that the alternative is to become self-employed, but everybody cannot be their own boss. Until employers learn how to strike a healthy balance between who they are hiring and the criteria that are used, there will be more work than force in the workforce.