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How Much Do Qualifications Matter?

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Career Advice ...

Updated on 20/01/2025

The way employers evaluate potential hires is shifting.

A recent poll conducted here at Yolk revealed a striking 47% of businesses now consider experience to be the most important factor they look for when hiring new talent.

For decades, formal qualifications were seen as the hallmark of a candidate's suitability for a role. However, our poll's findings suggest that this traditional view is losing ground. With only 11% of businesses placing the highest value on qualifications, it's clear that practical experience has become the new currency in the job market.

Before we look into why qualifications are no longer the golden ticket they once were, let's ensure we fully understand the differences between them...

Qualifications Vs Experience

Qualifications refer to formal education, certifications, or training that validate a person's knowledge or expertise in a specific subject or field. Some common examples of academic qualifications include degrees, diplomas, and professional certificates.

In short, they provide the foundational knowledge of a subject. For example, a business degree might teach people management, marketing, and financial planning.

On the other hand, experience refers to practical, hands-on exposure to tasks, roles, and real-world situations within a particular field. Instead of what someone is studying, it represents what a person has learned through doing. Compared to a business degree, someone with years of work in management has likely encountered real challenges like managing difficult employees, meeting tight deadlines, or resolving operational crises.

Why is Experience More Important Than Qualifications?

Companies are increasingly recognising that hands-on experience equips candidates with real-world problem-solving abilities, adaptability, and industry-specific knowledge—traits that are often more valuable than theoretical understanding alone. In fact, the ability to demonstrate tangible achievements in similar roles is often what sets top candidates apart from the competition.

1. The Growing Importance of Cultural Fit and Soft Skills

Interestingly, our poll also highlighted that less measurable factors, such as cultural fit and soft skills, are becoming highly valued by employers. As companies strive to build cohesive and dynamic teams, they are looking beyond the CV to assess whether a candidate will thrive within their specific work environment.

Cultural fit is about more than just aligning with a company's values—it's about being able to collaborate effectively with colleagues, adapt to the company’s working style, and contribute positively to the overall team dynamic. Soft skills, including communication, emotional intelligence, and leadership potential, are similarly essential, as they often determine how well a candidate can lead, manage conflict, and interact with clients and coworkers.

2. The Decline of the Degree

While qualifications and degrees have historically been a key focus for job seekers, their value appears to be diminishing in the eyes of employers. In the UK, recent statistics reflect this trend. A 2023 survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) found that 60% of employers are placing emphasis on work experience over academic qualifications when hiring.

It's important to note that this doesn't mean that degrees are entirely obsolete—especially in fields that require specific technical expertise. However, for many roles, especially those in fast-paced or rapidly changing industries, experience and practical know-how are becoming more and more critical.

3. Application of Knowledge is Highly Valued

Another reason why many employers now look at experience over qualifications is that, while education provides a theoretical foundation, it very often lacks the practical experience needed to navigate real-life challenges.

A good example of this is a business management degree. This particular course might teach the principles of strategic planning, but experience in managing a team or leading a project demonstrates how to execute those principles effectively. The latter you simply can't benefit from with just a degree, and having real-life experience in a role or industry therefore bridges the gap between theory and practice.

4. Problem Solving & Decision Making Are Key Traits

Similarly to point number 3, education can only teach so much. While qualifications may teach ways to solve problems when faced with them, having actual real-world experience will naturally expose you to the complexities and unpredictability of the challenges.

For example, a degree in project management might outline frameworks for risk assessment, but being there on a live project will very quickly teach you how to handle unforeseen delays, shifting priorities, or potential conflicts among team members.

How Should I Adapt My Job Search?

If you're looking to make a career move, it's crucial to align your approach with these evolving priorities. Here are a few strategies to help you stand out in today's experience-driven job market:

  • Emphasise your hands-on experience in your resume and during interviews. Be ready to discuss specific projects, challenges you've overcome, and the results you've achieved.

  • Don’t just list your skills—provide examples of how you've used them in a professional setting. Leading a team, resolving a conflict and managing a project are all examples of soft skills that can be powerful differentiators.

  • Before applying, take some time to understand the culture of the companies you're interested in. Tailor your application to demonstrate how you align with their values and work environment.

  • While formal qualifications may be less important, continuous learning is still crucial. Stay updated with industry trends, take online courses, and seek out opportunities to expand your skill set.

We are Yolk Recruitment: a Cardiff-based award-winning recruitment agency all about people. Register your CV with us here, and if you'd like to chat with a member of our friendly team about your career goals and our current opportunities, please get in touch on info@yolkrecruitment.comor 02920 220078.

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