Education and Qualifications – Do they really matter?

As it is a new year there is often an emphasis on focusing on careers and new job opportunities. This is when certain question are asked.  Do education and qualifications really make a difference? Will not having any education or qualifications mean you are stuck in your current job indefinitely? Does education and qualifications really differentiate you from other applicants? Are education and qualifications required for you to get your dream role?

There is no straightforward answer to this. My honest answer is that it depends on the role and company that you are applying for. This is not me sitting on the fence but a reflection that different roles and companies will have different views on the necessity of education and qualifications.

There are going to be some roles where there is a minimum education or qualification required in order to be considered a suitable candidate such as some professional roles i.e. accountancy, HR, legal, IT or engineering roles or where there is a legal or statutory requirement for example. It is unlikely that if you do not have the education and qualifications that are required for such roles that you will progress through a recruitment process.

It also depends on the company and luckily there are many companies who have the view that experience is on par or even greater than an education or qualification. It is important to remember how many successful business men and women there are who do not have any education and qualifications and they have achieved huge successes such as Steve Jobs (co-founder of Apple); Richard Branson (founder of Virgin Group); Anna Wintour (editor-in chief of Vogue) and Oprah Winfrey.

Personally I am of the view that experience can often trump education and qualifications. It all comes down to the individual and how they portray themselves during an interview process. I have interviewed candidates with high levels of education and qualifications and others with strong experience. The person who is successful is the one who can convey effectively how they could do the role they have applied for and what they could bring to the table.

So when it comes to applying for a role that you are interested in and if you are worried about your education and qualifications, my piece of advice would be…apply for the role and make sure you are as prepared as you can be. Being prepared and delivering a really strong interview will give you every chance to be seriously considered for the role. Do not let a role pass you by because you believe you would not be successful based on your education and qualifications. Life is too short to have any regrets.

Do not hesitate to get in touch to see how I can support you with an upcoming interview so you can be as prepared and confident as possible for that all important interview. I will look forward to working with you and helping you prepare for the all important interview.