Words: Francoise Gallet. Article from October 2015 issue of Bona Magazine.
Does experience make up for the lack of a qualification, or does a qualification provide something that experience can’t? Francoise Gallet explores this tricky topic.
It’s an age-old debate: What matters more – a qualification or work experience? We ask experts at the cutting edge of this question to weigh in on the matter, giving you the insight you need to get ahead at work.
Khanya Matlala
Life and career coach for young adults
Khanya started her working life with a qualification in information technology (IT). It landed her first job, but after that, she’s subsequently never used it. So, she’s quick to stress the importance of work experience. That’s how she got to do what she does today – learning from her peers on the job. Nonetheless, as a specialist in helping young adults develop career action plans, she points out that qualifications have their place. They give you the opportunity to:
• Meet industry standards,
• Register with industry bodies,
• Comply with any legal standards of practice,
• Ensure you are not misrepresenting yourself.
After all, you can’t simply wake up one morning and call yourself a doctor, social worker, or counsellor, she says. But, what matters most to employers, she argues, is how productive you’ll be, whether you can hit the ground running, and what difference you are going to make to the company’s profit margins.
So, what’s her top advice to those who want to get ahead?
“Make this your professional mantra: My career is my business. My employer is my client. My client needs to get the best out of me all the time. I am a business – not simply an employee.”
Deon Engelke
Director at Inkanyezi Events, organisers of the Working World Exhibition
As a director of a small Port Elizabeth company Inkanyezi Events, Deon is directly involved in hiring employees. Over the past 16 years, he has also grappled with the question of what makes a job candidate employable, especially with over 200 000 matric leavers every year, and thousands of more graduates at various tertiary institutions. His conclusion? A piece of paper doesn’t make you employable.
“This is especially true in the South African context, where the majority of employers are small businesses that can’t afford an overqualified graduate. Even in specialised disciplines that require a qualification, an employer needs someone who can engage clients and sell a concept or solution,” he says. But, you don’t need to be formally employed to get this experience. What you need, argues Deon, is the maturity and drive to seek opportunities – volunteer, work for no pay, job shadow, or get involved in community projects. The lessons you learn through those experiences will equip you with the courage and confidence that fuels businessmen.
Dr Penny Abbott
Head of research and product development at the SA Board for People Practices
On her way up the career ladder, Penny’s earned several qualifications and some high-level work experience. She highlights competence or the ability to get a job done well as the pivotal factor, though the statistics come down in favour of qualification. “The employment rate of graduates with bachelor’s degrees sits around 95%. Your chances of getting a job with a two-year diploma, one-year certificate, or matric are diminished,” she says. But, while many employers say they require a degree, most actually don’t, she says. What they’re looking for is a combination of hard skills, soft skills, and someone with a realistic self-awareness who is going to go that extra mile. So, how you position your experience and skills – even if acquired by. volunteering at church – is an essential aspect of making yourself attractive to an employer. Get a good idea of what an employer is looking for and on the first page of your CV – even in the very first paragraph – tell them why you’ll meet these needs. For those already in a job and want to go further, find a mentor or coach. Research shows this is one of the most effective ways to build a career. And if considering study, ensure that the theory you learn can be applied. Pick your qualifications with the goal of making yourself a more competent employee, she advises.
Dr Muki Moeng
Executive dean of the Faculty of Education at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU)
Dr Muki has pursued a trail of qualifications that began with a Higher Diploma in Education and ended with a Doctorate in Education. Even as an academic, it’s been a combination of work experience and qualifications that helped her climb the career ladder. The lessons she’s learned from the people have taught her things books never could. But, it was her Ph.D. that empowered her to approach problems from many different angles – a trait that is integral to her work as a dean.
Dr Muki recommends the following:
• Seek out as much course information as you can,
• Understand the multiple career possibilities in your area of study,
• Find a course that challenges you to think out-of-the-box and apply the theory.
Kudzai
BCom graduate, entrepreneur, CEO of MVP Energy, and student in pursuit of a Chartered Institute of Management Accountants qualification
Kudzai chose to study because he understood the importance of education. “It is proof that you have the discipline and ability to complete something and it allows you to knock on doors in the corporate world,” he says. Yet, he’s also gained business experience while pursuing his studies by joining two young, black entrepreneurs (also presently studying) in launching the start-up, MVP Energy, a company that provides solar energy systems for homes and businesses. And, he’s quick to point out that work experience has taught him his biggest lessons. Nonetheless, like many job hunters, Kudzai has also brushed up against the grim reality that companies hire few but are inundated with many applicants. So, what is his advice to students? Study and work, get an internship where you can and pursue a post even if it is unpaid. And, for those wanting to climb the career ladder? Experience and qualifications go hand-in-hand, he says. The pursuit of lifelong learning – through experience and qualifications – is the path to success.
The last word
Khanya sums it up this way: If you want to go places in the world of work, always be curious and hustle.
Related Content
