Does Work Experience Even Matter?

It’s a difficult position to be in for almost every new college graduate: how do you get a job with no experience…when every job opening requires a minimum of two years of experience?

But even “experienced” professionals find themselves in frustrating situations brought about by our collective focus on experience—sometimes they lack enough experience to apply, and sometimes they apply, are interviewed, and are then told they’re overqualified.

What Research Says About Work Experience

It’s worth asking if our obsession with “work experience” is even worth it.

New research suggests that it’s likely not. In a recent meta-analysis (a fancy term for a study that combined data from lots of past studies), three researchers examined the relationship between work experience and performance on the job. This was a large study, covering 81 prior studies and over 20,000 participants across most industries in the United States.

Looking over all the participants, the researchers found only a weak correlation between prior experience and performance, both during initial training and on the job. In addition, they found no correlation at all between prior work experience and the likelihood that an employee would quit soon after being hired. The data just doesn’t support the idea that job applicants with past experience in similar jobs will be better performing or longer-tenured (and hence more valuable employees).

It’s probably always been that way. 

What is Work Experience?

Work experience is practical wisdom. By definition, it means learning about the post, organization, or career path. 

It shows the amount of time we have been exposed to a professional environment in which we develop an awareness and understanding of how things work in the real world.

Job experience has most often been used as a proxy for measuring knowledge, skills, and abilities. However, that proxy only works when employees acquire diverse sets of experiences, develop wide-ranging sets of skills, and grow in their abilities. If they merely repeat the same tasks and those projects never stretch their abilities or require gaining new knowledge, then the number of years spent on that job isn’t all that important.

Why Employers Ask for Work Experience?

Different employers and industries may have various reasons for asking for a specific amount of experience before hiring an individual.

It is the first filter to screen out candidates who need to learn how things work professionally. They believe it’ll save them a lot of time and effort they’d otherwise spend training a new employee.

Importance of Work Experience 

A recent survey showed two-thirds of employers look for graduates with relevant work experience because it helps them prepare for work and develop general business awareness. 

Experience definitely matters, but how important it is depends on the job context. Here are a few factors that make it relevant to the new job. 

• Knowledge and Skills: Work experience equips you with the skills and expertise that generally only come with theoretical subjects or studies in a classroom setting.
• Application of Skills in Life Scenarios: Experience equips individuals with the skills to bring theoretical concepts to practicality, making them viable, better candidates for the job. 
• A Better Understanding of the Workplace: Experience is a step ahead of the theoretical knowledge acquired in academic settings. It helps individuals know about workplace culture, norms, and other aspects. 
• Networking: People from connections wherever they work. These connections are valuable for problem-solving, career advancements, mentorship, job referrals, etc.
• Problem-solving Abilities: Practical life also teaches individuals to find innovative solutions to problems, something that can’t be acquired from books.

However, in places like entry-level job positions, internships, and tech startups, formal work experience isn’t the primary requisite. It is good to have but not mandatory.

Some people have 10 years of experience, and others have 1 years of experience repeated 10 times.

The implications of these findings suggest that most organizations would benefit from changing a few things about their hiring practices. The first would be to de-emphasize “work experience” as a magic number of years before consideration, or at least widen the range of years requested. 

The second would be to design interviews to more effectively capture information about knowledge, skills, and abilities. Add more behavioral or situational interview questions and perhaps even work simulations. And, of course, I’m a big fan of incorporating probationary trials and allowing future teammates to have a bigger say in the hiring process.

The implications for job seekers are a little more nuanced. If you’re looking at a job description and on the cusp of the required years of experience listed, it may be worth applying anyway and trusting a well-designed resume and well-phrased cover letter to make a case for why you’re qualified. And if you receive an interview, be prepared to argue why your years of experience present a more diverse set of experiences than other candidates.

Overall, the biggest implication is that work experience isn’t a worthwhile proxy.

And experience tells me it never was.

How to Gain Work Experience?

Some common ways to gain first-time experience include volunteer work or internships, part-time jobs, apprenticeships, freelancing, and full-time positions.

In all these work roles, you will get acquainted with the actual professional setup and gain life skills that will shape your personality and help you in your work life.

The Way Forward

When you have no prior work experience, getting a job is hard, though not impossible. Here are a few tips that rank you higher on the employers’ list:

• Create a targeted resume tailored to the position with all the skills and experience required for the post.
• Give precise examples of how your skills and capabilities are related to the job.
• Keep your LinkedIn profile updated with a professional photo and showcase all your skills, accomplishments, and academic qualifications.
• Attend all events, such as seminars or professional networking events, where you can talk to industry professionals and form new connections.

Wrap Up

We cannot deny that work experience is crucial for career success. Still, the extent of its importance depends on the type of job or industry you are entering or your circumstances. 

The key is to balance experience, education, skills, and adaptability to different scenarios, and you can land your dream job.