Education VS Experience: How To Know If Your Career Is On The Right Path!
According to Malaysia’s Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, 48.74% of the 2021 graduating batch of SPM students chose not to further their studies. Mr Money TV on YouTube (quoting The Malay Daily) says this is due to 3 factors that Malaysian youth potentially believe: 1) lack of job availability, 2) the perception that further studies does not grant them better job opportunities, and 3) their desire to become an influencer.
As a result, many of these young individuals are opting to jump straight into the workforce right away. And this may not only be the case for Malaysian youth, but for youth in other countries as well.
For years, this question has been an ongoing debate and is still relevant with each graduating generation every year: does a higher degree get your foot in the door, or does your past work experience count for more?
Thus, welcome to Part 1 of our International Youth Week special: we’re going to find out whether education or experience is more beneficial to your career and which steers you onto the right career path!
The Education Pathway
If you choose education only, you will have to supplement the content you are studying with other worthwhile activities to get the maximum out of your degree. This includes participating in intellectual discourse with your classmates and peers. By being able to brainstorm, debate, and challenge pre-existing notions, your own ideas and conceptions can grow and transform as well.
You will also be able to gain and develop a variety of soft skills such as critical thinking, communication, leadership, problem solving, and innovation, which may not be possible through online self-studying.
In 2018, a report by OECD reports that workers with higher education earn 60% more than those with only a high school diploma. But this may do little to sway the youth who are sticking firm to working right after graduation.
However, Master’s degrees are highly coveted in certain work fields. Some degrees also grant opportunities to gain work experience while you study, already prepping a strong base for entering the workforce for you. So in the long-run, choosing education can grant you higher progression in the workplace.
The Experience Pathway
If you choose experience only, you will have to back up the many months or years of work you will be doing with lots of self-studying. You will have to find your own means to study the content of the work you are aiming for.
You will also need to have the discipline to gain enough knowledge and experience to match what your peers may be learning in higher education. This requires you to be independent, self-sustainable, and even initiative in securing the knowledge you need to acquire for the workforce.
However, if you are not planning to go into a professional corporate business, it is possible to earn money fast through work. But unfortunately, that may only last for a short-term period, especially if you plan to work a low-skilled job first. Such jobs like social media influencing or food delivery drivers are unstable and easily replaceable.
Seeking higher quality job opportunities will be difficult if you lack the qualifications required. Progressing will also be a struggle as you may run into a glass ceiling. But if you are a person who can consistently improve yourself and obtain knowledge to grant you an edge over others (especially business-wise), you may succeed.
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Choosing The Right Path
While each path has its pros and cons, any career decision you make should be for the sake of improving your valuableness.
What employers look for first on your resume, CV, portfolio, or job interviews are relevant things you did in recent years and what kind of person you are now as a result of those years. These include learning skills, leading projects, earning certifications, and participating in other relevant events and work. Both education and experience can help you acquire these when it comes time to face your next job. But ultimately, it depends on you as an individual to secure those qualifications.
Why Is This Important?
Giving our youth a brighter future must first start with giving them the tools to build their own career. They should be able to have equal opportunity to make the changes they wish to see in the world. But sometimes this isn’t possible. Education curriculums in certain schools are not kept up to date with today’s standards. Some families are unable to afford to send their children to higher education. Or other pressing circumstances are standing in the way.
Moreover, self-made influencers and rags-to-riches startups are larger role models for today’s youth than ever before. But through the bright, tempting glamour of fame, it’s often hard to forget that most people venturing into this field of work do not end up successful. Those who do earn some amount of success will often find it difficult to or are unable to constantly maintain their wealth and popularity.
To add on, the landscape of our global workforce is constantly changing and adapting to work trends that may ensure higher rates of success. One such trend is skill-based hiring, which is a recruitment process that pulls focus away from education and shifts it towards a candidate’s skillset. But this trend is still not entirely trusted or broadly implemented in other countries.
That's why it's more crucial now for young generations to understand that attitude is the key. This applies whether they choose education, experience, both, or none.
Being able to progress in life requires one to constantly educate themselves. To develop into a better human being, there must be a lifelong commitment to acquiring knowledge. In some lines of work, that will be much harder than others. And so, decisions must be made wisely - especially for the long-run. But if obtaining education and experience ensures a higher level of progression, there’s no reason not to obtain both, if possible.
That’s why, at Hyred, we understand the value that human talent can provide - inclusive of both your education level and professional experience. We’re always seeking a diverse range of talented, passionate people who believe in the importance of progression and in helping others achieve their career goals too. If you’re interested in onboarding with us, visit our Homepage now to set up a free 30-minute consultation for more information! Or visit our Career page for our full list of open job positions in the SEA region!
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