Education versus Experience

[RakiaTaylor]

Which do you think is more important, in this day and age, when the youth is much more lazy than previous generations.

[pirewolf]

I think both are important, but neither are the most important now a days. Any one can learn given enough time, I would say most important is the actual want to work and not just to get a pay check. I think most of the problem is that it is hard to fire people now a days even it they are not trying. So experience doesn't mean that much if the experience is the result of them not being fired when they should have been. Education also is not that important if it is because with no kid left behind graduating high school doesn't mean as much as before, some kids are just passed to make the school look good. (My mother in law is a teacher so I know that is true.) And college should also not be counted for everything, because of people like me that could not afford in any way to go. I do great work, because I learn fast and I am very driven. However we can only afford for my husband to go to college first, it is more important for his job. I think the actual drive will always make the best workers. You want someone willing to follow your rules and can learn fast.

[tssoutha]

Experience is way better. Anybody can make it through college classes without actually learning anything important. Experience is the best way to learn and prove that you know what you're doing.

[diala84]

In my opinion it has been experience hands down. My education has gotten me nowhere. That isn't always the case I mean if you train to be a doctor the degree is very important but for most other jobs experience is key to getting hired. I've tried to get better paying jobs and in most cases I was turned down for someone with more experience. Job postings almost always require previous experience. How can you get the experience if you can't get hired for a position. I guess you can volunteer your time but that takes away from the time you could have a job to make ends meet. If experience is so important you would think more degree programs would have a apprenticeship like program where you can earn money learning a job while you get your education.   

[Thesaboteur]

Depends how you live. Education is to help society progress. Experience is from survival. Education (like math) can help progress a society and construct wonders and what not. Suvival experience is... for survival. Like chewing on that plant that gave you... some weird disease. You learn to avoid it.

[hawkeye3210]

Experience is the key.  Education can only help get your foot in the door.

[Flackle]

In my world view, there is no difference in education and experience. If you go through college without ever actually doing what your planning on doing then how can that be educational? If you spend all your time reading and writing, then your career better involve a lot of reading and writing because that is all your going to be able to do simply because that is what your experienced at doing (that is what you where educated on). On the other hand, experience is nothing short of educational.

[Joeyramone]

$140,000 in student loan debt for a useless degree in Communications isn't the way to go in this day and age.  You would be better off going to a trade school and learning an applied trade.  An education can open some doors, but experience and actual knowledge is far more valuable.

[sak4kat]

This ? is bound to stir up some controversy.  I'm a believer in experience.   In most cases.  There always are circumstances where a college education is poignant.  Not everybody has time or money to get them into a college.  In that case local libraries and the internet hold a wealth of knowledge that can compare to that of college textbooks.  True that a large population of today's youth is lacking in effort.  It is sad that they are complacent and satisfied with that lifestyle.  Not everybody is meant to be a manager, a lawyer or have a doctrine.  For those that are I believe certainly need a college education to back it up.  There are hundreds of other positions though that experience should suffice. 

[GramPolly3]

I think a healthy dose of both is most important for balance in life and in employment. If you can't read and comprehend your employment opportunities are few and far between. Whether it is basic education or higher education, the discipline of it makes it worthwhile.
Experience gained outside of formal education but complementary to it is a combination we should value.

Unfortunately, the education system in our country is so behind what the rest of the world does. This has to change first.

It seems to me that the work ethic that has sustained and improved our country has gone missing along with the jobs.

[candyterrius]

Experience is the real deal working through trial and error. I personally feel the actual experience help me to develop and learn a lot faster than going to school. Education only gives me knowledge without the raw hands on experience.

[trucktina]

In my world view, there is no difference in education and experience. If you go through college without ever actually doing what your planning on doing then how can that be educational? If you spend all your time reading and writing, then your career better involve a lot of reading and writing because that is all your going to be able to do simply because that is what your experienced at doing (that is what you where educated on). On the other hand, experience is nothing short of educational.

I'm not the biggest fan of education in lieu of experience, but it's the best route for certain types of learners. You can learn critical thinking and discipline.

[ancmetro]

       Education first, then experience. The real problem is "you cannot learn everything in a classroom". You have to go out there in the real world and learn from your own experience or that of others.

[frozenimage]

Experience is much needed than education. understanding the concept is one thing, but to know how to do something will help influence your employers choice of actually choosing you.

[sarabtrayior]

Well, both are important and education used to be more important, however, I have the education, but am disabled and unable to work but the Experience would not have helped me any more because of the disability, so I have no answer to your question.