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When recruiting, do you give a full attention to the candidates study certificate or to their experience ?

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Question added by Ahmed Fawzy , Office Manager & Personal Assistant to CEO , Al Khodari Co.
Date Posted: 2017/03/21
Kalyan  P
by Kalyan P , Lead HR , IT Product Services

  1. For entry level positions, academic certificate has more significance

  2. But for middle & top management, more weightage is given to  "experience" rather than certificates

Chayanika Misra
by Chayanika Misra , Founder , Rookiekart

You have to balance it out, really. A seasoned recruiter would have to build a knack of hiring the right candidate, who would ideally have a blend of knowledge, skills and abilities.

Education, particularly from prestigious academic institutions, are sometimes considered a leverage point because it requires grit, determination and high IQ to be able to crack that merit list. And this definitely gives brownie points for the candidate to be considered at least for a discussion.

 

Experience brings maturity and context. This is very important in decision making roles.

 

Only one of the below 3 scenarios will prevail. One just has to eliminate and keep moving:

 

1. Great academic background with zero experience: Unless it's a decision making role, invite the candidate for an IQ and EQ assessment. If he/she fares really well, you know he/she will do pick up skills very fast. Green.

 

2. Average academic background with relevant experience: Can definitely be called for an interview. Green.

 

3. Average academic background with little to no experience (or with no "quality" experience: A definite no. Red.

 

4. Great acads with relevant experience: Call this person immediately before someone else hires him!

 

 

Duncan Robertson
by Duncan Robertson , Strategy Consultant , Duncan Robertson Consultancy

Neither.

Or rather, you are asking the wrong question.  Education and experience are both important of course, but they are only part of the picture.  Its a bit like asking of a football team, "Which is more important, the goalkeeper or the striker?" 

Or two put it another way, you have a choice of two candidates.  One has very good experience and education, and the other has adequate experience and education.  The first one is late for the interview, appears uninterested in your questions and has no questions of their own. The second is enthusiastic and keen to learn, and talks excitedly about where they and the role might be in two years time.  Which will you hire?

Obaid ur Rehman
by Obaid ur Rehman , HR Executive , Al Bahr Al Arabi Marine Engineering Services

I do pay attention to every detail mentioned in CV because for sure everything written on CV is much worthy for the candidate.

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