Experience versus Schooling

No matter how much homework or books you read, experience is most important thing when it comes to hiring. It is very expensive to hire someone without experience, because that person hasn't made any mistakes in their field of work yet. Mistakes cost money. In some instances, the mistakes can be catastrophic enough to shutdown a business. I know I've made many mistakes in my job. Some of them, I could've been fired years ago for. But I've learned from my mistakes and try to train others to prevent the same mistakes. Lucky for me, I work for the government. The pay is not that great, but the job security is sometimes worth it.

The hazards for a company who hires someone without a higher level education sacrafices resourcefulness. Experienced people have a hard time changing the way they do things. Like nurses, it is almost impossible to get them to change. They get so used to how they do things the old way. That's why people should constantly be trained. The newest techniques and skills is hard to learn without proper instruction. That's why it is good to get a second opinion from a younger doctor fresh out of med-school. The younger doctor may know less expensive or invasive techniques for treatment.

Some would argue that institutionalized learning is harmful. I noticed that just because someone has their degree, doesn't mean that they are good at what they major in. Memorized formulas and equations are easily forgotten, and if they lose practice in their schooling, it is easily forgotten. I believe certifications should speak louder than degrees. Because certifications expire after a while and have to be renewed. Imagine a school eight years long. Are you going to remember the information taught to you in the first or second year? I doubt it. Often times, people cheat on tests and homework to get the score they want or maintain their "GPA". People "burn out" after so many years of school.

School is meant to provide tools and resources. Plus, it provides an environment where you can establish connections with several different types of people just in case you need them in the future. It's called connecting. Here you gain the ability to manage. Also, people who go to school most often end up working for somebody else.

Experience provides a hands-on approach to learning. It involves making mistakes and getting a firm grip on how things are done. Experienced people can save lots of money in the long run and can provide much needed leadership. Experienced people generally end up becoming entrapreneurs/business owners.

Overall, the combination of both is paramount and the necessity for any one depends on the type of industry or job.
School = Managers
Experience = Leaders