I mean what does “experience” amount to besides knowing whose ass to kiss; I can figure that out!
And who needs experience, when I’ve graduated from an elite college with a diverse set of skills, a willingness to learn, and a no-fear attitude towards technology and social media. Shouldn’t that get me the job?</sarcastic Gen Y rant>
I detect this cynicism out there, towards job postings, and towards companies who use “experience” as a barrier to entry-level candidates. Hell, even I feel cynical from time to time, especially with all the doom and gloom out there. It is easy to view work experience is a empty phrase because all it seems to amount to is a few bullet points on a resume. Over the summer, I learned to dismiss some of my cynicism when I got to see exactly how experience translates in the workplace. Allow me to play the devil’s advocate for a minute, because I believe experience IS valuable, though it might be illusive.
Employers look for certain qualities in an applicant, qualities that are primarily fostered by work experience. Time at the workplace fosters organizational skills, for one thing. An experienced worker proves he or she can meet deadlines, keep orderly, and has enough interpersonal savvy and “organizational” knowledge knowledge to turn to the right people when there’s a problem to solve. Not only does time at a job lead to understand other skilled professionals’ job roles, it also helps develop a self-knowledge of your own abilities. This self-perception allows you to contribute to a team quickly, and helps the manager work with you effectively. And there’s no one a manager wants to hire more than someone who makes his/her job easier. Lastly, work experience teaches us to handle ambiguity, and be an open-ended problem solver. At school, we are taught to be rational, analytical and reflective, but the problems in a work environment are ill-defined and require thinking that is creative, uncertain, and action-oriented.
Look back at your past year; have you been illustrating these intangibles? Are you demonstrating organizational skills, teamwork, and a rigorous problem solving style? No? Well then, get back to work.