At some point in their life, people face the challenge of entering the job market, hoping to find the desired job. However, there is an ongoing debate about what future employers look for, a university degree or hands-on experience. In my opinion, it all depends on the nature of the job one aspires to.

Thinking about various occupations, it becomes clear that certain jobs require a university degree in a relevant subject from an institution. That is because certain professions require highly specialized knowledge that can only be gained through many years of higher education. Examples of such occupations are doctors and engineers. A nurse with ten years of experience will not become a doctor. On the other hand, in some industries, work experience seems more valuable than a degree. When I was working in a bank, some of our managers, who had only secondary education were promoted to top positions because they knew how the department works inside out. They clearly had an advantage over those with a master’s degree who had just joined the bank. For this example, it is obvious that some jobs require extensive knowledge of the business, and in such cases, the employer is likely to favour those with several years of experience over fresh university graduates.

To conclude, it seems that there is no single path to getting a great job. While a university degree is a prerequisite for some jobs, work experience may be more important for others. Researching the typical requirements for the desired job will help one make the right decision.