https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 26 Jun 2026 01:24:29 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-more-important-education-or-experience/page/2#post-2330454 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 13:50:20 +0000 Modern Daisy 2330454@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In my industry you have to have a bachelors degree from a good school, but anything beyond that is completely unnecessary and your earning/career potential is 100% based on experience. But with teaching I know that's different and getting your masters is very important.. It all depends! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-more-important-education-or-experience/page/2#post-2330409 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 13:17:51 +0000 Mae 2330409@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>you need to contact some people with the job you want and ask to do an informational interview with them where you talk about their qualifications and what the position requires/prefers. That way you're not guessing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-more-important-education-or-experience#post-2330369 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 12:59:09 +0000 Mrs D 2330369@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Gosh - this is such a difficult question I think. There are some bare minimum hurdles that point to education - but in reality I think experience is far more important. In my field (accounting) you basically have to have a masters bc of the requirements to be a CPA...that said - in my current role in corporate finance we wont interview someone who doesnt have both a CPA and big 4 firm experience....so its both?</p> <p>As a hiring manager though, I much prefer strong experience to education. You just cant learn the same stuff through books and classrooms that you can from real life experiences. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-more-important-education-or-experience#post-2330363 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 12:49:07 +0000 Pumpkin Pie 2330363@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lion: I don't have experience in this field, but it kind of sounds like you can at least get your foot in the door by experience, and then you can decide whether or not you want to pursue more schooling. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-more-important-education-or-experience#post-2330197 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 10:38:50 +0000 bushelandapeck 2330197@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lion: I also have my MSW and am an LICSW now, working as a clinical social worker in a children's hospital. I would be happy to talk more about my experience with a BSW vs an MSW If it would be helpful! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-more-important-education-or-experience#post-2330180 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 10:25:01 +0000 ShootingStar 2330180@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lion: So in my field it wouldn't matter if it was volunteer or paid. As long as the actual tasks were work-related. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-more-important-education-or-experience#post-2330099 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 09:21:20 +0000 BSB 2330099@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lion: pharmaceutical research </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-more-important-education-or-experience#post-2330058 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 09:03:10 +0000 autumnleaves 2330058@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think grant writing is a key skill for a lot of non-profit jobs - if there is a way to learn more about that through volunteering and doing it or through a certificate program, I would look to get that experience.<br /> Also - I am not sure if you considered it but joining and volunteering with the JLR is a great opportunity to volunteer, connect locally, and develop the skills for your next career. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-more-important-education-or-experience#post-2329838 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 07:16:55 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2329838@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: I should really do that. I hadn't even thought about it! I am not on Linkedin, but now that I am not teaching I probably should be. I am embarrassed to admit I don't really even know how it works haha. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-more-important-education-or-experience#post-2329832 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 07:11:52 +0000 looch 2329832@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lion: I just thought of something else...are you on Linkedin? I think sometimes, it's useful to look up people that you know in the field to see their resumes. Gives me a lot of insight. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-more-important-education-or-experience#post-2329830 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 07:09:04 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2329830@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsLonghorn: Yes, there is a certificate! I am thinking after hearing from everyone that it might be my best option. It leads directly into the full masters program and all of the classes overlap, so it would be a good compromise and I could also take the rest of the classes later. </p> <p>@youboots: @hummusgirl: These are good ideas. Thanks!</p> <p>@Pumpkin Pie: Debt is definitely not an option for us. We would need to save up the cash to pay for each class, so it would likely take quite a long time (hence why I am trying to plan ahead for 5 years down the road haha). I don't know that the difference in pay warrants the degree...it's more whether or not I will be able to get into the field. </p> <p>@bluestriped bee: What field are you in? I should know, but I can't remember!</p> <p>@MamaCate: That is kind of what I was afraid of. The program I am interested in does not have any assistantship options, so that is out. As I have been looking at other financial aid through private scholarships, it looks like they want you to be in school full time, which I can't do while I have my kiddos at home, even if the tuition was fully paid for. </p> <p>@ShootingStar: This is good to know! Do you think that experience as a volunteer would also be beneficial, or do you only mean experience at an entry level position? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-more-important-education-or-experience#post-2329821 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 06:54:45 +0000 regberadaisy 2329821@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it depends in the profession. In my profession a masters is just a piece of paper. Everything is theoretical and they do nothing to prepare you for on the job knowledge. Someone 25 coming out with a masters degree versus someone who's been working for 3 years, likely the one with experience will get hired. And be better at the job.</p> <p>But I think in your profession, a masters makes a lot of sense. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-more-important-education-or-experience#post-2329804 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 06:25:20 +0000 ShootingStar 2329804@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It really depends on the field and what you want to do. In my field having a masters is really common and in my specialization it's pretty much required to get your foot in the door. However, experience trumps degree. If you've been doing this job for several years, we won't care that you don't have the degree. </p> <p>For DH we decided it wasn't worth it for him to finish his masters. He got a masters certificate plus a class or two. In his field a masters can help you get in the door (but not required) and help raise your salary as new grad. But when you get to around 5 years experience it starts to level out. He's now been in his field 8 years and a lack of masters definitely won't hold him back and having it won't increase his earning potential. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-more-important-education-or-experience#post-2329782 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 05:14:51 +0000 MamaCate 2329782@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lion: just to speak to the question of having an employer pay for your degree, in my experience non profits do not typically have the funds for this. In my state you can only get a MSW paid for by the state child welfare agency in exchange for working for them for several years. It is also difficult to find paid internships outside of government agencies like CPS or the VA. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-more-important-education-or-experience#post-2329777 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 04:57:15 +0000 BandDmommy 2329777@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know nothing about social work so I have no idea. Maybe find someone in the field and start networking and figure out what is useful? A lot of companies will pay for you to continue your education if it is the same field. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-more-important-education-or-experience#post-2329748 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 01:58:05 +0000 BSB 2329748@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In my industry, BS degree is usually the minimum but having experience gave me the edge above the rest to get my foot in the door. Now, that I'm here, that is when you can get your masters... And my company will pay for it.</p> <p>But if you want to get a Phd, you can definitely do that and get into my field. </p> <p>For me, my undergrad research and the internships put me a step above others that just had BS degree. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-more-important-education-or-experience#post-2329707 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 23:30:56 +0000 Pumpkin Pie 2329707@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It depends on how much you think the master's degree can get you. Will going to school put you in a lot of debt? If so, I'd probably go with experience. Although I think the education is important, I don't think its worth going into high debt, especially if you have a family, unless you were sure your income would be greater than the debt+interest. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-more-important-education-or-experience#post-2329703 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 23:06:28 +0000 hummusgirl 2329703@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Agree with the suggestions to talk to people at the organizations you want to work for. You can probably find an appropriate contact on their website or by calling, and see if you can take this person to lunch or coffee to learn more about their career path and what they're looking for. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-more-important-education-or-experience#post-2329693 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 22:35:00 +0000 youboots 2329693@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Could you do some informal interviews with a few target companies? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-more-important-education-or-experience#post-2329659 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 21:56:08 +0000 MrsLonghorn 2329659@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lion: is there a certificate like this that you could get without the full masters? If so, I say go for that. If not, I say experience.</p> <p>I have spent my career (except for my first year out of undergrad) in the nonprofit field. However, I am not a social worker. I have found in multiple interviews that people care much more about my experience than my academic credentials. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-more-important-education-or-experience#post-2329646 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 21:42:01 +0000 Miss Ariel 2329646@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lion: it's possible, although it may be hard to find one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-more-important-education-or-experience#post-2329492 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 19:56:33 +0000 Meowkers 2329492@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lion: California </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-more-important-education-or-experience#post-2329466 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 19:38:23 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2329466@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaCate: I will wall you! There are a couple organizations I have in mind that I would love to work for, there just haven't been any openings for me to be able to see what the requirements would be. You might have some insight! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-more-important-education-or-experience#post-2329461 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 19:36:24 +0000 MamaCate 2329461@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lion: I have my MSW and would be happy to chat more about the different types of things you can do with and without a masters. I work in early childhood mental health and we work closely with the child welfare system. Wall me if you want to chat more.</p> <p>With a BA in education you could be hired for our case management staff without additional experience. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-more-important-education-or-experience#post-2329444 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 19:24:01 +0000 MrsH 2329444@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You'll never regret getting more education. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-more-important-education-or-experience#post-2329434 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 19:18:35 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2329434@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh wow! No wonder I don't know what to do haha :)</p> <p>I have tried researching job openings, but haven't found any that would be a good fit. Any that I have found either require a masters or say that a masters is preferred, but none of them are exactly what I want to do. </p> <p>There is a graduate certificate associated with the masters program I am looking at, and it consists of 4 classes that are all part of the masters. So if I did the certificate classes and later decided I needed/wanted the masters I could always go back for more. Going into debt for school isn't an option for us, so we would need to scrap together the cash, which would be slow going with me only working part time from home. We could make it happen, but it would be a pretty big sacrifice, and I don't want to invest my time and money if it isn't necessary. </p> <p>@Meowkers: This is really interesting. What state are you in?</p> <p>@Miss Ariel: Do you think this is true for non-profits as well? </p> <p>Thanks everyone! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-more-important-education-or-experience#post-2329285 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 17:19:24 +0000 Eko 2329285@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely experience. I think that if you gain the experience that would allow you to perform the duties of the job an employer would look past having the education. My dad is a financial manager, supervising employees that have master and bachelor degrees, making good money, and only has a high school diploma. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-more-important-education-or-experience#post-2329281 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 17:16:11 +0000 Miss Ariel 2329281@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There are companies that will pay for your education. So you could potentially get an entry level position and have them pay for your masters to be eligible for a promotion. Of course that would require working and being in school at the same time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-more-important-education-or-experience#post-2329275 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 17:05:09 +0000 Meowkers 2329275@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My brother is a social worker but does not have a masters degree. He worked as a social worker's assistant for a few years, after which time he accrued enough hours to be certified as a social worker himself. So in his case, the master's level education was unnecessary. Not sure if this is an option in all states. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-more-important-education-or-experience#post-2329269 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 16:57:58 +0000 Greentea 2329269@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I voted experience, you can always add the masters on! (Never too late.) With experience you are directly there and you'll also gain insight into whether you like/dislike the field. </p>