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Rising Star
Like, I dunno man, you okay...?
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I'd argue that experience counts as a qualification but i know what you mean and I've also worked for stubborn companies where they've felt a masters was the bare minimum for a candidate.
This is always super frustrating to navigate different hiring priorities. I’ve definitely seen great candidates passed over just because they didn’t check every box on paper. I try to keep advocating, even if it feels like talking to a wall. At the end of the day, I still want to hire the right person, not just the most “qualified.” Just keep fighting for it I guess?
Yes!!!
Oh, I totally get where you’re coming from! It’s honestly one of the most frustrating parts of hiring-when you meet these fantastic candidates who absolutely shine in interviews and have real-world experience, but they don’t tick every box on the qualifications list the company insists on. I’ve been there, too, and it can feel like you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place. I always try to advocate for those candidates by sharing specific examples of their skills and how they’d add value, but sometimes leadership just isn’t ready to bend.
Fortunate to be in a position where people really do appreciate my insight with candidates. I do try to tick off the boxes that aren’t being checked with the skills/experience that seems to trump that. I’m not the last deciding factor, but really do try to put in good words and it always says something when they made it that far in anyways.
If experience alone were the only factor that mattered, then by that logic, we should allow serial killers to perform surgeries simply because they might be capable of holding a scalpel. The point is, experience without the right background or qualifications doesn't translate into effectiveness or trustworthiness—especially in fields requiring deep domain knowledge.
While some individuals might succeed in niche roles within fast-paced, hire-and-fire environments, this approach often leads to institutional knowledge gaps and hampers long-term stability.
Ultimately, it’s not just about having either education or experience—it’s the right combination of both that delivers reliable and sustainable results