Climbing the career ladder: Work Experience vs. Endless Academia

[oncall-engineer]

As the job market grows more competitive, many people wonder whether to start in an entry-level role and work their way up or to pursue more education, like a master’s degree, while waiting for better opportunities.

My view is simple: real technical skills and hands-on experience are far more valuable than piling up academic credentials. There’s a thin line between meaningful study and avoiding the realities of the job market.

Think about it: a 35-year-old with a master’s but little work experience competing with someone who started an apprenticeship at 20 and has spent 15 years mastering their craft. In most situations, the experienced worker wins—they have industry knowledge, networks, and financial stability. They’ve solved real problems, not just written papers about them.

I’m especially wary of people who stay in school into their 30s without ever holding a serious job. At some point, it stops looking like learning and starts looking like avoidance. Employers don’t just want degrees—they want competence, practical skill, and the ability to deliver.

Of course, some professions require formal qualifications. But in most industries, experience is king. What do you think—does real-world experience outweigh academic credentials, or is extended education still worth it?

 

[NintendoSwitch]

As the job market becomes increasingly competitive, many people struggle with the decision of whether to take on an entry-level job and work their way up or to pursue further education, such as a master’s degree, while waiting for better job opportunities.

I firmly believe that acquiring real-world technical skills and gaining hands-on experience in solving practical problems is far more valuable than accumulating theoretical knowledge in academia. While education has its place, there is a fine line between meaningful learning and using it as a way to delay facing the realities of the job market.

Consider this scenario: A 35-year-old with a master’s degree but little work experience competes against a person who started an apprenticeship at 20 and has been honing their craft for 15 years. In most cases, the latter will have greater industry expertise, professional networks, and financial stability. They have been exposed to real-world challenges and refined their problem-solving abilities, while the academic has primarily engaged in classroom discussions and research papers with limited real-world application.

I’m particularly skeptical of people who continue studying well into their 30s without ever holding serious jobs. At some point, it looks less like a commitment to learning and more like avoiding the harsh realities of the working world. Employers don’t just look at degrees—they value competency, practical knowledge, and the ability to deliver results.

Of course, some careers (medicine, law, engineering) require formal education, but for most industries, experience is king. What are your thoughts? Do you think work experience outweighs academic credentials, or do you see value in extended higher education?

Depends on the company. Some can afford to pay million to hire jlb to monitor and dat ish their sole jod.

 

[louisoh]

study? nay... dun apply nowadays.
gen z dun wan to work 9-5 anymore. everyone has a degree anyways.
It's all about being influencers, youtubers, etc.

meritocracy? nay.. bosses can promote whoever they like. regardless of merits.
oh u wan a promotion? wat are your top achievements last yr? what new stuff can u take up to expan your portfolio, etc..
meanwhile, bosses promote the one who licks well without any contribution.

Thus, most important is to have the right connections.. tat is the fastest way up the corporate ladder.

 

[mynickname]

Emba is normally a company sponsored masters ultimately for you to network

Everything else is just bs

 

[Medicated Oil]

No thoughts.
You are just a rat at the end of the day.
The company will decide who they want to employ.
Maybe it is just they like your face.
What we think does not really matter.
Who are we kidding ?
The system dun run on how you viewed the world.

 

[newbie3214]

As the job market becomes increasingly competitive, many people struggle with the decision of whether to take on an entry-level job and work their way up or to pursue further education, such as a master’s degree, while waiting for better job opportunities.

I firmly believe that acquiring real-world technical skills and gaining hands-on experience in solving practical problems is far more valuable than accumulating theoretical knowledge in academia. While education has its place, there is a fine line between meaningful learning and using it as a way to delay facing the realities of the job market.

Consider this scenario: A 35-year-old with a master’s degree but little work experience competes against a person who started an apprenticeship at 20 and has been honing their craft for 15 years. In most cases, the latter will have greater industry expertise, professional networks, and financial stability. They have been exposed to real-world challenges and refined their problem-solving abilities, while the academic has primarily engaged in classroom discussions and research papers with limited real-world application.

I’m particularly skeptical of people who continue studying well into their 30s without ever holding serious jobs. At some point, it looks less like a commitment to learning and more like avoiding the harsh realities of the working world. Employers don’t just look at degrees—they value competency, practical knowledge, and the ability to deliver results.

Of course, some careers (medicine, law, engineering) require formal education, but for most industries, experience is king. What are your thoughts? Do you think work experience outweighs academic credentials, or do you see value in extended higher education?

You're right.

I have several friends who never found a job after graduating. They continued to pursue their Masters and some of them, a PhD. All of them did so because they wanted an easy life and to delay adulting.

Notably, none of them were particularly smart or top of the class, be it in secondary school, JC, or uni. They were all average students.

The top performers go out and work, securing good jobs in MNCs and top civil service departments.

 

[oncall-engineer]

You're right.

I have several friends who never found a job after graduating. They continued to pursue their Masters and some of them, a PhD. All of them did so because they wanted an easy life and to delay adulting.

Notably, none of them were particularly smart or top of the class, be it in secondary school, JC, or uni. They were all average students.

The top performers go out and work, securing good jobs in MNCs and top civil service departments.

I think the B students usually suffer the most. The A students have their beautiful ladder laid out. The C students don’t have a choice and usually do what’s needed to survive.

The B students who have some money, decide to delay adulting.

 

[SkyNinja]

Scholar auto promote every 2 to 3 years

 

[cosmothecat]

Studying no use nowadays

AI rendering degrees useless

 

[Shion]

meritocracy does not exist in society

 

[zhoholang]

As the job market becomes increasingly competitive, many people struggle with the decision of whether to take on an entry-level job and work their way up or to pursue further education, such as a master’s degree, while waiting for better job opportunities.

I firmly believe that acquiring real-world technical skills and gaining hands-on experience in solving practical problems is far more valuable than accumulating theoretical knowledge in academia. While education has its place, there is a fine line between meaningful learning and using it as a way to delay facing the realities of the job market.

Consider this scenario: A 35-year-old with a master’s degree but little work experience competes against a person who started an apprenticeship at 20 and has been honing their craft for 15 years. In most cases, the latter will have greater industry expertise, professional networks, and financial stability. They have been exposed to real-world challenges and refined their problem-solving abilities, while the academic has primarily engaged in classroom discussions and research papers with limited real-world application.

I’m particularly skeptical of people who continue studying well into their 30s without ever holding serious jobs. At some point, it looks less like a commitment to learning and more like avoiding the harsh realities of the working world. Employers don’t just look at degrees—they value competency, practical knowledge, and the ability to deliver results.

Of course, some careers (medicine, law, engineering) require formal education, but for most industries, experience is king. What are your thoughts? Do you think work experience outweighs academic credentials, or do you see value in extended higher education?

Some job with certification and master / PHD easier to promote faster

 

[coyote]

As the job market becomes increasingly competitive, many people struggle with the decision of whether to take on an entry-level job and work their way up or to pursue further education, such as a master’s degree, while waiting for better job opportunities.

I firmly believe that acquiring real-world technical skills and gaining hands-on experience in solving practical problems is far more valuable than accumulating theoretical knowledge in academia. While education has its place, there is a fine line between meaningful learning and using it as a way to delay facing the realities of the job market.

Consider this scenario: A 35-year-old with a master’s degree but little work experience competes against a person who started an apprenticeship at 20 and has been honing their craft for 15 years. In most cases, the latter will have greater industry expertise, professional networks, and financial stability. They have been exposed to real-world challenges and refined their problem-solving abilities, while the academic has primarily engaged in classroom discussions and research papers with limited real-world application.

I’m particularly skeptical of people who continue studying well into their 30s without ever holding serious jobs. At some point, it looks less like a commitment to learning and more like avoiding the harsh realities of the working world. Employers don’t just look at degrees—they value competency, practical knowledge, and the ability to deliver results.

Of course, some careers (medicine, law, engineering) require formal education, but for most industries, experience is king. What are your thoughts? Do you think work experience outweighs academic credentials, or do you see value in extended higher education?

Do both. Work hard and obtain higher qualifications. You already knew both help in career somewhat. The hands-on guy may get bottlenecked when he gets to higher and higher positions where some jobs requires PhD and etc. Having hands ons and experience is important to get ahead start also.

Definitely good to have both. This is like the only positive thread we see in edmw for a long time. The rest of day in day out of whinnings.

 

[oncall-engineer]

Do both. Work hard and obtain higher qualifications. You already knew both help in career somewhat. The hands-on guy may get bottlenecked when he gets to higher and higher positions where some jobs requires PhD and etc. Having hands ons and experience is important to get ahead start also.

Definitely good to have both. This is like the only positive thread we see in edmw for a long time. The rest of day in day out of whinnings.

Thanks, you’re completely right. Do both.

 

[congster2]

As the job market grows more competitive, many people wonder whether to start in an entry-level role and work their way up or to pursue more education, like a master’s degree, while waiting for better opportunities.

My view is simple: real technical skills and hands-on experience are far more valuable than piling up academic credentials. There’s a thin line between meaningful study and avoiding the realities of the job market.

Think about it: a 35-year-old with a master’s but little work experience competing with someone who started an apprenticeship at 20 and has spent 15 years mastering their craft. In most situations, the experienced worker wins—they have industry knowledge, networks, and financial stability. They’ve solved real problems, not just written papers about them.

I’m especially wary of people who stay in school into their 30s without ever holding a serious job. At some point, it stops looking like learning and starts looking like avoidance. Employers don’t just want degrees—they want competence, practical skill, and the ability to deliver.

Of course, some professions require formal qualifications. But in most industries, experience is king. What do you think—does real-world experience outweigh academic credentials, or is extended education still worth it?

That means you dont understand what goes on in academia. Trade craft and academics are different and not comparable.

 

[Perishable]

Experience is more important. Most advanced degrees are a waste of time.

With some exceptions, where further study is necessary etc Specialist Doctors, University Profs.