How essential is experience?

Denerick

If a job description states that 4-5 years of experience in a particular role makes you eligible for the job, is there ever any leeway? For example, would they pass a blind eye at three or even consider someone with only two years?

What is your experience of this?

Delancey

It depends entirely on the position and the employer TBH. In my experience Public Sector employers are much less flexible than private sector for instance.

seanmc1980

in my experience its very subjective. I put the parameters of x experience and y education just too weed out people applying who are grossly under qualified for the position. after that its just down to a feeling you get from a CV, someone might have a great qualification with little experience so you give them a chance of an interview, or someone mightn't have the years experience but the experience they do have is of high quality.

as i said its all subjective

Eoin

Denerick wrote: »

If a job description states that 4-5 years of experience in a particular role makes you eligible for the job, is there ever any leeway? For example, would they pass a blind eye at three or even consider someone with only two years?

What is your experience of this?

There's nearly always leeway in a job spec. For example, nearly every job I've applied for (and gotten) has specified that the candidate must have a degree, which I don't have.

If they break the requirements down into essential and desired, that might help you figure out how high up the list it is - but even still, I'd send in my CV - you never know if there's something else you've done that might make want to interview you.

allibastor

i have to agree with EOIN, i have gotten a good few jobs and interviews even though i did not have the required experience. just make sure you tailor your cv to match exactly what the job requires in as much as you can. some companies put too much work into looking at years experience. in my opinion if someone has loads of years at a particular job they either must really love it or not be that impressive at it.

Wishbone Ash

Delancey wrote: »

IIn my experience Public Sector employers are much less flexible than private sector

The Public Sector is much more obliged to be fair to all applicants compared to the private sector and it is also much more prone to appeals/objections about any such perceived inequality.

allibastor wrote: »

in my opinion if someone has loads of years at a particular job they either must really love it or not be that impressive at it.

I realise it's your opinion but it is a strange way of looking at it. The most senior position in our organisation was held by the same person from the 1930's to the 1970's. Surely you could hardly argue that a manager who manages over 1,000 staff for almost 40 years isn't very impressive at it?

allibastor

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

The Public Sector is much more obliged to be fair to all applicants compared to the private sector and it is also much more prone to appeals/objections about any such perceived inequality.

I realise it's your opinion but it is a strange way of looking at it. The most senior position in our organisation was held by the same person from the 1930's to the 1970's. Surely you could hardly argue that a manager who manages over 1,000 staff for almost 40 years isn't very impressive at it?

as you said, they are the most senior position in your company, where else can they go???? only way up when you are at the top is off. most people when they get to senior level will have to move companies to get promotion, i say most. and this is done usually at head hunting level.

the OP has stated he has limited experience so i do not think he is at the top , just yet anyhow.

also yes, it is my experience that if someone has been doing the same job for years they either love it or are not good impressive enough at it to move forward. its not a bad thing to be at the same level for years, some people are more career advancement orientated that others is all.

Wishbone Ash

allibastor wrote: »

as you said, they are the most senior position in your company, where else can they go????

Plenty of grades at a higher level within the same organisation but not in the same physical location that he was managing.

allibastor

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Plenty of grades at a higher level within the same organisation but not in the same physical location that he was managing.

well again, you did say it was the most senior position within your company did you not. and being as it was the most senior in a location where he obviously wanted stay then he did in fact not have much higher to go. a change in location is a big factor when looking at movement in a company.