Qualifications versus experience in the Maltese workplace

Abstract

In this study, I investigated the qualifications versus experience debate within the Maltese employment context. In the context of this study, the term ‘qualifications’ refers to evidence of achievement of a specified level of attainment in certain areas of knowledge (Corpes,2013), while, employment experience refers to the practice and training an employee has had with another employer (Oracle,2014). The main aims of this study were to investigate what makes a person employable to the employer in Malta and what validity is given to qualifications and experience in general and in specific working sectors in Malta. This study used a qualitative research approach. In-depth data was acquired through semi-structured interviews, which were conducted between March 2017 and April 2017, with seven human resources managers and one managing director. Research participants were recruited from the following sectors: IT, banking, social services, research, recruitment, hospitality, insurance and healthcare. The use of thematic analysis allowed the identification of the following themes: employability, recruitment process, weighted selection criteria, newly graduate’s employability, newly graduate’s educational level, soft-skills and experience, over-qualified candidates, unemployment and work placements. Research findings show that although qualifications and experience are important, one's personality and the attitude to work can act as a tiebreaker in a job interview. Thus, it is not so easy to resolve this debate because the outcomes depend upon the role that is vacant. Moreover, employers claimed that job candidates’ involvement in extracurricular activities increases chances of employment. The present study concluded that qualifications are important because with the right qualifications a candidate is half way there. However, one has to learn to adapt what s/he has learnt and put it into practice. In this regard, the present study has also found that although qualifications are important, when one is considered to be over-qualified it can create problems. Lastly, the present study found that having prior work experience can be an advantage, especially in the Information Technology (IT), hospitality and healthcare sectors. Additionally, to prove that experience can be of an advantage, the present study found that employers coming from the IT, social services, insurance, banking and healthcare sectors significantly favour student work placement programmes within their company and some also have agreements with national entities to sustain this. This sociological analysis shows that the qualifications versus experience debate has to be seen in relation to the position and working sector.