Experience Vs Education

Written by cranberrypanda Thursday, 08 December 2011 15:16

Having stumbled across a little nugget of information which stated that 2 thirds of small business value experience over qualifications (and other facts you might not have thought!) a debate was sparked in the office… Do we agree?

Now, let us state now that we are looking at this from a graduate, or equivalent, perspective and with the ever increasing costs of education and the challenges faced by today’s graduates, we can certainly see the case for experience over education, after all, we’re always extolling the virtues of putting your professional experience before your education on your CV.  Having first-hand experience allows you to develop real skills and gain a genuine understanding of working in the big bad world.  It isn’t always about the tasks assigned to you as part of your job, it’s also about social behaviours and team work, so having hands on experience can be invaluable and stands you in good stead for building your knowledge (and career) in a practical manner and at a rate which matches your abilities.  If you prove yourself, you will climb the ranks quickly, rather than being under pressure to learn a lot of theory at a rate set by external forces that may, when it comes down to it, be harder to implement than you thought.

For employers, the benefit surely lies in the fact that the potential candidate has already proven their abilities.  They don’t just talk the talk, they walk the walk. Candidates who can demonstrate relevant (and it has to be relevant!) work experience are often deemed to present less of a threat since their ability to carry out the job has been testified; there is no fear that they might have the knowledge but in reality they don’t have the nouse to action it.

However, being the level-headed and open-minded recruiters that we are (!) we can see the value of taking the education route.   Industry qualifications are specifically designed to deepen your knowledge of a topic and having a solid education can make for a well-rounded individual.  While those taking the education route probably won’t be learning from their own mistakes, they probably are learning from the mistakes of others, which is no bad thing.  Furthermore, practical experience is not always that easy to come by.  Sure, if you know the right people it’s a doddle, but what if you don’t?  If you can’t get the hands-on experience then isn’t education just as valuable an option? (Let’s face it; there are still some companies out there who won’t even look at your CV unless you have a degree, so it surely education still counts for something?)

And for employers, those who place a higher importance on education should benefit from candidates with a (presumably) broader knowledge.  These are candidates who have been taught the ins and outs and should, in theory, know how to handle a situation before it even arises.  Arguably therefore, these candidates would require less training and line management as their knowledge should already be in place.

In essence, education can give you a good grounding and understanding of an industry and mean you enter the job market with more theoretical knowledge, but for many it is hands-on experience and the opportunity to learn by doing which is favoured.  Clearly this isn’t a black and white matter but we’d be interested to hear your opinions. What do (or would) you look at first on a CV, experience of education?  Just enter our poll and tweet us @cranberrypanda to join in the debate.

How to Survive the Office Christmas Party

Written by cranberrypanda Monday, 28 November 2011 12:32

With the party season descending upon as at an alarming rate we thought it only wise to offer our lovely readers some light-hearted advice about how to maintain a professional yet fun demeanour in the wake of all the festive revelry…

"What I don't like about office Christmas parties is looking for a job the next day".

Phyllis Diller, American comedienne

• First and most obviously, always drink responsibly. You might feel the need to have a drink in order to relax in the boss' company, but beware of too many snowballs, there is such a thing as being too relaxed!
• For the ladies - It's winter. It's cold. It's ok to complement your dress with a pair of tights.
• For the guys – don't dance. Unless you are a pro or can successfully carry it off in a humorous, 'I don't take myself too seriously' way, this is a rule you should generally live your life by. Sorry.

 

 

• Don't talk shop. This is your chance to really get to know you colleagues on a personal level, who knows that you might find in common.  Believe it or not, it could be a great opportunity for you to boost your career. (Please note we said personal, that is not the same as intimate.)
• Chill out! Despite our advice above, this is also your chance to let go and show your fun side. Nobody likes an uptight person at a party so even if you don't fancy cracking open the bubbly, at least crack a smile.
• Remember – what goes on at the party stays at the party. Adhere to this and you will go far. (However, if you ‘forget' our advice and find yourself in need of a new job after Christmas, we are always here to help!)

"We had hoped to include an enlightening and humorous tale at this point, but our research seemed to result in a common trend harking back to the standard stationery cupboard/declarations of love/face planting and much ensuing embarrassment. Let this be a lesson in itself."

The boring sober one at the party

And finally, if you are intending to hammer the snowballs and eggnog, make sure you have some Beecham's Resolve waiting for you in the morning!

Cranberry Panda’s guide to beating the post-summer blues

Written by cranberrypanda Tuesday, 18 October 2011 09:27

Yup, it's that time of year again, long gone is the excitement about summer holidays and where you will be ‘this time next week…' only to be replaced with wistful memories of a summer's evening spent supping Pimms and clamouring for the last of the sun.  Sigh.  Have no fear though; we've got some ingenious ideas to help you beat those post-summer blues and gear up for Autumn.*

• Book next year's holiday! It's always nice to have something to look forward to and we're sure experts say it's good for you too. (We don't know which experts, but we're sure they say it.)
• Go for a spray tan. Ok, perhaps this one is more for the girls but still, waking up in the morning with a nice healthy glow makes you feel good. Fact.
• Treat yourself – you've probably got 10 months before you need to start worrying about being ‘beach ready' again so relax, have that donut and enjoy it. Yum.
• If you've got kids, just think, now they're back at school you aren't the one tasked with finding ways to keep them occupied. Ahh the freedom.
• New season = new wardrobe. And new job?!
• Indulge early in festive spirit and visit the Harrods Christmas shop. Ok so it's a little keen but c'mon, it's Christmas, who doesn't love Christmas?!
• Throw yourself into your work as distraction. Well why not? Long lunch breaks in the sun aren't exactly calling. Sorry.

If you've got any other suggestions we'd love to hear them, just tweet @cranberrypanda with #postsummerblues

*Disclaimer: Cranberry Panda cannot guarantee the effectiveness of these ideas. We aren't (quite) miracle workers.

It’s a Cranberry Panda (and OKA Direct) kinda thing!

Written by cranberrypanda Tuesday, 27 September 2011 10:05

When OKA Direct needed to find great people for their ecommerce team they had a chat with us at Cranberry Panda and we were only too happy to help.  Our relationship began way back in 2005 with Miranda Christie (Marketing Director) and when Cranberry Panda launched in 2010, things were immediately reignited when OKA needed help to find a new Online Marketing Director...  

Cranberry Panda quickly stepped up to the challenge and identified Richard Kent (who we’d worked with years ago) as the right person for the role.  With a strong marketing background working with big name brands in the luxury food and jewellery sectors, we knew he’d be a hit with OKA – we do love it when a plan comes together!  Richard was snapped up in just 3 short but sweet weeks.  (Yeh, we’re pretty proud of that!)  

“I was living in the USA and planning on returning to the UK when I received a call from Cranberry Panda! From the initial conversation and throughout the process, the attention to detail shown in understanding my particular situation and requirements was fantastic. I was in constant contact from the initial call right through to the signing of contracts.”

Since January, Richard has worked his magic and OKA have just launched their fabulous new website (www.okadirect.com).  But not all placements come so easily…

Richard needed to find an Ecommerce Manager for his team and given our past relationship with him and OKA this made us the obvious team to call. We searched high and low for the ideal candidate to join Richard’s team and in the process we also helped with determining interview structure and tests to make sure the perfect person was found. Lo and behold, our persistence paid off and OKA’s new ecommerce Manager has been thriving in his role ever since.  Oh, and we were also able to recommend a technical consultant whose company has gone on to build the new OKA site.

“I had interviewed a number of candidates for the role of Ecommerce Manager but none felt quite right. Cranberry Panda demonstrated a deep understanding of our objectives so as not to waste time with simply presenting a high volume of candidates, just those few of the highest calibre. The team were wonderful at helping me make the right decision from a cultural fit point of view. We eventually made an offer which was accepted and we've never looked back.”

In short, we’re proud of our relationship with OKA Direct and we’re pleased we were able to help them.  We value our clients and our candidates equally and it’s this quality which keeps them coming back.  If you’d like us to help you find a candidate, or you think you could do with some advice, feel free to get in touch with Jonathan ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ), Bobby ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or Laura ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).