Are academic credentials more important than practical experience?

University places and grades are being thrown to the wayside in favour of experience and attitude when it comes to hiring, according to Tanya Lawler, Vice President of eBay UK.

Lawler believes it’s time employers “ditch” the notion of academic accomplishments topping CVs, and instead realised “it’s the person that matters”.

“The value of experience is as old as time. But its value in the fast-changing digital economy is now being given new meaning – particularly by the army of small businesses that are the engine room of the economy – over 200,000 of whom trade on eBay in the UK,” she said.  

“eBay’s own research with YouGov, surveying small business owners across the country, found that the new ideal recruit for a small business doesn’t need to have a degree, or a professional specialism like accountancy or law. In fact, a majority of small businesses surveyed saw a specific degree as “unimportant”.