• Replies 8 replies
  • Subscribers 16 subscribers
  • Views 16037 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related

Should we disregard educational qualifications in the recruitment process?

Steve Bridger

Admittedly a provocative title... but yesterday I read Neil Morrison's blog post - Qualifying success - in which he writes:

I’m currently in-between receiving A-level results and GCSEs for my two kids. Having been through the exam period with them and now awaiting results, I’m reminded how frankly barbaric this process is. As a means of assessing potential and capability, it ranks up there with Russian roulette.

Neil is a CIPD board member and I have always enjoyed reading his views. This one hits home as I also have a daughter who will receive her GCSE results on Thursday morning. It has been a stressful 12 months... but how much should it matter?

Neil again...

As a long standing champion of disregarding educational qualifications in the recruitment process, I believe business has a big role to play in changing this dialogue. Our job is to identify potential, to seek out talent and to build capability – yet we know that there is no direct correlation between this an academic results or educational establishment. This is why not only should we fundamentally limit the use of academic qualifications in assessment, but we should be open and clear that we do.

Do you agree?

How much weight do you currently give to academic qualifications?

Has your view changed over time?

Parents
  • Hi Steve,

    20 years ago GCSE’s were for the many, A-levels for the few, and degrees even fewer. Now unfortunately due to the degrading of the value of education GCSE's are only useful as a lead-in to level 3 learning (A levels or similar) and level 3’s have become the baseline.

    Personally I still think there is a place for any education. There are professions where ‘proof’ that you know your stuff at a high level is essential (eg: degrees for teaching, medicine, law) but otherwise it shows that you can work at a specific level and are able to learn.
Reply
  • Hi Steve,

    20 years ago GCSE’s were for the many, A-levels for the few, and degrees even fewer. Now unfortunately due to the degrading of the value of education GCSE's are only useful as a lead-in to level 3 learning (A levels or similar) and level 3’s have become the baseline.

    Personally I still think there is a place for any education. There are professions where ‘proof’ that you know your stuff at a high level is essential (eg: degrees for teaching, medicine, law) but otherwise it shows that you can work at a specific level and are able to learn.
Children
No Data