Here are some places I think experience counts a lot. Your hairstylist, doctor or dentist are good examples. The new bank teller may be slower and nervous, but you end up satisfied as long as the job gets done right. Waiting a bit longer because someone is inexperienced is a slight inconvience. By the time you go back next week, the teller is doing fine. A bad haircut, or tooth cleaning can take longer and leave mental scars.
In skilled jobs in seems to me that after so many years of doing the job should count towards getting the job. Here is the scenario : you do the job for years and then a position opens up that you apply for. You are told you cannot apply because you don't have the right or necessary degree. It does't matter that you have over twenty years experience and can do the job. So a new person is hired and you help train them. Sucks, right?
All that experience doesn't help you one bit.
Personally, I filled in for the reference librarian twice. Once for six months, and one for three months. I had over twenty-five years of library experience and an English degree, and was assured "they knew I could do the job to fill in and that "they" had great faith in me. However, when I asked if I could apply, NO was all "they" said as I didn't have an MLS and experience didn't count.
Now the county is looking for a new County Administor, again. But they have an interim Administor who is doing the job without complaints and she wants the job. She will have to apply and I wonder just what the qualifications are, and will her experience count?
After a certain time experience should trump a degree!
