YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
I SEE A LOT OF ADS REQUIRING WORKERS WITH A ”MINIMUM THREE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE”. WHAT’S SO MAGICAL ABOUT THREE YEARS?
DARREN BUCHANAN MANAGING DIRECTOR, HAYS QUEENSLAND
About three years of experience shows you are able to successfully perform the necessary duties of the vacant role. It is proof that you have succeeded in the past in a similar role and therefore do not require a training period. You can hit the ground running and add value immediately. A few years of experience also demonstrates that you understand the industry, have established some relevant contacts, have real-world experience and are able to be productive. While a lot of roles at the entry level ask for three years of experience, if you only have two or four or five, you can still apply.
SINEAD HOURIGAN BRISBANE DIRECTOR, ROBERT WALTERS
I don’t necessarily think that “three years” is a particularly magical number, but it is often a good indicator of a few things when employers are looking at a candidate for a particular role. It can demonstrate a level of stability in prior employment so that they feel confident in investing in you as an employee. It is also often the point at which people really start to gain a deep understanding of the role they are undertaking. As a general rule of thumb, “three years” is a good indicator of someone’s capacity to add value back to their employer in a meaningful way.
JULIE FORD SENIOR EXECUTIVE CONSULTANT, McARTHUR
I had no idea there was a magic number, let alone three years when it comes to appropriate or required years of experience. Depending on the role, to be able to successfully carry out duties, the employer may need a certain level of experience which can only be gained by performing those duties consistently over a period of time. The most important thing for me is how you are able to demonstrate your competency, which might come from one year or 10 years performing those tasks. Think about the examples you can provide to back your claims in your application.
DR NERIDA HILLBERG DIRECTOR OF PSYCHOLOGY, FERRIS MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS
It is a common view that three years is required to consolidate the KSAs – knowledge, skills and abilities – for a job. Employees acquire a steep curve of KSAs in the first three years in a job, then it tends to plateau. This means there is more of a difference between candidates with one year versus three years of experience than there is comparing candidates with 12 versus 15 years of experience. If you meet all of the other advertised criteria except the years of experience, my advice is to still apply. A polished and convincing cover letter may get you over the line.