Poll says business leaders believe that knowledge trumps college pedigree

A telephone survey with 623 U.S. business leaders asked them to rank the level of importance of four different factors companies look for when hiring. These four categories were: the amount of knowledge the candidate has in the field, the candidate's applied skills in the field, the candidate's college or university major, and where the candidate received his or her college degree. The sample for the business leader study was nationally representative of businesses in the United States.

The survey was then conducted on average American adults, and it was discovered that the American adult population generally agrees with the opinions of business leaders in terms of the importance of knowledge and applied skills in the field. About eight in 10 U.S. adults believed that knowledge and applied skills in the field were very important factors to consider when they looked for qualifications to hire a candidate.

The average American, however, rates the candidate's college major and where the candidate received his or her degree as higher in importance than business leaders do. Nearly half of U.S. adults surveyed said that a candidate's college or university major is very important to hiring managers, and 30% said that where the candidate received his or her college degree is very important.

The conclusions drawn from the findings of this survey are that the business leaders claim that where a person gets a college degree and what their major is isn't as important as their level of skill and knowledge in a particular field when it comes to hiring for jobs. Nowadays, colleges are becoming more and more competitive and high school students are having to work harder and harder to be the applicant that these colleges are looking to accept. The workplace is as ruthless as ever, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to find a suitable job. Applicants to colleges and applicants to jobs both need qualifications, and many people these days work hard at making their application or resume the perfect, cookie-cutter shaped application that these people are looking for. However, they fail to realize the importance of experience. It is now experience that will distinguish you from other candidates for a college or a job. The experience you have will be what marks you as a potentially successful candidate.