In the technology field, do you think employers put too much a significance on someone having experience?

School training is great but real life experience is so much better.  Someone who has gone through an internship or volunteered to gain real life experience is so valuable. I am Microsoft Certified and truthfully I just learned to memorize actions not the why of the programs.  Technology is changing everyday too.  By the time I finished my degree a new Micro soft office program had already been released! 

I am in the technology field, and I can tell you that I could care less about training if there is no practical application of it.   If I see certifications that are credible and a work history that aligns with the kind of work the candidate needs on my project, that goes much farther than recent training in terms of qualification.

Experience is everything for the intelligent, capable person.  It shows also that the person can adapt to the changing tech, which is about the only guarantee you get in the tech business (that it becomes obsolete as soon as too many people get good at it.)

In the fast growing field of technology, it is absolutely essential to stay on top of new developments pertinent to your business...whether it's about efficiency or product development. You are only as good as your last product...so don't be left behind!

The field of technology is always evolving and companies strive to keep up. So when applying for a job in the tech industry, companies are looking for young talented college candidates that can bring a new twist to the industry. Even though someone might have many years of experience, a less experienced individual may view a problem from a different perspective, bringing fresh and creative ideas to the table.  Employers not only rely on experience when hiring, but a combination of competency and creative thinking, which a less accomplished individual may bring to the table.

I look at it from a different perspective. Imagine your a client of the employer. Do you want to know that the people engaged in efforts on your business are straight out of college, where they have no real world experience on what they do impacts your success? 

I would hire an experienced technology advocate with passion and drive before I ever hired someone simply because they have a degree next to their name, and if I work with someone, I care more about their experience then what college they went to or what degree they attained. 

IT moves too fast these days to believe that a college degree delivers enough for what the future holds. 

The education and wisdom that comes from experiencing failure and success in the real world realm, and understanding the unintended consequences of what technology introduces to be a part of your business success is something graduating from college doesn't deliver. 

Large companies hire folks directly out of college, and in their cases, these new folks often partner with the experienced leaders to help them gain the experience they need to succeed. 

I'm not in technology field but the experience tells you something important:

work ethic, productivity, attendance, ability to work with others, leadership, productive attitude, demeanor with customers, etc.

The fact that someone has a degree in a particular field indicates that they have been in school and not necessarily in the field gaining experience. Imagine the frustration a straight A student must feel (after graduating at the top of their class) when they discover they don't have enough experience because instead, they spent 5 or 6 years in college getting a Masters Degree. The programs that are in play right now are changing constantly, and learning in the field is easy compared to what one must do in college. I'd say get someone smart who is adaptable and let them learn the programs as they go along! After all this isn't some secret club or society — life takes us where it will and most people have the strength and ability to learn!

 Hiring  inexperienced employees can work well if, you have leadership that is great at mentoring and guiding. You should always have a good balance between responsible experienced leadership and unexperienced new hirees. 

I think "experience versus training" is irrelevant. Both are methods of learning and/or acquiring knowledge. The most important thing needed to survive and thrive in technology work is the ability to continually gain new knowledge. Let's face it, both training and experience have a short shelf life. The individual that can face each day eager to gain new experience and self-train will be the best employee.

Regarding the question of experience.....I have been working in film and video since 1977.  (30 of those years in Hollywood.)  I have found that creating moving images is a very different world than it was even 5 years ago. Anyone interested in film making today has probably been doing it since they got their first phone!  I think the real question about experience is what kind of experience is an employer looking for?  Knowing the technology, working with others, or knowing how to show up on time.