GMAT Essays (AWA)

The view that formal educational credentials should be the most important factor in hiring employees depends on the job or function in context.
I agree with this view for specialized jobs like that of a doctor or surgeon and don't agree for certain jobs like that of a sales person in a department store or waiter in a restaurant

A formal educational credential should be the most important hiring factor for specialized jobs like that of a doctor or of a surgeon. For these specialized jobs, the applicants must have a formal academic background and training in the specific field prior to taking up the job. Applicants typically go through a rigorous course of studies and training in schools and institutes before practicing these fields. By hiring applicants without a formal educational credential for such jobs, employees can put both the customers and themselves at risk.

A formal educational credential should not the most important hiring factor for certain jobs like that of a sales person in a department store or a waiter in a restaurant. Usually these jobs are filled by students who work part-time for the extra money or by those who cannot afford a formal education or academic qualification due to certain circumstances. For example, a person working at a McDonald need not have a formal educational credential to be able to perform the job. Certain employers of such jobs also provide the necessary training to employees upon hiring

However, there are jobs where an educational credential is not the only important factor in hiring employees. An applicant's past work experience and performance are also important criteria especially when certain skills cannot be taught in a school or institution and can be acquired only while performing a job or function.In such cases, an educational credential can be a useful factor for employers to shortlist or choose between applicants with a a similar work history and aptitude.

To sum, the view that formal educational criteria should be the most important factor in hiring employees depends on the type of job or function.