Your colleague is considering applicants for a position he is trying to fill, and has narrowed them down to two. One applicant has more education but is younger and has little practical experience. The other is older, has less education but has been in the field for a quite a long time. Your colleague is leaning toward the younger applicant because he thinks she is smarter, and will have more energy and vigor in her approach to solving problems. He asks you what you think. What information can you give him regarding the other applicant?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Experts are not distinguished by extraordinary intellect but by a combination of inherent ability and extensive knowledge and experience. Expert knowledge is transformative in that it permits an intuitive approach to approaching problem.. Experts' responses are automatic-well rehearsed, seemingly without thought. This automaticity enables them to process information more quickly and efficiently, and it makes complex tasks routine.
In addition to operating more intuitively and automatically, expert behavior is strategic. Experts have a broader range of strategies, have better strategies than novices, and can better apply them in response to unanticipated problems. Despite showing slower working memory, experts maintain their performance in their areas of expertise, often by relying on external supports, such as notes.
Intuitive and automatic application of a broad range of strategies permits experts to be more flexible than nonexperts. Experts are more open to deviating from formal procedures when they encounter problems. Experts often approach cases in an individualized way, varying their approach with contextual factors, and are sensitive to exceptions.