I can't say I agree with you there SSG.
We've hired pilots with very diverse backgrounds and this has made it clear that experience is very much specific to the type of operation. Hiring someone with little or no experience in the type of operation intended, will require that person to have a good attitude towards learning. In some cases the lessons are just small contrasts, but nevertheless they are lessons and these will need to be taken in to enable the new employee to become part of the group. If there is an attitude problem, this process will become difficult and this is when the pilot is perceived as a john wayne type of pilot (which in our company isn't what were looking for).
/LnS