What do you call a person who learned something a long time ago and now is at the same level in that skill as a beginner would be?
Guy isn’t a novice. He isn’t a veteran either. He was proficient in the skill long time back and can quickly (way faster than a beginner for sure) get to the same proficiency level again, given sufficient resources.
Update: I’m looking for a formal word. Rusty suggested by Dan is perfect. So is old hand. Is there a word that can used to describe the above person in a professional context?
The OP has asked me to post my comment as an answer.
If the future employee had several years of experience in the trade, he is still experienced; if several years have passed since he was last employed, then I’d say “formerly skilled”, “previously trained”, “semi-skilled”, or “in need of retraining”.
In England we would simply say he was out of practice.
This meets your requirements perfectly: it expresses that the person is not currently proficient, but that they used to be, and that their current lack of aptitude is simply a result of having not practised, rather than through any shortcomings that they might have. It is therefore very polite.
out of practice: not currently proficient in a particular activity or skill through not having exercised or performed it for some time.
“he was out of practice at interrogation”
synonyms: rusty, unpractised
Source: Oxford Dictionaries (accessed March 16, 2016)
This person can be called an erstwhile expert, which suggests that the person used to be proficient, but is currently not anymore.
erstwhile – former; of times past (dictionary.com)
Actually, I’d argue that the guy IS a veteran – as Dan Bron would say, a rusty veteran in need of a refresher course.
The term old hand describes a person with lots of experience at something. It would usually denote a person who is still good at whatever he does. However, in the proper context, I think it could describe someone who has lost some of his skills with time. For example,
He was an old hand at cattle herding but hadn’t sat on a horse in twenty years.
There’s probably a better word that doesn’t require the same attention to context, but I haven’t thought of it yet. It appears that some people use the term veteran beginner to describe such a person, though that might be a little confusing for some people.
P.S. If this person is being retrained, she or he could be described as a retrainee. Or you could describe them as a “potential retrainee.”
false beginner might fit what you’re looking for.
If you are a beginner or a false beginner, you must acquire first the basic notions which will allow you to reach the intermediate level.
We also say false beginner for a language student who has forgotten much of what s/he previously learned.
A remedial learner might be another way to express this. (emphasis is mine.)
One word often used is lapsed.
This is particularly used for professions where certification is required to practice and a regular test or experience is required to retain the certificate. A lapsed indivdual has the experience but must resit the examination to practice.
The word is also used in a religious context for people who no longer follow a particular church.
If Guy is in the process of brushing up his skills in order to compete at his former level, we say he is “going for/working towards ‘a comeback’ “
Guy’s skills are precursory.
They are precursors — forerunners or earlier versions — of up-to-date skills.
precursory – adj. – Preceding something in time, development, or position.
precursor – noun – A person or thing that comes before another of the same kind; a forerunner.
[oxforddictionaries.com]
As used at nytimes.com:
… and the rebec, a three-stringed precursor of the violin.
A note of caution: Precursory might actually be too formal because many people will mistake it to only mean undeveloped.
Related
Word for a person who learned something in the past, but is now back down to beginner level? – english.stackexchange.com #JHedzWorlD
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