I was part of a discussion about navigating career change, and one common frustration among us was the experience requirements for job postings. These experience requirements immediately eliminate most of us because we are considered entry-level applicants. The experience paradox, as it is called, says that employers prefer to hire people with one to two years of experience for entry-level jobs.

So then, how does one ever gain experience if experience is required to get in the door?

I understand that hiring managers want the most qualified applicants for the job, and there may not be as many resources for training new hires as there were previously. I also understand that, in a crowded job market, employers want candidates with specific knowledge and skills to reduce employee attrition.

I want to offer a different perspective: Hiring those of us who are changing careers and who may not have the specific experience required on the job posting could be just the ticket for a company to see revitalization and growth because those of us who are changing careers have acquired transferable skills, we are committed to growth and development, and we can be an untapped resource in a rapidly changing world.

The benefit of transferable skills

I have spent the last twenty years in the same industry, but I have held different jobs and acquired transferable skills. Over the past 10 years, I have been self-employed and have grown my business from zero to six figures. The skills that I have acquired in these roles, such as customer relations, business development, management, sales, and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances, should not be discounted when evaluating experience.

Committed to Growth and Development

Many of us who are changing careers are committed to our own growth and development, which is an asset for any employer. We are pursuing further education through certificate programs or taking additional classes to expand our knowledge base. We are committed to growth and personal development. I wanted to improve my written communication skills, so I decided to pursue the Professional Writing Certificate through the UC Berkeley Extension. To improve my writing mechanics, I ended up in the UC San Diego Copyediting program. In the classes I have taken through these programs, there are always several of us transitioning careers and looking to level up our skills. Through my informational interviews with those who have navigated their own career transitions, I have learned that the Google Project Management certification is a great way to gain exposure to the project management industry. After completing the Foundations part of the program, I’m not sure Project Management is for me, but I now know some of the industry’s terminology and available roles.

Lend new perspectives with a fresh vision

The work world is changing rapidly. Hiring those new to an industry could be an untapped resource for employers. AI is here, and while we know there will be a significant shift due to its impact, we don’t know what work will look like in five years. Now is the time for new paths with forward-thinking people leading the way. Companies and groups that “want to do things the same way we’ve always done it” or allow the same old players to do the same old things are going to find themselves on the path to irrelevance. Those of us with fresh vision can lend new perspectives to problem-solving and draw on our years of experience in other areas to apply that knowledge to our new careers.

While the experience paradox can be frustrating and discouraging for job seekers — those of us transitioning careers and new graduates alike- I also think it provides an opportunity to consider what the future of work will look like and how we will adjust our expectations and requirements moving forward.