Have you ever faced the frustration when they expect you to have work experience as a beginner? They send out an advertisement calling for freshers, you apply with hope, and then during the interview, you are disillusioned as they expect you to have two years of work experience. It is like the chicken or hen conundrum.
As a recent graduate or a professional looking to make a career change, you are targeting entry-level roles, but even these require at least a couple years of work in the industry.
Image Credit: Movie – Erin Brockovich
What Do You Do Then?
Consider Whether The Requirement Is A Must-Have Or Nice-To-Have?
Often, the Human Resources or the management add the factor of requiring experience because it is nice to have. But the job would actually require the skills of an experienced person, without them emphasizing the requirement. Some recruiters use this as a filter to screen candidates. If you feel that is the case, and if you have confidence on your own skills, then you should apply for the position.
Manthan Sutaria, Account Manager at SRV Media, says, “The way to tackle this is to convey your knowledge and showcase your abilities to the employer and survive the initial test. Generally, most of the hiring managers look for passion and exposure to some of the key elements of the role they are hiring for.”
Don’t Underestimate Your Experience Till Date
Internships, projects you completed while earning your degree, or jobs where you were charged with similar responsibilities all count, especially if you are targeting entry-level opportunities. Manthan adds, “Internships and any responsibilities during the graduation also count. Be sure to include it in your resume. Draft a cover letter and network with the employees who currently work at the company. And most important be confident.”
Are You Wasting Your Time?
If you are sure that the requirement for work experience is stringent, be realistic and look for other opportunities. If your skills are not transferable or if the years required as experience are too extensive, then you should realistically know what to expect.
But when it comes to it, experience is more about what you have to offer, with your skills and passion, rather than some arbitrary number of years.
