I do wish you the best...

Must have experience is a ploy tactic. You have to learn to sell yourself like a commodity.

Hi Cindy, the challenge with a new career after an initial career is the experience and knowledge is two fold. While you/we believe it’s an asset it can also be seen as baggage.

Revising the resume and getting in the door anywhere you can are all key. Also to highlight experience led off with the medium you look best in. For example if your skills look great on paper use the cover letter as your tool. If you are better verbally explaining how awesome you and conveying your experience take the bold step of calling once you have a recruiter role contact.

The key to “fitting in” or coming across as an outsider in any industry is verbiage. Research the way your experience would be worded and expressed in the new industry and adjust your resume. Today, because of the automated way resumes can be filtered these industry respective key words can give you more chances to be seen on paper.

That’s all practical, however you can also aid overcoming this hurdle from a mindset perspective. It can be helpful to see yourself as novice. This eliminates all thought of short cuts to success based on passed accomplishments.

When I was a hiring manager I looked for "some" transferable experience, very basic and foundational stuff. Too much emphasis on the past usually made prospects seem like they would be un-coachable to new ways they hadn't experienced yet. Industry knowledge is respected because it is earned within that field. This of course doesn’t mean your skill set can be judged as inadequate, no way, it’s just different.

Understanding you are literally starting over can give you the correct perspective to take on a potentially long path. Imagine the difficulty ahead if I start a mile walk thinking it’s a 1-block trip. Lets reverse it, think about the tenacity one would have taking off ready to tackle a fast mile then boom its over in a block. Proper perspective, which is respective to us all, can create a from the roots, ground up desire and hunger to succeed which becomes visible to others like hiring managers and may tilt the scale in your favor.

Its great to see your boldness! Changing careers isn’t as easy as it sounds or all this advice makes it seem. I commend your courage and wish you the best of success.

Regards, Jason

Kathy gave some great advice below. A lot of the times when job listing have experience requirements, they are there to deter people who may not have them. In reality if you think you can do the job and do it well, apply anyway and highlight your willingness to learn and projects/courses you worked on in school that are relevant.

What type of career change are you looking to make?

It’s a catch 22. You need experience to get hired but you can’t get experience without a job. The ‘lack of years in experience’ requirement has always been a major stump for new grads and career changers. Highlighting your education and transferable skills on your resume and during the interview are a good start but I would also include something you that makes you unique. Personal traits like fast-learner, problem solver, and proactivity speak volumes to your work personality and character. Provide specific examples and try to reassure employers of your ability to hit the ground running. I would also emphasize more networking.

Look for nationally recognized associations in your field and become a member then use new contacts to network for employment opportunities. Volunteering is also another good supplement towards gain practical experience and develop professional relationships. Getting your foot in the door may seem like an uphill battle but once you’re in, your in.