The ‘Experience Required’ Catch-22
What comes first—the chicken or the egg? When it comes to starting your career, it often feels like the same paradox: you need experience to get hired, but you need a job to gain experience.
As a professional resume writer since 2018 and a recruiter for over a decade, I’ve seen this challenge from both sides. I started as a new grad with a “prestigious” degree, a stomach-turning student loan, and big ambitions. I was certain that hard work and enthusiasm would open doors. I was wrong.
Here’s the truth:
Companies don’t hire to help people self-actualize —they hire to solve business problems. Full stop.
So how do you get hired when you need experience to get experience? Here’s how to break the cycle—using psych nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) as an example, but these tips work for any field. If you want personalized advice, reach out and let’s talk.
1. Understand What Experience (specific experience) the Employer Wants
Before you can sell yourself you need to know which parts of yourself to sell. Look to the actual job description for clues. Let’s use this snippet from a job description as an example…
"Nurse Practitioners are a critical part of our clinical team. We’re seeking Nurse Practitioners that are:
- Licensed in California
- PMHNP certified
- 103 Status preferred
- At least 1 year if independent psych NP experience
- Experienced with adult and/or child and adolescent populations
- Experienced in both medication management as well as therapy"
Notice specific requirements like “103 Status preferred.” Do your homework:
According to the CA Board of Registered Nursing, “A 103 NP can practice without standardized procedures in a clinic with at least one physician and surgeon.”
Translation: An absence of standardized procedures means more autonomy and less supervision, and within the context of a clinic setting which is highly regulated, means they want someone who can handle a healthy client caseload, independently, without compromising quality care. Therefore, it’s important for you to highlight your ability to do that. Which brings us to point two…
2. Highlight Transferable Experience, Not Potential!
Most clinical professionals gain hands-on experience through internships, clinical rotations, or volunteer work. So even though this experience may be unpaid, it’s still highly valuable.
Focus on:
- Patient population (adults, adolescents, etc.)
- Level of acuity
- Specific job duties
- Volume of care
Draw clear parallels between your clinical training and relevant aspects of the job you want. Highlight your experience not your potential. This instills confidence in your ability to transcend a lack of paid experience and increases your chances of landing the interview.
3. Do Some Sleuthing To Make Your Case
Sometimes job descriptions are vague. In that case, do some sleuthing:
- Search LinkedIn for employees at your target company
- Reach out and ask about their experience
Here’s a simple LinkedIn message template:
“Hi [Name], I’m considering applying to [Company]. Would you be open to sharing a bit about your experience there? Thank you!”
Use insights from those conversations to tailor your resume, Linkedin profile, and outreach messaging — showing you understand both the role and what’s required to add immediate value.
Final Thoughts: Breaking the Experience Barrier
Getting an inexperienced foot in the door of an opportunity that requires experience isn’t easy, but it’s possible. Take an honest assessment of your own experience and if you believe you’re qualified, reach out and explain why. This acid test here is easy: if you struggle to articulate how you’re qualified, you might not be. But if you don’t have that trouble, follow these steps to make your case:
- Really understand the job
- Highlight transferable experience - shy away from skills and potential
- Leverage online network for insights
- Tailor your materials to the job
If you want a second opinion or personalized support, reach out — we’re happy to help.
