Breaking the Experience Paradox

“You need experience to get the job—but you need the job to get experience.” Sound familiar? This catch-22 frustrates many graduates entering the workforce.

The solution? Reframe what counts as experience. Internships, volunteer work, freelance gigs, and even class projects can demonstrate your skills. Employers care about results—so show them what you’ve built, solved, or improved.

For example, Sam, a recent grad, created a mock marketing campaign for a local nonprofit. “I didn’t get paid,” he said, “but I got noticed—and hired.”

Try This: Experience Audit 

Write down every project, role, or responsibility you’ve had—even informal ones. Highlight the skills you used and the impact you made.