I read this great article that made a very solid point, “You probably have more experience than you think you do.”

But alas …

Having Experience

and

Needing Experience

Are two VERY  different things.

I’m in the middle of both. I hate being in the middle. I’m the youngest child, thus, I always want to be at the end.

Where is the end?

Well that would be “Having Experience.”

I’ve gotten past the place of “Needing Experience.” But only sorta.

So what’s the difference might you ask?

Well here’s what I know …

Having experience means you’ve already done something and you’re (hopefully) pretty good at it at this point. You probably have several examples of that thing that you’ve done and you can show others how awesome you’ve (hopefully) become at that thing. Having experience means that you are hirable and desirable and ready to rock it out.

Needing experience means you’ve probably never done the thing that you want to do. You have no portfolio and there’s nothing to show others to prove that you can indeed do the thing it is that you’re hoping to become awesome at. Needing experience means you’re often over looked and unfortunately … not very hirable.

How can I be in the middle?

Well see that’s a funny little conundrum that I’ve found myself in.

I’ve done the thing. Many times in fact. But I never made a portfolio of the thing or kept record of what I had done. So to others … it kinda looks like I don’t know how to do the thing. But I do!

So now what?

I’m basically someone who has experience who looks like someone with no experience and I’m not really sure how to get out of this little mess I’ve created.

Remember in High School when your bedroom floor was covered in laundry and there were books everywhere and Tamagotchi’s lying in hopes of being fed and just well … a mess? (I’m pretty sure I just gave away my age …)

Well my career is kinda like that at this moment.

All my skills are like the poor bedroom floor, covered in clothes that no one even wears anymore.

Lessons were learned. Number one being …

DOCUMENT ALL YOUR SUCCESSSES!!!

I cannot say that loud enough. Literally … I want to scream it to the world. Do it! Every tiny win. DOCUMENT IT!

So how can I go from someone who looks like she NEEDS experience to someone who HAS experience?

That is the question.

I have options … but do I like them? Let’s take a look at them shall we!

• Option One – Take a job for less pay in order to gain experience.
• Option Two – Increase knowledge in the thing by reading about it, taking classes, and attending events where the thing is discussed
• Option Three – Just keep trying. Apply. Apply. Apply.

Option One is not my favorite. I’ve put in 15 years of my life gaining knowledge and working and building my awesomeness. Do I really want to take less for it? (Not that I’m greedy … but know your worth, right?)

It’s a valid road and definitely a possibility … but is that REALLY what I want to do?

Option Two is definitely more pleasing. And in fact, that’s what I’ve been doing. Taking classes. Reading about the thing. Attending conferences about the thing. Doing anything to learn more about the thing!!!

Another valid option … very much a possibility … but it’s not working.

What I’m learning is, people want to SEE that you can do the thing. They want visual proof that you’ve done the thing before and what’s more, that you have been successful at the thing. If there’s no proof, then did it even happen?

Option Three is really where it’s at then isn’t it? More than a possibility. More like a probability. Apply. Apply. Apply!

(You’ll notice there was no option four. Why? Because Option Four would probably have to be giving up and I’ll tell you for certain for me, that is NOT an option.)

I don’t know. Maybe you’re someone who has experience and jobs are plentiful and people look at you and they know your worth. Maybe you’re someone who still “Needs Experience” and that’s okay too. You still have worth! Or maybe, well maybe you’re someone like me who has experience but looks like you need experience and you too have to figure out how to make that change.

No matter what point in the “Experience” gathering story you’re in, you’re definitely not alone.

Don’t make Option One your only viable route.

Learn!

Explore!

Keep Swimming!

Apply! Apply! Apply!

Because I choose to believe that one day, someone will give you your chance. Someone will be willing to change you from a nobody into a somebody. And someone will know your worth!

(And do not forget … from here on out … if you’ve learned one thing it is to DOCUMENT EVERYTHING!!!)