Read experience requirements without rejecting yourself too early

Years are a shorthand

A year count often stands in for scope, independence and repeated practice. Read the responsibilities next to the number instead of treating the number as the whole requirement.

Translate your evidence

Projects, internships, freelance work and campus responsibilities can demonstrate the same skills as formal employment when you describe the decisions you made and the result.

• Name the problem and your individual contribution.
• Show the tool or method you used.
• Include a concrete outcome when you can support it.

Use the gap honestly

Apply when you can do the core work and explain the smaller gaps. Skip roles where the missing requirement is legally necessary, safety-critical or central to every responsibility.