Should I apply for a job if I meet all requirements EXCEPT industry experience?

It happened.

There you were scrolling on LinkedIn, and you ran across the COOLEST sounding job!

You’ve got the skills, the experience, and the drive—but not the industry background. Should you apply anyway?

Short answer: Maybe.

Long answer? Read on.

Here’s my take on how to handle this situation.

1. Check the language of the job posting

If the job description lists industry experience under “required” or “basic qualifications,” it might be a hard no—especially if you’re applying cold. Many companies list industry-specific experience for regulatory, legal, or internal-policy reasons.

But if it’s under “preferred qualifications,” game on. That’s not a dealbreake, that’s a nice to have. Keep going.

2. Lead with your role-specific strengths

What’s your primary craft? Is it something like project management, data analytics, marketing, product management, or software engineering? Domain-specific skills for these roles are often highly transferable across various industries. The more clearly you can show that you get results quickly using those skills—ideally in multiple industries—the stronger your case.

And  if you’ve succeeded in two or more? Your story just got a whole lot stronger. 

I’ve leaned on this approach for years. I started in IT consulting, which gave me access to clients across several industries—telecom, financial services, manufacturing, and more. Over time, I could prove that I hit the ground running no matter the context. That independence is now one of my superpowers.

3. Highlight common ground

Is your target industry similar to your current one in structure, regulation, or pace? Use that common thread.

For example, healthcare and financial services are both highly regulated. Retail and hospitality both rely on customer-centric systems and logistics.

Draw the connections clearly for the hiring team - don't expect them to connect the dots.

4. Make it clear why you want this role

Hiring managers want to know: Why us? Why now?

This is where a great cover letter shines, as well as a passionate response to "why do you want to work here?" during interviews or networking conversations. 

Be specific about your interest—whether you’re passionate about the mission, have used the company’s product, or you’ve just followed the company's growth for years.

Final words

You don’t need the exact industry background to be the right fit. You just need to connect the dots—for yourself and for the hiring team.

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