Industry experience is professional experience gained in the sector an employer serves. During interview preparation, treat it as a possible concern: an interviewer may prefer someone from the same industry, but you can address the gap by briefly naming it, explaining how you will overcome it, and using a relevant past example. section 1.10
When a strong example misses the target
An applicant answered an aerospace interview with detailed automotive examples and quantified savings in money, time, and headcount. Although the results were strong, the interviewer concluded that the applicant lacked aerospace experience. A better response would select aerospace examples when available and connect them directly to the organization’s needs. The lesson is simple: the most impressive example is not necessarily the most persuasive if it does not fit the target industry. section 10.5
Prepare for industry-experience concerns with a focused answer:
- Acknowledge the potential gap without dwelling on what you lack. section 1.10
- Explain how your experience will help you overcome the difference. section 1.10
- Use past examples that relate to the job, company, and industry, even when another example has larger results or greater complexity. section 10.5
- Answer the question asked and avoid adding unrelated information. section 1.10
