“It’s Not on My Resume, But I’ve Done It”: How to Talk About Transferable Experience with Confidence
You’ve been there: reading a job description and thinking—
“I’ve done this exact work… but I don’t have the official title to prove it.”
Or you're in an interview and hear:
“Walk me through your experience leading category strategy.”
And your mind races: I haven’t had that title… but I’ve led the work. Does it count?
Here’s the answer: Yes, it counts.
But only if you know how to talk about it with clarity and credibility.
Why Transferable Experience Often Gets Overlooked
Hiring managers and recruiters are busy—and default to scanning for obvious title matches.
That means it’s your job to make the link between what you’ve done and what they need crystal clear.
If you assume your experience “speaks for itself,” you risk being overlooked.
Your job? Connect the dots—loudly, clearly, and early.
Don’t Say:
“I haven’t officially led that, but…”
Say instead:
“In my last role, I led several cross-functional projects with outcomes directly aligned to category strategy. Here’s an example…”
It’s not about exaggerating. It’s about claiming your actual value with confidence.
What Transferable Experience Really Sounds Like
Let’s say you’ve never held a “Brand Manager” title—but you’ve owned the work.
Here’s how you can bridge the gap:
“While my title was Customer Marketing Manager, I partnered closely with brand to lead product launches, craft channel-specific messaging, and analyze post-launch performance. The scope mirrored brand ownership—even if the title didn’t.”
That’s a confident reframe. No apologies. No disclaimers. Just truth.
3 Steps to Strengthen the Story
If you’re selling transferable experience, make sure you:
1. Frame the Work, Not the Title
Shift from job labels to job outcomes. Use language from the posting to mirror their priorities.
2. Use Parallel Language
If the role is asking for “go-to-market strategy,” echo that phrase in your response—even if your company called it something else.
3. Share a Proof Point
Name the impact. “We launched in 3 new markets,” or “That initiative led to a 20% increase in velocity.”
Action Step: Choose One Role You’ve Done Without the Title
Write a short paragraph answering these three prompts:
- What was the actual work?
- How does it map to the role you’re pursuing?
- What impact did it have?
Then practice saying it out loud. Until you believe it—they won’t.
Ready to Make Your Experience Work for You?
Whether you’re rebranding your resume or rewriting your interview answers, I can help you connect the dots so others don’t have to.
Let’s build a story you believe in.
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