Every year, thousands of graduates leave university armed with degrees, ambition and just enough optimism to believe the hardest part is over. Then comes the job hunt. Every company is looking for someone with years of experience. It’s one of the greatest paradoxes of the modern labour market: how do you gain experience if nobody is willing to hire you?
It’s a fair question, but I wonder if we’ve been asking the wrong one. Instead of asking, “How do I get experience?” perhaps graduates should be asking, “What evidence am I creating that shows I can do the job?”
Experience is one way to demonstrate competence, but it is no longer the only one. LinkedIn’s Work Change Report found that employers are placing increasing value on demonstrated skills and adaptability, while the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 highlights analytical thinking, creativity, resilience and continuous learning as some of the most valuable workplace skills. None of those require permission from an employer to begin developing.
One of the biggest mistakes graduates make is believing their CV is their portfolio. It isn’t. A CV tells employers what you studied; a portfolio shows them what you can actually do.
If you’re studying marketing, analyse the Instagram page of a Tanzanian business and publish five practical recommendations. If you’re an accounting graduate, write a LinkedIn post explaining common financial mistakes small businesses make. If you’re an engineer, redesign an everyday product and explain your thinking. The internet has made it possible to build credibility long before someone gives you a job title.
The same applies to your reputation. Networking isn’t about asking strangers for jobs; it’s about becoming known for your curiosity, reliability and willingness to contribute. Attend industry events, volunteer, join conversations and help people solve problems.
One thing to keep in mind is that not everyone starts from the same place. Some graduates have family connections, financial support or access to influential networks, while others don’t. That inequality is real, but while we can’t always control where we begin, we can control the evidence we leave behind, and a strong body of work has a remarkable way of opening doors that introductions alone cannot.
Degrees matter, and so does experience, but in a world where employers can see your writing, your projects, your ideas and your thinking long before they meet you, it’s apparent that evidence has become one of the most valuable currencies you can build.
If you’re still waiting for someone to give you experience, don’t wait. Start building evidence instead. Employers can ignore potential, but they find it much harder to ignore proof.