“We need them to have in-house experience.<\/em>”<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n\n\n These are common requirements I get<\/a> in briefings. It’s understandable. If you’re a hiring manager, then you want someone who easily fits into the team. However, I think businesses are missing a trick! <\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n\n\n “Hiring someone from a different industry or sector brings a new perspective and a diverse skillset that’ll help you empathise with your customers.” <\/em><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n\n\n My colleague Lee Shorter<\/a> has broken this topic down in more detail in his post: This is why you’re not hiring the best Talent<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n\n\n I speak with candidates every week who are struggling, and we usually end up discussing these areas:<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n\n\n The first port of call is stripping back your CV<\/a>. You want to generalise your intro, industry-specific job titles and role responsibilities. And you don’t want any niche certifications that are only relevant to your industry. (If you’re nervous about changing your job title, maybe have the official title in brackets or underneath.)<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n\n\n For example, if a hiring manager from Fintech opens your CV and the intro says “Marketer with 7 years of experience in retail and higher education” then you’re starting on the back foot. Keep it simple and focus on your transferrable strengths. This might be how much experience you have creating and implementing digital marketing strategies; delivering end-to-end campaigns; or maybe your soft skills. Something that is going to add value no matter the environment. <\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n\n\n This runs true throughout your CV. Focus on the core projects you delivered with the relevant tools and tech used—using metrics ($, %) to show the results. <\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n\n\n Don’t use any industry jargon, acronyms, or internal project names. I spoke with a CRM Manager in the Sports industry recently whose CV said he’d delivered a campaign for a new football kit launch, without any metrics, even though he’d told me how big their reach was. Adding results and changing the language to something like “creating and implementing a CRM strategy for a New Product Launch to 5 million users with x% engagement” will resonate with more hiring managers. Small changes to how you phrase your skills and experience go a long way. This guy gets it:<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n\n\n A common struggle is jumping from agency to in-house. If you’re an Account Manager trying to land a Marketing Specialist role, it’s not worth including your client patch monthly $ spend or % of account growth and retention. Focus on the e2e campaigns you delivered, the channels used and the stakeholder relationships you’ve built. <\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n\n\n We’re in a competitive job market. I posted two ads for Data Specialist freelance roles recently and received nearly 300 applications overall! <\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n\n\n Now imagine if you’re applying directly to an HR or Talent Acquisition team that doesn’t specialise in your area and is juggling 20 other live roles. They may not spot your skills that are transferrable or even get around to your CV at all. That’s why building your own network is vital.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n\n\n You should connect with two or three recruiters<\/a> whom you trust and who focus on your market. <\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n\n\n As I explained earlier, recruiters<\/a> can help tailor your CV. We also have direct access to hiring managers and good working relationships, so they trust our recommendations. <\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n\n\n Recruiters know the pain points and essential needs of their clients that aren’t always reflected in a job description. For example, we may know that the previous employee had struggled with stakeholder management, so finding a strong communicator with transferrable skills trumps someone with industry experience.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n\n\n![\"Two](\"https:\/\/aquent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/always-sunny-1.webp\")
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Skills that are transferrable<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe agency to in-house challenge<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Your network<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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