Experience Is Still Your Competitive Advantage
Dear readers,
For many of us, our careers are built one step at a time.
Years are spent developing expertise, leading teams, solving problems, and gaining the kind of judgement that only comes through experience. Naturally, we assume that as our knowledge grows, finding the next opportunity should become easier.
Yet for many mid-career professionals, the opposite can feel true.
Applications take longer to receive a response. Competition appears stronger than ever. Roles that once seemed like a natural next step suddenly feel more difficult to secure. It’s a frustrating experience that leaves many professionals asking the same question:
Has experience become less valuable?
The reassuring answer is no.
What has changed is the recruitment market itself.
The job market is more competitive.
Recruitment today looks very different from a few years ago. Artificial intelligence now helps screen CVs, Applicant Tracking Systems search for specific skills and keywords, and LinkedIn has become an essential part of professional visibility. At the same time, hybrid and remote working have widened the talent pool, allowing employers to attract candidates from a much broader geographical area.
The numbers reflect this shift. UK labour market data recorded around 712,000 vacancies between April and June 2026, continuing a gradual cooling from previous years. While opportunities remain available, they are often accompanied by greater competition, meaning experienced professionals are competing in a very different landscape from the one they may have entered years ago.
Experience still matters. The challenge is ensuring it is visible in a recruitment process that has shifted.
Why experience can create hesitation
One of the greatest ironies of today’s job market is that experience can sometimes create hesitation rather than confidence.
Employers may wonder whether an experienced candidate expects a higher salary, will adapt easily to new technologies, or is looking for something beyond the scope of the role. These assumptions are not always conscious, nor are they necessarily accurate, but they can quietly influence recruitment decisions.
Age bias also remains part of the conversation. Research from the Centre for Ageing Better found that 36% of people aged between 50 and 69 feel disadvantaged when applying for jobs because of their age.
This is the experience paradox.
The more knowledge and expertise someone has built throughout their career, the more they may feel the need to demonstrate that they are adaptable, up to date, and ready for what comes next.
For Many Women, The Journey Can Be Even More Complex
While many experienced professionals encounter these challenges, women often navigate additional considerations during the middle stages of their careers.
Career breaks to raise children, caring responsibilities, or the impact of menopause can shape a career path in ways that are not reflected on a CV. These may influence confidence, progression, or the interpretation of a professional story, despite having little bearing on someone’s capabilities or potential.
Globally, an estimated 96 million women aged 30 to 54 are currently on career breaks, with around 55 million having previously held management positions or more senior roles. Behind those numbers is an enormous pool of knowledge, leadership, and seniority that organisations cannot afford to overlook.
Experience Is Still Your Competitive Advantage
The good news is that experience remains one of the most valuable qualities an employer can hire.
What has changed is not its importance, but how it should be presented. Today’s employers want to see recent achievements, evidence of continuous learning, adaptability, and an understanding of how your skills can help solve today’s business challenges.
A strong CV, an up-to-date LinkedIn profile, and a clear personal narrative are no longer simply helpful; they have become essential.
At ABL Recruitment, we work with professionals at every stage of their careers, and one thing remains consistently true: organisations continue to value people who bring perspective, sound judgement, and practical experience to their teams.
Experience has never stopped being valuable.
It simply deserves to be positioned in a way that reflects the realities of today’s recruitment market.
Because sometimes, the greatest challenge is not proving how much you’ve done.
It’s helping employers see everything you’re still capable of achieving.
