Invisible Qualifications
Somewhere between “entry-level” and “must have ten years of experience,” the world decided that real life doesn’t count.
I’ve watched job listings turn into scavenger hunts for degrees, certificates, and buzzwords — all while people who’ve lived the work can’t even get an interview. The system worships paper and discounts proof. But here’s the thing no HR algorithm understands: surviving teaches skills no classroom can.
The Degrees You Can’t Frame
I don’t have a framed diploma that says Grief Management, Crisis Response, and Bureaucracy Navigation, but I’ve got the equivalent of a doctorate earned the hard way.
You learn diplomacy from explaining the same VA policy to ten different departments without cussing.
You learn logistics from juggling appointments, deadlines, and the emotional load of everyone depending on you.
You learn resilience from getting knocked down by life, standing up anyway, and still remembering to bring snacks.
There’s no certificate for that — just scars, spreadsheets, and stubbornness.
Lived Experience Is Still Experience
People love to talk about “transferable skills” like it’s a buzzword on LinkedIn. Let’s translate that into English: if you’ve had to advocate, adapt, or survive, you’ve already mastered what most jobs require.
Try telling a single parent who navigated disability benefits that they don’t understand “problem-solving.”
Try telling a military spouse who’s moved twelve times that they lack “organizational skills.”
Try telling a widow who rebuilt her life from ashes that she needs a leadership seminar.
Experience doesn’t stop being valuable just because it wasn’t on a payroll.
The Irony of Overqualification
Here’s the kicker — people like us often end up being too qualified for the jobs we can actually get. We can handle chaos, crisis, and congressional offices, but we’re told to “start small” or “gain experience.”
Meanwhile, the people making those hiring decisions have never had to convince a federal office that their deceased spouse still exists in the system.
Paperwork vs. People Work
The problem isn’t just HR; it’s the culture of checkbox competence. We’ve confused education with capability. Don’t get me wrong — education matters. But it’s not the only way to learn. There’s a reason common sense is called common and not credentialed.
I once took a class where I had to earn a “Generative AI” certification to pass Public Relations 101. That’s like requiring a pilot to master pottery before flying a plane. The higher education racket keeps moving the goalposts, and now life experience counts for less than ever — unless, of course, they can sell it back to you as “continuing education.”
The Resume That Doesn’t Fit on Paper
If we listed everything we’ve really done, our résumés would read like war stories:
Negotiated with government agencies while under financial duress.
Managed crisis communications with grace and caffeine.
Provided end-of-life care while managing advocacy operations.
Rebuilt a career from loss, grief, and sheer force of will.
That’s leadership. That’s administration. That’s heart management, crisis response, and conflict resolution — all in one lifetime.
But none of it fits neatly between bullet points.
The Ask
Maybe it’s time employers, educators, and policymakers stop treating survival as invisible. Maybe it’s time to value the kind of knowledge you can’t buy — the kind that comes from showing up, cleaning up, and carrying on.
Because if we really want competent, compassionate leaders, we’ll find them in the trenches — not just in the classrooms.
Until then, we’ll keep applying, keep explaining, and keep proving what should have been obvious all along: we already earned this.
— said by Tori Seals, because someone had to say it
