One of the most common queries I get inquired by job seekers is: How can I transition into a new field when I do not have any experience in it?

It is a great query—and a frustrating condition. You know you have the transferrable qualities, the drive, and the ambition to do the new job you are seeking, but it is difficult to compete with others who have done exactly what is needed in the position’s description for years.

Yes, it is true that most hiring managers do not need to take a chance on someone who might be capable to do the job. They need to have proof that you can begin delivering on day one. But it is also true that in today’s world, you do not have to get that experience at a full-time, 9-to-5 job.

Surely, it can take time, above and beyond your day job. It takes many attempts and effort (learning a new skill is not easy!). In few cases, like if you are going back to school, it will take money. These are not negligible factors. But there are choices, and if you are truly devoted to making a move, those sacrifices will likely pay off in the long run.

Here are few of those ways you, too, can make your own experience.

1. Take on an Internship

And yes, even though you are no longer a 20-year-old college student. Various companies offer part-time, remote internships, and if you are capable to complete the work on your own time, you can do this on top of your present job.

If you are seeking to make a dramatic pivot, you can also look into residency programs or apprenticeships—they are generally full-time work, but they can be great ways to kick off that full-time experience you require for your new role.

2. Start a Blog

This exercise is specifically beneficial if you need to be a writer—various publications care less about the employers that are on your resume than they do about the quality of your writing, so having an online hub that indicates it off is incredibly valuable. Proof: This lady was turned down for a copywriting job at her own company, until she began her own blog and demonstrated she had the chops.

Even if you are not gunning for a writing job, penning compelling concepts about your industry of choice can go a long way in showing, not merely telling, that you are committed to the role even without convemtional experience.

3. … Or Something Else

Not a writer? There are abundance of other media on which you can share thoughts on your desired career—consider podcasting, launching a YouTube video series, hosting a regular industry-related meetup, even creating Snapchat stories!