It’s hard when you’ve had a non-standard career trajectory and you want to re-enter the work force, move to a higher position, or enter a new field. Will a marketing firm see you as a good leadership candidate if you’ve always been a professional fundraiser and small business owner? Would a medical devices company view you as capable of learning their product line if you’ve worked in the automobile or hospitality industries? Will a corporate hiring manager take you seriously if you’ve spent the last 10 years mostly volunteering? In these cases, you may not be the slam-dunk candidate. But you’re more likely to convince an enlightened hiring manager, venture funder, or board member if you can articulate how all of your varied experiences and skills actually make you a better candidate than the conventional applicant.