No Experience, No Chance: Why Businesses Are Losing Out on the Talent Right in Front of Them
And why Stunio’s Student Career Connection is changing the game.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard it:
“We just can’t find anyone qualified.”
“Students don’t want to work.”
“Gen Z has no soft skills.”
Let me tell you what I’ve seen.
I’ve seen students show up early, hustle through a shift, solve problems without being asked—and still get overlooked because their resume didn’t hit the magic keywords. I’ve seen sharp, coachable young people ghosted after an interview because they didn’t have “enough experience.” And I’ve seen businesses churn through seasoned hires who “looked great on paper” but couldn’t adapt, didn’t communicate, or flaked out after two weeks.
Here’s what we’re all getting wrong: We’re trying to build teams using a filter that was designed for a different generation and really, a different era of how we work.
Resumes Don’t Show You Grit
Neither do cover letters. Neither do interviews, really.
When I ran my own business, I hired people who had zero direct experience but showed up with curiosity and a willingness to learn. I also hired people with stacked resumes who turned out to be divas, drama, or just plain disengaged.
The difference? One group saw the job as a stepping stone. The other saw it as a placeholder.
Most students today aren’t applying to jobs the way we used to. They’re working around school, side hustles, and family responsibilities. They don’t want long, broken hiring funnels. They want paid, real-world experiences that help them grow—and help you grow, too.
We Built Stunio’s Student Career Connection to Close That Gap
At Stunio, we’ve designed our entire system to let students prove their value on the job—not just on paper.
Instead of uploading a resume and crossing their fingers that they can beat the AI resume screening software, students:
Build a profile that grows over time, showing actual shift performance, soft skills, reliability, and work history.
Get matched to real work, based on what they’re good at—not just what they’ve studied.
Level up through real-world feedback, mentorship, and repeat gigs with trusted employers.
It’s not just about getting a foot in the door—it’s about building a foundation.
And here’s the win for you:
You get access to a talent pool that’s hungry, local, and ready to prove themselves.
Not someday. Not hypothetically. Today. On the shift.
The Next Gen Hiring Funnel Starts with the Shift
With Stunio, the traditional hiring process gets replaced with a simple, smart progression:
Gigs → Recurring Shifts → Internships → Contract-to-Hire → Full-Time
Every step is a two-way street.
Students get clarity. Businesses get confidence.
Nobody’s wasting time—or money—on the wrong fit.
The Bottom Line? Potential Doesn’t Show Up on a Resume.
But it does show up for a shift.
So if you’re tired of hearing “students don’t want to work,” ask yourself this: Have you given them a chance to show what they can do?
At Stunio, we do. Every day.
Let us help you meet the next generation of talent—not on a job board, but in the real world, where the work happens.
Because no experience doesn’t mean no potential.
And the best way to find out if someone’s a fit… is to let them show you.
Amanda Hayhoe is the Chief Operating Officer of Stunio, where they are rewriting the rules of hiring. With a background in operational leadership and a passion for building better systems, Amanda is on a mission to make work work—for businesses, students, and everyone in between.
