PepsiCo is asking for eight years of industry experience, and you have just five. Why do you think you are qualified for this position?

"While I don't have hands-on food and beverage industry experience, I have a formal education with a bachelor's degree in X. I graduated top of my class and also had an opportunity to intern in a similar field in retail. I'm reliable, hard-working, and a creative problem-solver. I'm looking for a company where I can establish myself and grow in knowledge and experience."

"Along with my five years working in food and beverage, I have worked in related industries like food manufacturing, food transportation services, and restaurants my entire career. Also, I hope that my graduate degree gives me a little boost in experience over the required undergraduate degree."

Use this question to highlight your major career successes and convince your interviewer that while you don't have (x) years of experience, you have gained meaningful, high-impact experiences that will contribute to your success. Focus on selling yourself as a candidate, making no apologies for your lack of years!

"Although I have five years of experience instead of eight years, I feel that I can exceed expectations in this role. In my previous job, I outperformed colleagues with 12 years of experience, as measured by customer conversions. To me, it's all about drive and the ability to learn quickly."