Companies Hire the "A" Players

All companies look for a bundle of skills attached to a set of experiences embedded in a specific sector or market vertical. They will make exceptions during good times when talent is hard to lure away from other companies.

But with so many people out looking and unemployed they want the perfect fit. This means that the :

skill/talents+experience/credentials+sector/market vertical fit = perfect candidate.

What is depressing is that so many people with talent and ability go begging for jobs because they don't have sector experience. I have seen people continue to try to break through that barrier with little success.

One solution is to do pro-bono work in a new sector and put it on your resume to move you across the sector chasm.