draw on experience
/drɔː ɒn ɪkˈspɪəriəns/
Meaning
This phrase means to use your past knowledge, skills, or memories to deal with a current situation or solve a problem. It implies utilizing a valuable resource that you have developed over time, and is highly valued in interviews and performance reviews.
Examples
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In my new role, I often have to draw on experience from my years in customer service.
In my new role, I often have to draw on experience from my years in customer service.
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She was able to draw on her experience in crisis management to resolve the issue quickly.
She was able to draw on her experience in crisis management to resolve the issue quickly.
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As a manager, you need to draw on your experience to guide your team through difficult transitions.
As a manager, you need to draw on your experience to guide your team through difficult transitions.
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We need to draw on our collective experience to make this launch successful.
We need to draw on our collective experience to make this launch successful.
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He drew on his experience as a software developer to design the new user interface.
He drew on his experience as a software developer to design the new user interface.
Common Mistakes
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✗ I will draw in my experience to solve this.
✓ I will draw on my experience to solve this.
The correct preposition to use with this idiom is 'on' (or sometimes 'upon'), not 'in'.
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✗ She drew her experience to handle the situation.
✓ She drew on her experience to handle the situation.
You cannot omit the preposition 'on' in this phrasal verb context; otherwise, the meaning changes completely.
Related Expressions
Practice
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To manage this complex project, she had to ___ from her previous startup.
💡 Use past knowledge or skills.
Show answer
draw on experience
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During the interview, make sure to ___ when answering situational questions.
💡 Use your past background to answer.
Show answer
draw on your experience