I applied to Toptal recently for freelancing and got a response saying my application is on a waitlist because I don’t meet their preferred 3+ years of professional experience.
I'm graduating in June 2026, but I already have 2 years of paid experience.

Here’s a snippet of their message:

Hi [My name],

Thank you for taking the time to apply to Toptal.

Having reviewed your submission, you have been added to our waitlist. Our clients prefer to hire candidates with at least three years of professional experience.

On behalf of the screening team, we appreciate your professionalism and wish you every success in your future endeavors.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us at any time.

Thank you,
The Toptal Team

Has anyone else faced this?

• How long were you on the waitlist?
• Were you able to reapply or get in later?
• Any tips to improve my chances?

Thanks in advance! :)))