The 3 years (it used to be 2 I think) is a number recruiters pull out their ass to mean "not entry level".

Write up all your work experience - send in your resume - you might conveniently leave your grad date off.

FWIW, when short time, emphasize accomplishments - do a topical set of things you've worked on and where you worked on them, then make a tiny little minimal chronology at the bottom.

The idea is to divorce time spent from experience gained.