CAREER OUTLOOK
How to Write a Resume When Changing Careers
path to get a job. It’s even more so for career changers. So how exactly do you land a job in your target career knowing full well that you have no experience or relevant back- ground to show for it? The answer, if you are intent on finding it, lies first and foremost in your resume.
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It’s All in the Resume Your resume will probably be one of the most important tools you are ever going to need if you want to successfully land a job— any job—be it one in your current field of expertise or one in an entirely new industry. This is because your resume is your best foot forward. It represents you at your very best. It is a sales tool that helps the employer get to know your qualifica- tions in order to fit you to the requirements of the job they are offering. The right resume will do more than just represent you fairly; it will get your foot through the door. A well-written resume will catch the employer’s attention enough to make them want to get to know you more and invite you for an interview, at which time you are better able to expound personally on your qualifications.
Tips on Writing a Career Changer’s Resume Or better yet, this section could be called “Tips on Re- writing a Career Changer’s Resume.” This is because for a career changer, the common scenario is that they already have an existing resume, and often, they make the mistake of sending the same resume they’ve been using for their previous career instead of making a new one that is tailor-fit to the new career they are aiming to shift to.
Rather than falling for this common mistake, career chang- ers would be wise to take their current resume and re-write it to reflect the differences in skills needs, objectives and priorities of the new career they’re changing into. To get a feel for the new qualifications and objectives you are facing, try to network with people from that industry and research about the skills and other qualifications that are important to the industry that you want to make a new career in.
Another helpful tip to help you re-write you resume is this:
Try answering the question, “Why should an employer take a chance on me?” Career changers often don’t have the desired experience to get the job but they probably have certain skills that are transferable from their previous career.
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hanging career paths has never been easy, and with the volatile job market these days, it is already diffi- cult enough for those who are on a dedicated career
A transferable skill is one that you may have developed in your past job experiences that may be useful to your new career. Review your most desirable skills and arrange them in the order in which they are most relevant to the job you are applying to. Include any skills you may have picked up from a hobby or a volunteering experience that may be applicable to your desired career.
Choosing a Resume Format
Sometimes the right resume format can go a long way in making your resume a cut above the rest. A career changer, be- cause of their more challenging circumstance, will benefit more from a combination chronological resume format. This resume format is written chronologically but leads off with a qualifica- tions summary, which will emphasize the skills most relevant to the new career. Starting with a qualifications summary instead of most recent experience will allow hiring managers to easily see that you are qualified for your new career goal. When re- writing your resume in this format, make sure you state clearly your new objectives so that the employer knows you are shifting careers. Also make sure that your work history emphasizes the most relevant of your skills, talents and accomplishments. This will ensure the effectiveness of your new resume.
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