Most people change careers several times. It can be a tricky transition, but getting it right can be rewarding. Most of us choose our careers when we’re too inexperienced to understand what our working lives will be like. Later, we’re likely to have a better understanding of the type of work we enjoy and gravitate towards careers that allow us to exercise our preferences. However, in the early part of a career transition, knowing what to do about a resume that previously targeted another career direction is one of the problems we face. Use these tips to reflect your preparedness for a new career in your resume.
Get the Basics Right
First things first. You need a resume that shows you want to be taken seriously, so a smart-looking resume is a good place to start. Choose a free resume builder to help you with presenting and formatting your information. A good template will prompt you to include all the necessary fields that recruiters will be looking for.
Decide What to Highlight
Although you're changing careers, you’re sure to have picked up some skills that will be relevant to your new calling. Recruiters will usually indicate what kind of person they’re looking for in job posts and ads. Don’t just assume that you have nothing to bring to the table. Think the job specifications through and consider how your previous experience relates to them. For example, you may have led teams in the past, or have proven yourself as a team player within one. Or perhaps you demonstrated your ability to connect with customers, albeit in a different trade to the one you now hope to pursue. Your past experience may be more relevant than even you suspected. If you’ve already spent some time acquiring new skills in order to better qualify yourself for a certain position, be sure to bring this to recruiters’ attention.
Introduce Yourself in Your Covering Letter
Your covering letter will be the place where you highlight your reasons for wanting to change your career. Focus on positives. How did what you did before lead you in the direction you’re now embarking on? Why is the post you’re applying for more than “Just another job” in your eyes? Try to convey your enthusiasm in your covering letter – it could give you the edge over experienced candidates who lack your level of motivation. Demonstrate some knowledge of the company and the post and show how you could be an asset to your prospective employers.
Target a Specific Post
Reworking your resume to target specific posts is always good advice. It’s even more important when you’re switching careers. A generic document outlining experience in a field you’re no longer interested in won’t do you any favors. Showing that you understand what it takes to work in a new field and working to demonstrate that you’re passionate about breaking into a new career begins with your resume. As a result, you won’t highlight less relevant skills you acquired in the past unless mastering them demonstrates a trait that recruiters are looking for.
Keep Trying; Keep Upskilling
Finding out why you didn’t make the cut when applying for a post provides you with food for thought. Are you pitching too high up the ladder? Would further training be helpful to you? Try engaging with HR and asking for advice on what you should do if you want to improve your chances in future. You’ll not only get valuable tips, you’ll also be remembered, improving your network and your future chances if you were to act on any advice you’re given.
If it’s Worth Doing, It’s Worth Doing Well!
Choosing a rewarding career contributes to your overall happiness. After all, we spend most of our waking time at work. Having challenges to face and ambitions to realize energizes us. Your career change could be the most positive thing you ever did for yourself. That makes it worth working at! Do you have what it takes?