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Making a career change can be difficult. If you have a lot of experience in one field, you might find that potential employers will review your work history and attempt to use you in the same old capacity—even though you're looking for a new direction.
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It's time to roll up your sleeves and rewrite your résumé. Don't worry, you don't have to start from scratch or eliminate references to the previous positions that aren't in your new chosen field. Your experience is valuable. However, to avoid being pigeonholed, you'll have to carefully craft your résumé to include your new career objectives, a qualifications profile, and a detailed account of your transferable skills.
Before you start, do your homework. Research the typical backgrounds of those who are currently holding the position that you're seeking. Study sample résumés in your new field and or conduct informational interviews. Dissect your work history and discover how your previous experiences might be applicable to a new industry.
And be sure to include these three essential elements when you create your new résumé!
1. Objective Statement
If you've never included an objective statement in a résumé, it's time to start. A good objective statement specifically describes your career goals, with a focus on what you can do for an employer. This statement shouldn't be too general or vague, nor should it be so weighted down with corporate verbiage that the meaning is cryptic.
Instead of:
Objective
Seeking a challenging position that offers an opportunity for advancement within a sales organization.
Try:
Objective
Seeking to leverage an eight-year history of research analysis, problem solving and public speaking to secure an entry-level sales representative position.
Insert your objective statement directly below your contact information on the top of the page. Anyone who reviews your résumé will be immediately drawn to it, which will provide them with a sense of focus when considering a place for you within their organization.
2. Profile
Your profile should be inserted directly below your objective statement and is typically a bullet-pointed list of your key attributes and strengths. Think hard and compile an assortment of qualifications that you've obtained in previous positions that can also be applied to your target career. For example, if you're a restaurant management who desires a career in corporate sales, you'll likely want to highlight your relationship management, accounting, and problem-solving skills.
3. Experience
During the résumé creation process, try to identify the skills you possess that can be applied to your target industry. The experience section of your résumé is where you should describe the skills identified in the objective statement and profile section.
Whereas, on your previous résumé, you might have included a list of responsibilities for each position, your new résumé will highlight your personal accomplishments. Think about ways that you've added value in previous positions. Have you improved a process? Suggested a new incentive for employee performance? Created a new strategy that improved sales? Whenever possible quantify your results. Instead of listing what you've done, describe how well you performed.
For example, adding accomplishments to this bland job description...
Retail Store Manager
. Managed staff of seven sales associates
. Responsible for inventory control and restocking
. Complied with corporate procedures in merchandise displays
...can dramatically increase your appeal as a candidate:
Retail Store Manager
. Led a team of sales associates to increase sales by 7%, which solidified the store's rank as the highest revenue producer in the country.
. Created an inventory management system that was implemented in all stores in the Midwest region.
. Devised creative ways to communicate store incentives, such as the frequent buyer card, and encouraged customer feedback.
The revised example shows innovation and leadership, as opposed to the generic job description in the first example.
When you're writing your new résumé, don't be afraid to highlight your achievements. Employers in every industry value achievement-oriented employees. If you prove that you're adaptable and committed to excellence, you will make a smooth transition to a new career.
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