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Reinventing yourself professionally is challenging. It takes courage and tenacity to leave an established career and enter one where you have to prove yourself at an age where your competition may be several years your junior. It can be done, however; and entering the second phase of your career can actually be an enjoyable experience.
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New Career, New Résumé
In preparation for your career change, alter your résumé. Change your format to include your new career objective, and make sure to highlight all of your transferable skills. No matter what your new profession is, all employers value achievement-oriented employees.
If you're concerned that your target companies are more interested in hiring new college graduates than aftermarket, seasoned professionals, try these résumé tricks:
. Remove your graduation dates from your résumé. If you're comfortable discussing those milestones during your interview, do so. By that time, the interviewer will have met you and will have been sufficiently impressed by your qualifications.
. Omit some of your experience or use a functional résumé that highlights your achievements rather than a chronological one. Your many years of experience may intimidate your target company and force them to believe, without meeting you, that you're overqualified.
Indicate Your Technological Proficiency
Fresh college graduates are viewed as more technologically savvy than those with a long work history, which is often a false stereotype. Disprove the fallacy by staying abreast of the latest office software packages and familiarizing yourself with new technologies.
Be Prepared for a Change in Salary
It's sad but true: it might be necessary to mentally prepare yourself for a pay cut. In your previous occupation, you might have earned the right to command a large salary. Since you're starting over, it's possible that your entry-level position won't warrant the same income.
Carefully inquire about potentials for career and salary advancement, and quietly devise your plan for raises and promotion.
Don't Be a Know-It-All
Constant reminders of your years of experience (e.g., "When I was Vice President, we did things a different way.") may come across as condescending and could indicate an unwillingness to change. It's acceptable to provide the occasional comment—to remind your interviewer that experience is the best teacher—but don't overdo it.
Even if your supervisor is younger, with less experience, try not to let your ego get in the way. Remove the chip from your shoulder and exude confidence, not arrogance.
Overcoming the initial hurdles will likely be the hardest part of your transition to a new career. Your previous accomplishments dictate your capability for success in the future. |
 
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How long has it been since you revised your résumé?
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