Resume For Changing Careers

Changing careers is a challenge; you're making a transition from a position you are familiar with to a completely new and different role. The experience of changing careers can be a rewarding one if you do it right, and the first place you need to start is your resume. A resume for career changers needs to be strong and targeted. Consider these tips to help you stand out in the crowd.

"When you're attempting to change careers, you're often going up against many other candidates who possess a more traditional (and regularly accepted) work history for the role or industry you're targeting," says Amanda Augustine, career expert at TheLadders, a web-based job-matching service. "A standout resume will help you get noticed when you might otherwise be passed over."

Augustine suggests a few tweaks to your current resume to help you compete against more traditional candidates in your desired career field. No matter what industry or role you're coming from or headed to, these tips are important in helping your resume stand out.

Customize your resume to the industry you are targeting. To do this, you need to first define your job goal, which will determine the focus of your resume and the qualifications you'll need to emphasize. Once you have a clear career vision, select the skills and experience you have that are relevant to that vision. For instance, if your background is in human resources, but you are seeking a career in sales, think of ways to marry your HR skills with the sales industry. Interpersonal communication, problem-solving and strategic thinking are all important skills that translate over a variety of industries. "While HR and sales may not seem like similar career tracks, many of the skills leveraged by recruiters can be transferable to a sales or marketing career," says Augustine.

Compiling a list of your relevant skills and qualifications gets a bit more challenging if you're seeking a career change into a highly-specialized or niche field. In this case, Augustine recommends speaking with professionals in your desired career field about their experience and what skills make for a successful transition. Not only will you get some helpful insight into how to break into your chosen industry, but you'll also make invaluable connections. In addition, you can begin reading and subscribing to industry-specific publications, following relevant blogs and attending industry events to feel more "in the know" and beef up your industry knowledge. Enthusiasm and knowledge can take you a long way when you lack formal experience.

Don't hesitate to include non-work-related skills and activities on your resume if they are relevant to your target industry. Volunteer work, internships or memberships in professional associations are great ways to liven up a resume that lacks industry experience, and the more you are exposed to industry knowledge through non-work-related outlets, the smoother your career change will be when you finally do make it into your chosen field.

Changing careers can be challenging, but you can make it easier on yourself by designing a brand-new resume that highlights your transferable skills and industry knowledge. It's never too late to make a career change, and a standout resume will help you get there faster.

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