Resume Tips for Career Changers

Resume Tips for Career Changers Resume dilemma Career changeIn a competitive job market, its hard enough for job seekers on a steady career path to get their resumes leidiced. If you are pursuing a new direction, its all that much more difficult to convince hiring managers to take a chance on you.A common mistake career changers make is to use the same resumes that worked in their previous careers when theyre pursuing new ones. Instead, resumes should be reworked to emphasize key qualifications for new objectives.The best way to get started is to research the field youre trying to break into to understand what hiring managers want from their workers. Network with people in the industry, and review job openings on Monster. Learn about the skills and other credentials that are important in your new career.Now answer the question Why should an employer take a chance on me? You may not have the desired experience, but you probably have skills that are transferable from your former career A hobby, volunteer experience, etc.A transferable skill is a skill that you developed in one career that is applicable to your new career. For example, a teacher may leverage communication skills used daily in the classroom (e.g., delivering presentations, facilitating group discussion, persuading others and writing reports) to a new career in sales.Write out a list of your most desirable, related qualifications these should form the cornerstone of your resume. Next, select the most appropriate resume format based on the type of career change you are pursuingCombination ChronologicalThis one is best for career changers with transferable skills from a previous career.Many career changers do well with a combination resume format, which is a chronological-style resume that leads with a qualifications summary. The summary emphasizes your most related credentials so hiring managers easily see you are qualified for your new goal. It is important for you to mention your new career objecti ve, so employers dont assume youre staying in your old field. Your work history should focus on the skills, tasks and accomplishments most relevant to your new career.Functional ResumeIf youre pursuing a career that is very different than your former career, a functional resume is a good choice. This style allows you to draw out your related skills and downplay your work history.Lead your resume with a career goal and qualifications summary, and then create functional categories that highlight your related skills and experience. Your work chronology is a simple listing at the end of the resume (include company name, city, state, job title and dates), with no job description for unrelated positions.Resume LetterAnother strategy for career changers with minimal related experience is a resume letter, which is a cover letter that substitutes for a resume. A resume letter emphasizes your passion for the industry and any related experience/training, but its narrative format allows you com plete control over the information you provide.Keep your letter focused on how your motivation, enthusiasm and passion for your new career would benefit the employers operation. You will still need to have a more traditional resume format on hand in case its requested, but the letter will serve as a good introduction and pique the hiring managers interest in interviewing you.Get a free reviewAdditional Articles in This Feature Update Your Resume Week home Refresh Your Retro Resume in 6 Steps Declutter Your Resume in 5 Steps Common Resume Blunders Race, Sex and Religion on Your Resume Rev Up Your Resume to Relocate Resume Tips by Industry Audio Resume Style Tips Interactive Resume Readiness Quizzes Update your Monster Resume now --As you can see, writing a resume for a career change isnt like writing a resume when youve been in the same industry all along. Could you use some help fine-tuning the details?Get a free resume eval uation today from the experts atMonsters Resume Writing Service. Youll get detailed feedback in two geschftsleben days, including a review ofyour resumes appearance and content, and a prediction of a recruiters first impression.Its a quick and easy way to be sure youre coming across as professional and ready to make that change.