Starting a career in a new field, though exciting, comes with a challenge. There are always chances that your application might get overshadowed by candidates with more experience, and you aren’t supposed to underestimate the role that a well-written resume plays in the hiring process. Also, this helps in case you don’t have the work experience an employer is looking for. So, it’s worth preparing the appropriate Resume that can effectively convey why you’d be a great fit for the job. For several reasons, people are considering changing careers, so it is important to know how to write a career change resume.
How to write a career change Resume for your dream role
There’s a necessity of focusing on a few areas when writing a resume for a new career path. A traditional resume focuses heavily on work experience, however, that doesn’t stay the same when it comes to creating a career change resume, as the latter focuses more on transferable skills. Regarding how your Resume is structured, it’s worth noting that a combination resume format is a way to go, as this type places an equal emphasis on both skills and experience. It’s worth not starting the Resume with your work experience. Rather, when you are choosing a combination resume template, you typically need to begin with an objective and a summary of relevant skills.
The professionals offering Resume writing services in India ask you to consider the steps listed below to help you adapt your existing Resume into one tailored for career switching.
- Resume objective
A resume objective serves as a summary of your skills, accomplishments, professional experience, and career goals. Resume objectives and summaries are optional, especially when you’re trying to save room on your Resume. However, it is not recommended to miss out on this section as it is crucial for those looking to change careers. The hiring manager, otherwise, cannot make an immediate connection between your experience and the role, so the resume objective is mandatory so that the recruitment team knows the area you are interested in in this industry. Also, note that the objective should be no longer than a couple of sentences.
- Include a skills summary
When it comes to changing careers, it’s always necessary to feature your skills prominently on your resume. Listing them above your work experience is essential in this case. When you’re creating a resume for a changing career, ensure that in the skills summary section, you list a few skills to highlight and add bullet points underneath each skill, providing examples of when you’ve used the skill. Also, it’s worth scanning the job description for the position you’re applying for. With that, it will be beneficial for you to use some of the required skills as your starting point. In addition to that, list soft skills—including leadership skills. Include the same keywords as the job description, ensuring that your Resume makes it past automatic review filters. Also, it is recommended to choose to make a separate section for “Technical Skills” to briefly list your proficiency with various industry tools or software as a great way to capture additional keywords from the job description without listing full examples of when you’ve used each tool.
- Focus on relevant work experience
The work experience section should list the transferable skills. This doesn’t mean that you will have to list all of the responsibilities at your old job. The recommended step to follow here is that you focus on the responsibilities most relevant to the new position. While you’re creating a resume, make sure that you Connect your work experience back to the skills in your skills summary section. Also, with this Resume, Focus on achievements, providing numbers and data. What is recommended is to tailor descriptions to each job you apply for and make sure you jot down the keywords from the job description.
- Highlight education
Education is directly or indirectly related to certain jobs, and so to build trust, it is highly recommended to include this section on your Resume. With limited professional experience, bolster your Resume with descriptions of your academic achievements, including GPA or relevant coursework. In case you have the necessary certificates outside of a degree program, list these, too. It is recommended to do so because the online programs and certificates offer a way to expand your knowledge in a specific subject area, showing employers that you are serious about your professional development. Also, it reflects how great you are at trying to gain more experience in a particular industry.
- Add projects and accomplishments
a section that lists projects and accomplishments isn’t always necessary. However, this becomes an absolute necessity when you are choosing to change careers or do not have much work experience. Use this section to highlight any personal achievements not directly related to work or school. Include a section for projects or accomplishments where you can list ties back to a key skill or characteristic relevant to your desired career path.
Final say
Changing careers often seem scary and intimidating, but at the same time, it also serves as a great opportunity for you to discover more about yourself while choosing to grow into the best person in the professional field. Suppose you’re finding it difficult to craft a resume for yourself for a career change. In that case, it’s recommended to take into consideration the services of professionals who have developed expertise in offering LinkedIn profile writing services in India. With that, you can rest assured that your Resume is appropriate for applying for the desired job role.
