Most would believe that employees who have been employed by their respective companies for over ten years would feel comfortable working in the same industry for the duration of their careers. In perspective, there are more employees wanting to make a career change midway through their course of employment. There are many reasons that could be the cause of an employee looking to start a career in a new industry. In some cases, they are looking for a new challenge, dislike the work that they do, are looking for better pay for the skills they have acquired through the years. In some other cases, working professionals want to pursue newly found interest in a new field.
Whatever the reason is behind a transition, it is imperative to be well prepared for the progression to a new career. A strategically drafted resume is critically important to ensure success in your transition period. Here are some professional resume writing tricks to help when doing so.
Implement Transferrable Skills in Your Skills Section
Your skill section is arguably the most important aspect of your resume when looking to transition into a different career field. Without any actual experience in the new field, it is critical to emphasize that you have the skill set required for the job. Create a list of the skills you have gained throughout your career and compare them with the most common skills required in the industry you’re looking to get into. Look for matches and include them in your resume.
Use a Combination Resume Format
This is the best resume format to use when transitioning industries, ensuring that you are leading with your qualifications and experiences most related to the position. In transitioning situations, avoid using chronological and functional resumes to showcase your skills. A chronological resume shows your progression in your current industry and will highlight that you lack experience in the new one. A Functional will only highlight your skills and does not focus on the progression and successes in your current career. In cases such as these, it is beneficial to combine both formats to feature transferrable skills and as well as the growth you have had in your current career.
Include a Detailed Career Objective
You need to have a clear understanding of why you want to transition into a new industry. This key piece of information will help your resume stand out from other candidates applying to the same position. The objective needs to be clear, concise, and profoundly detailed. Include your current goals and tailor your objective to the specific job you desire to help your transition.
Transitioning industries can be intimidating. For this reason, many employees will shy away from the idea of even taking a leap of faith into a new career. However, utilizing these tips and implementing strategy into your resume writing can help you be successful in transitioning to nearly any industry.