Changing Careers: What you need to know

Are You changing careers? Are you tired of your current job? Are you looking for a new challenge?

Maybe a career change is in your future. Here are some important tips to help you update your resume to reflect the path your new career will take.

First, you want your resume to shine. You also want your resume to impress and capture the attention of an employer in your desired field. This means that you will need to restructure your resume to highlight the needs and goals of a new type of prospective employer. Changing careers means you have to change your resume.

Here is how to do it:

Since you may not have the direct experience required for your new endeavor, you will probably want to change your resume format. In all likelihood, a functional or combination style format will work best. These resume formats work best because they accentuate your skill set and your accomplishments as opposed to the specific companies you have worked for and your job titles. This way you can call attention to your achievements, abilities and talents.

When using either resume format, list skills and accomplishments towards the top of the page. You want a prospective employer to understand how you can contribute to their team as opposed to which companies you have worked for or your former job titles. Who you worked for is relevant to some degree, but it can distract the reader from noticing your skills and achievements. The importance of this is illustrated in the following example:

Let's say you worked as a graphics designer for Anderson Consulting and now you wish to change your career focus. You have decided to seek a job as an artist for greeting cards. Both careers require artistic ability but the skills and duties involved will be quite different. Thus, it is essential to showcase your experience, skills and talent related to the new job so that a prospective employer will be sure to notice it.

Remember, most resumes are initially skimmed, not scrutinized. You only have a few moments to make a big impact, so lead with your strengths.

So which skills do you include in your resume? When changing careers, you want to focus on those skills that transfer well from job to job. These are competencies that every employer looks for in a candidate no matter what the job is. They are universal abilities that are needed in every job.

When considering the skills you should put in your resume, remember that there are a whole host of transferable skills that employers seek regardless of where you work. They transfer from position to position.

Here are some examples that you may want to consider when planning your resume. Think about your own job experience and how it relates to these skill sets:

• communication skills (written and oral)
• collaborative skills
• team player
• negotiation skills
• leadership abilities
• problem solving
• motivating others

There are many more examples but these will illustrate the concept and give you a starting point to begin updating your resume. You can find a more extensive list elsewhere on another page.

Next, include a list of relevant achievements such as awards, honors or publications. Be sure they demonstrate a transferable skill or that they are related your new career path. Your real estate agent of the month award will look great if you are applying for a related career or sale job but if you plan to be a school teacher, the school superintendent may not care about your sales award. Your new resume needs to focus on elements that demonstrate your ability to succeed at your new career.

Once you have modified your resume, you can use your cover letter to identify your motivation for changing career paths. This is an opportunity to "pitch" your new resume and career. Make sure to keep things positive and express your enthusiasm and aspirations for success rather than problems with your prior work.

The bottom line is that you want to help a prospective employer easily find your qualifications so they can offer you an interview.

Changing careers is not easy. You will need determination, patience and creativity. It will be much more challenging then finding a similar job in the same field. Yes, it is harder, but it can and should be done if it is what you truly desire. The effort it takes will pay off when you are able to make the move to your dream career.

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