how to write a resume for a change in career

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Switching Careers? Here’s How to Write a Strong Resume.

• Benjamin Laker,
• Vijay Pereira,
• Abhishek Behl,
• Zaheer Khan

Start with a personal statement.

When you’re switching career paths, there’s one essential thing you need to focus on: updating your resume. Crafting a smart resume is key to showing your potential employer why you wish to make a change. While there’s no one right format to write a resume, here are some tips you can follow:

• Begin the resume with a personal statement. This is a short description about who you are, your reasons for changing your career, your new goals, how your previous experience can be transferred to the new industry, and why you’re perfect for the job.
• Next, instead of highlighting your work experience first, showcase the skills you’ve learned throughout your career. That’s because when changing careers, the hiring managers reviewing your application may not always be familiar with the roles and responsibilities of a different industry.
• Below your skills, you can include a more traditional description of your relevant work history. You don’t need to include every job you’ve ever had, especially if you’ve held a number of positions that don’t highlight any essential skills required for this role.
• Finally, end with a chronological list of your educational qualifications. You can also include details about any certifications or courses that you may be undertaking that may be relevant to the position you’re interested in.

Where your work meets your life. See more from Ascend here .

Switching career paths and trying something completely new can open you up to exciting opportunities, help you learn new things, and even earn you more money. But it’s not always easy — especially if you’re looking to move into an entirely different field. Apart from doing your research and unearthing opportunities, there’s one essential thing you need to focus on before you make the leap: updating your resume.

• Benjamin Laker is a professor of leadership at Henley Business School, University of Reading. Follow him on Twitter .
• Vijay Pereira is a professor of strategic and international human capital management at NEOMA Business School.
• AB Abhishek Behl is an assistant professor of information management at the Management Development Institute Gurgaon.
• ZK Zaheer Khan is a professor in strategy and international business at the University of Aberdeen.  

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11 Career Change Resume Examples Designed for 2024

Career Change to Administrative Assistant

Best for candidates with 3+ years of experience.

With your job experience and a stunning resume layout, recruiters will be ready to give your application the official stamp of approval.

Resume Builder

Like this template? Customize this resume and make it your own with the help of our Al-powered suggestions, accent colors, and modern fonts.

• Career Change Resumes
• Changing Careers To Resumes
• Changing Careers From Resumes
• Career Change Resumes for Teachers

Noah breathed a sigh of relief as he found a few accounting job descriptions that intrigued him. After spending years in various financial roles and racking up some impressive creds as a financial analyst, he felt confident in this career switch. But was he as prepared to  make a resume as he was for his career change?

Noah’s confidence went up when he found our library of career change resume examples and time-tested hints. Plus, he knew he’d be able to expand upon his career objective and add even more value by making a cover letter ! The notes he took while preparing his application materials even helped him navigate a victorious interview.

Whether you’re looking to change careers in accounting, teaching, or any other profession, check out our handy resources to build your own success story like Noah did!

Career Change Resume

or download as PDF

Why this resume works

• A summary merges your background with the opportunities you’re seeking. In other words, a summary demonstrates how your experience has prepared you for your new field. However, you should only use a summary if you’ve had  at least 10 years of experience.
• Choosing a  professional resume template  and  resume format  can help make your resume look professional and cohesive without much effort.

Multiple Career Resume

• The keywords you include will help tie your expertise together and prove that you have the right abilities for the job. 
• Start by listing hard skills (aka technical, learned skills) listed in the job description. If you don’t have a lot, then simply use soft skills like “analytical” and collaboration.”
• Whatever jobs you’ve held, find a common thread between them and the new job, then sew that thread into every job experience. It’ll be a subtle but powerful tool to increase credibility despite multiple career changes. 

Career Change To Accounting Resume

• If you’re applying to be an accountant but it wasn’t your most recent role, be sure to add a certifications section highlighting that you are a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Career Change To Administrative Assistant Resume

• Enhance your career change to administrative assistant resume with a short summary that shows recruiters where to draw parallels between your past experience and target title.

Marketing Manager Career Change Resume

• There are numbers everywhere; look for percentages relating to your skills, like how you boosted efficiency or increased sales from last quarter. The sky’s the limit!
• If you can’t find (or don’t have access to) percentages, then use plain numbers relating to how many team members you worked with, how many clients you took on, or how many referrals you gained.
• Things like only using active verbs and avoiding personal pronouns might seem minor, but they make reading your resume easier, which is huge for recruiters and hiring managers.
• And speaking of details, always  double-check your resume  for proper grammar, punctuation, and overall flow.

RN Career Change Resume

• An objective is only two to three sentences, so make sure each word packs a verbal punch by showing off your years of experience, skills, and desire for the role you’re seeking.
• For example, mentioning your adherence to HIPPA guidelines can demonstrate to hiring managers that you will stick to the rules. On the flip side, explaining how you used active listening to assist patients will show your compassion and customer service skills.

Journalist Career Change Resume

• Start by keeping your resume to a single page. Otherwise, you’ll overwhelm hiring managers (who will likely toss your resume into the recycling).
• It’s best to use reverse-chronological formatting on your resume to keep your most relevant job history at the top. While other formats are necessarily wrong, they aren’t standard, and they’re harder for hiring managers (and the ATS) to read.
• In your contact header, include your email address (make sure it’s a professional email), your phone number, and your location. 
• Consider adding a hyperlink to your LinkedIn profile if you have a LinkedIn account.

Mechanical Engineer Career Change Resume

• Consider asking a friend, relative, or even a career advisor from your alma mater to scan your resume for errors and discrepancies.
• Nothing tells a recruiter you’re not the right person for the job like saying you’re great at “time management.” 
• Put color in your section headers (or company titles) and your contact header. This will add visual interest without being overwhelming.
• If you’re applying to work at a conservative financial firm, you may want to stick to traditional colors rather than pastel pink or lavender.

Teacher Career Change Resume

• Look for ways to connect your previous duties to the responsibilities listed in the job description.
• Many skills  indirectly  transfer from one job to another. Consider your collaboration skills: your ability to work well with fellow teachers will help you work on team projects at your next job.
• Of course, if you have any skills, projects, or experience in your new field, include them, and explain how you’ve mastered them in your career change cover letter .
• Using a  resume template  is invaluable here, as you can easily scooch sections to the side, adjust your margins, and fix your font type to give you some extra wiggle room.

Teacher to Project Manager Resume

• The work experience bullet points to occupy the largest share of your CV—no more than four bullets for each role. As for your contact info, education, skills, hobbies, and certifications, a side column will do the trick. The cherry on top is restricting the entire resume to one page.

Teacher to Human Resources Resume

• But more importantly, mention the relevant transferable skills you bring to this entry-level role, a requirement Elijah executes well in his teacher to human resources resume. Better yet, let your bullet points show how you used these proficiencies in previous teaching roles.

Related resume guides

• Engineering

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• Wharton Online

How to Write a Career Change Resume [With Template]

Starting a career in a new field is exciting, but getting your foot in the door often presents a challenge. If you’re worried about your application being overshadowed by candidates with more experience than you, don’t underestimate the role that a well-written resume can play in the hiring process. Even if you don’t have the work experience an employer is looking for, your resume can effectively convey why you’d be a great fit for the job. 

According to iHire’s 2020 Talent Retention Report , 66% of survey respondents have recently considered changing careers. The report also found that not knowing how to write a career change resume was a commonly cited roadblock for would-be career switchers. 

In this guide, we explain what a career change resume is and how to write one. We’ve also included a free template, so you can get to work on crafting a resume for your dream role.

How to Write a Resume for a Career Change

In general, most best practices for writing a resume also apply to career change resumes. However, there are a few areas you’ll want to be sure to emphasize when writing a resume for a new career path. While a traditional resume focuses heavily on work experience, career change resumes focus more on transferable skills.

In terms of how your resume is structured, a combination resume format may be the way to go. This type of resume places an equal emphasis on both skills and experience. Instead of starting the resume with your work experience, combination resume templates typically begin with an objective and a summary of relevant skills. 

The steps listed below can help you adapt your existing resume into one that is tailored for career switching. 

1. Craft a resume objective  

A resume objective is a short summary of your professional experience, skills, accomplishments, and career goals. 

Resume objectives and summaries are often considered optional, especially if you are trying to save room on your resume, but this section is crucial for those looking to change careers. The hiring manager may not make an immediate connection between your experience and the role you’re applying for, so your resume objective is essential for helping convey why you’re interested in this industry. 

Your objective should be no longer than a couple sentences. If it takes up more than two or three lines on your resume, try to shorten it.

2. Include a skills summary 

If you’re in the midst of changing careers, you’ll want to feature your skills prominently on your resume. In fact, we recommend listing them above your work experience. 

In the skills summary section, list a few skills you want to highlight, and add bullet points underneath each skill that provide examples of when you’ve used this skill. 

Not sure what type of skills to include in this section? Scan the job description for the position you’re applying for and use some of the required skills as your starting point. Some soft skills—such as leadership skills —are applicable for almost any job. Including some of the same keywords as the job description can help ensure that your resume makes it past automatic review filters.

In some situations, you might also choose to make a separate section for “Technical Skills.” In this section, you can briefly list your proficiency with various industry tools or software. This can be a great way to capture additional keywords from the job description, without having to list full examples of when you’ve used each tool. 

3. Focus on the most relevant work experience 

For a career change resume, the work experience section is all about transferable skills. You don’t necessarily need to list all of the responsibilities you had at your old job. Instead, focus on the responsibilities that are the most relevant for the new position you’re applying for. For example, if you’re a customer service representative hoping to land a job in digital marketing, you may choose to narrow in on your ability to find creative solutions for your customers. 

Here are a few tips for describing your work experience:

• Connect your work experience back to the skills listed in your skills summary section
• Focus on achievements, providing numbers and data whenever possible
• Tailor your descriptions to each job you apply for, working in keywords from the job description

If you’re running out of space on your resume, keep in mind that you don’t need to list every job you’ve ever had. Stick to your most recent two or three jobs, and leave older, irrelevant jobs behind. 

Related: How to Successfully Navigate a Midlife Career Change and Avoid a Crisis

4. Highlight your education (including certificates) 

Whether or not your education is directly related to the job you’re applying for, it’s still important to include this section on your resume. If you have limited professional experience, you can bolster your resume with some descriptions of your academic achievements, such as your GPA or relevant coursework you’ve completed. 

For example, imagine you have an undergraduate degree in history and are applying for a role as a business analyst. If you took any courses in business or analytics during college, be sure to mention them. They might not have been a part of your degree, but they show that you’ve had an ongoing interest in understanding how businesses operate. 

If you’ve earned any certificates outside of a degree program, be sure to list these, too. Online programs and certificates offer a way to expand your knowledge in a specific subject area, without the time commitment of a full degree program. They can show employers that you are serious about your professional development and would like to gain more experience in a particular industry. 

Related: Top 10 Most In-Demand Online Courses from Wharton Online Right Now

5. Add in notable projects and accomplishments 

Dedicating a section of your resume to projects and accomplishments isn’t always necessary, but if you’re changing careers or do not have much work experience, this can be a valuable way to round out your resume. You can use this space to highlight any personal achievements that are not directly related to work or school—for example, personal projects, volunteer work, or involvement in industry-related clubs or organizations. 

If you choose to include a section for projects or accomplishments, make sure that everything you list ties back to a key skill or characteristic that is relevant for your desired career path.

Career Change Resume Example 

Now that we’ve covered some tips for creating a resume tailored to a career change, let’s explore an example. We crafted this resume for a customer service representative who is applying for a digital marketing specialist position. 

Name and Contact Information 

Abigail Jacobs 

Philadelphia, PA

267-555-0176 | [email protected]

linkedin.com/in/abigail-jacobs-example

Driven and hardworking professional with a proven track record of increasing customer satisfaction levels. Looking to leverage my problem-solving skills and build upon my 3+ years of customer service experience by transitioning into the digital marketing space.

Professional Skills 

Problem Solving

• Developed creative solutions for unsatisfied customers at Platinum Auto Insurance and Accelerate Call Center
• Lead brainstorming sessions with team members to improve customer satisfaction metrics

Communication 

• 3+ years of experience in customer services roles, frequently communicating with customers both on the phone and over email 
• Completed a B.A. in Communications and was an active member of the Public Speaking Club while in college 

Organization 

• Used Excel to organize and track customer service metrics, and compiled these metrics into weekly reports for management 

Technical Skills 

• Microsoft Word
• Google Suite 
• Google Analytics 
• Google Search Console 

Work Experience

Senior Customer Service Advisor

Platinum Auto Insurance | Sept 2019 – Present

• Resolved over 100 customer complaints per week, communicating with customers via phone and email 
• Tracked KPIs for each ticket and delivered weekly customer satisfaction reports for management, consistently exceeding target satisfaction ratings by 5-10%
• Collaborated with team members to identify creative solutions for customers

Customer Service Representative 

Accelerate Call Center | Jul 2018 – Sept 2019 

• Responded to 50+ calls per day, answering questions from customers and redirecting to other departments as needed 
• Demonstrated written communication skills by revamping customer service phone scripts, resulting in a 20% increase in customer satisfaction ratings 

Bachelor of Arts in Communication

University of Pennsylvania | Jun 2018

• Completed courses in advertising and social media

Digital Marketing Certificate 

Wharton Online | Mar 2022

• Completed a six-week program from The Wharton School
• Learned about topics such as marketing analytics, customer relationships, social media, and e-commerce marketing 

Personal Projects

Marketing Assistant for Public Speaking Club 

2017 – 2018

• As a member of the Public Speaking Club at University of Pennsylvania, assisted the club with creating a monthly newsletter
• Managed social media accounts for the club, consistently posting content and engaging with followers 

Marketing Consultant 

2020 – Present 

• Assisted a friend with the creation and management of photography business website
• Used Google Analytics and Google Search Console to measure the performance of website content 

Career Change Resume Template

We’ve adapted this example into three different template formats, with the hope that it can serve as a jumping off point for your own career change resume. Click on the links below to download the template:

• Microsoft Word .DOCX
• Google Docs (click on “File > Make a copy” to save to your own Google Docs folder)

Stand Out From the Crowd With Wharton Online

If you’re looking to switch careers in the near future, an online certificate program can help set you up for success. In addition to gaining valuable insights into a specific industry, you’ll be able to list your certificate on your resume and LinkedIn. This can give you a competitive edge during your job search. 

Wharton Online offers certificate programs in subjects such as leadership and management, asset and portfolio management, and digital marketing. All of our courses are conducted 100% online, giving you the flexibility to complete coursework on your own schedule. Explore our online programs today , or reach out to us with any questions. 

For more tips on how to navigate a career change, download our free guide, “ The Career-Switching Handbook for 30‑Somethings .”

Download our eBook: The Career-Switching Handbook for 30‑Somethings

Job-hopping is a growing trend among young professionals, and for many good reasons. Download our free eBook, “The Career-Switching Handbook for 30‑Somethings,” for the latest career-switching tips, strategies, and data.

Download the eBook

The Wharton School is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and is authorized to issue the IACET CEU.

More From Forbes

The ultimate guide to writing a career change resume.

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Changing careers doesn’t have to be difficult. It all starts with a resume crafted to highlight your ... [+] transferrable skills.

Your resume is one of the most critical tools during a career transition. Crafted thoughtfully, a career change resume can effectively highlight transferable skills and experiences from your old career to the new one, showcasing you as a prime candidate for your dream job .

Career change resumes offer a different narrative of a person’s experience versus someone looking to advance in their current industry. Transferrable skills are the most important to highlight.

What Success Looks Like In A Career Change

A successful career change doesn’t necessarily mean starting over. It can involve leveraging existing skills in a new context or applying knowledge from one industry to another. Success is about finding a role where you can make a meaningful contribution, and it often requires a blend of determination and strategic planning. The story you tell so far in your career that paints you as the right person for the job is vital to your resume being seen by the hiring manager.

Step-By-Step Guide To Writing Your Career Change Resume

It’s a fine line between highlighting what makes you unique and ensuring your document aligns with industry expectations. Here’s how to do it right.

Identify Your Transferrable Skills

Before opening a Word document or choosing a resume template, the first step is to take stock of your skills. Begin by closely examining your previous roles and jotting down the skills they entailed. Try categorizing them into hard skills—like technical skills and software proficiencies—and soft skills—such as communication and leadership abilities.

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Best 5% interest savings accounts of 2024, brainstorm your narrative.

What is your career change story? Who’s the audience that will be listening to it? These are the overarching questions that will guide your resume writing process. You’ll want to combine your reasons for changing careers with your past experiences and future aspirations.

When crafting your career change narrative, consider these critical questions to create a cohesive and compelling story:

• What motivated your career change? Reflect on the reasons behind your decision to shift careers. Was it a pursuit of passion, a need for a new challenge or an inevitable industry change affecting your previous role?
• How do your past experiences contribute to your new direction? Evaluate how your previous roles have equipped you with unique skills and perspectives that will benefit your target industry or role.
• What accomplishments in your career thus far can illustrate your suitability for this new path? Identify specific achievements that demonstrate your capability and readiness for the change.
• How have you prepared for the transition? Consider any additional training, courses or self-led learning you’ve undertaken to bridge any skill gaps.
• What are your long-term goals in this new career? Define what success looks like for you in this new field and how you plan to achieve it.

Choosing The Right Resume Format

The format of your resume is dependent on your career trajectory. A functional resume may be the best way to draw attention to your skills if you’re making a big career leap. A hybrid resume, which combines elements of both the chronological and functional formats, can also work well for career changers, as it allows you to detail your skills while still providing a job history.

Elements Of A Stand-Out Career Change Resume

The typical resume sections are still relevant: Skills, competencies, accolades, experience, volunteer work, education and training. For career changers, add a snapshot of who you are and what you bring to the table. Think of a snapshot as your elevator pitch. Instead of explaining what you are looking for, you highlight your top accolades, position and projects you’re currently working on; it shouldn’t be any longer than three sentences.

For example, “I’m Jane Doe, a marketing professional who brought the newest Target campaign to 100 million Instagram accounts. I’ve excelled in connecting influencers with top brands and have hosted over 150 brand activations.”

Make sure to include all the important elements on your resume to make you stand out. Having a short ... [+] story or narrative of who you are also helps.

Words and Phrases To Include In Resume

When it comes to the actual writing, it’s essential to use language that speaks to both your old and your new career. Choose words and phrases relevant to the job you’re applying for, but also aim to include industry-specific terms from your previous career to highlight the breadth of your experience.

• Cross-functional expertise: Demonstrates the ability to work across various departments, enhancing team synergy and project outcomes.
• Quick Learner: Indicates your capacity to rapidly acquire new knowledge and skills, reducing the learning curve in a new role.
• Innovative Thinker: Shows your capability to think creatively and bring new ideas to the table, driving progress.
• Versatile Professional: Indicates a broad skillset and flexibility, positioning you as a candidate capable of handling various responsibilities

Do’s And Don’ts Of Resume Etiquette

• Do focus on your achievements and how they demonstrate your capabilities, not just the tasks you’ve performed.
• Do quantify your accomplishments with numbers or percentages whenever possible to add weight to your claims.
• Don’t include unrelated job experiences that don’t align with the position you’re targeting.
• Don’t gloss over any employment gaps resulting from your career change. Instead, use these gaps to explain how you spent that time productively, such as through continuing education or volunteer work.

Your career change resume aims to get your foot in the door for an interview. Invest time in perfecting your career change resume, and you’ll find that employers will be more than willing to listen to the rest of your story.

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Career Change Resume: Examples and Tips from Experts

By Biron Clark

Published: November 8, 2023

Biron Clark

Writer & Career Coach

If you want to change careers, you’re going to need a great resume to show employers why they should take a chance on you.

You need to convince them that you’ll succeed in their role, even if you’ve done different work in the past.

And while you can do some of this convincing in the job interview, you aren’t going to get interviews if your resume or CV isn’t great , too, so it all starts here!

Don’t worry if this sounds intimidating – this article has everything you need to write an effective resume for career change…

I spoke to multiple professional resume writers, coaches, and other experts and put together this list of resume tips for career changers, as well as real-life examples of resumes that got interviews.

Here’s what you need to know…

Career Change Resume/CV Format

The best resume format for a career change is the chronological resume (also known as “reverse chronological resume”). With this format, your resume or CV lists your work experience in the order it happened, starting with your most recent or current position at the top.

This is what most hiring managers and recruiters are used to seeing and prefer to see, so it’s the best format to use when switching careers (or in any job search, for that matter).

So the first thing to do with your resume is to make sure you’re using this format. Put your most recent position at the top of your “Work Experience” section , and then go backward from there. You’ll see examples of this coming up – don’t worry.

The bottom line is: You aren’t going to hide something or “sneak” through the process by using a less-common (and more confusing) resume format like a functional resume.

This will just confuse and frustrate the hiring manager or recruiter .

So rather than trying to hide gaps in your experience, you should tailor your experience to be as relevant as possible for the job you’re applying to. That’s how to approach resume formatting as a career changer.

Career Change Resume Objective (And Why NOT To Include This)

You should not include a resume objective when changing careers (or on any resume, in fact). A resume objective is an outdated section that should be replaced with a resume summary section – a brief intro summarizing your experience, skills, accomplishments, and anything else you’d like to share.

Coming up next, we’ll look at examples of how to write this “summary” section as a career changer.

Writing Your Resume Summary for Career Change

Rather than a resume objective, you should include a brief Summary section to show employers what you’ve accomplished and how you can help them in their role.

I asked multiple experts for tips and examples of how to write a resume summary for a career change, so here are some tips from coaches, resume writers, and other experts.

Career Change Resume Example: Switching Careers from Business Development at a Skilled Nursing Facility to Medical Device Sales 

This section is contributed by: Virginia Franco – Executive Resume Writer at Virginia Franco Resumes

When writing a summary section for a career change, think about what you bring to the table that aligns with the role you seek, and what makes you less of a hiring risk for the hiring manager or interviewer.

In the example above, my client wanted to pivot from a business development role at a skilled nursing facility into medical device sales. In writing his summary, I:

• Chose a headline that contained some keywords related to the role he currently held AND the role he was targeting.
• Created a tagline that spoke to his success in Skilled Nursing using language that was industry-neutral.
• Identified a few differentiators that would make him appealing to a hiring manager and help outweigh the fact that he was new to the role and industry.

In this case, the fact that he:

• Knew lots of key players meant he could hit the ground running and build a sales funnel fast
• Was multilingual but raised in the U.S. meant he could interface well with many cultures – important in the area where he lived, and in working with surgeons that are often from other countries.
• Kept abreast of the industry and trends meant he was passionate about the industry and that he embraced continual learning.
• Established trust by working to overcome obstacles in a creative fashion meant that he was a problem solver – a trait that would make him attractive to a hiring manager.

In other words, I worked to make him seem like a candidate that was a risk worth taking!

Career Change Resume Example: Changing Careers from Medical Device Sales to Advertising & Technology

This section is contributed by: Austin Belcak – Founder at Cultivated Culture

When your changing careers, one of the biggest resume challenges is getting visibility on the transferable and relevant experience that you have.

Maybe you worked on a relevant project two jobs ago, maybe you took a course that’s buried in your education section, or maybe you’ve been working on a side hustle but are worried about leading with that vs. your current job.

Using resume objectives is a good way to combat this issue.

Resume objectives allow you to cherry-pick the most relevant work experience from your career, education, and side projects and feature it right at the top of your resume. This gives you the chance to lead with the most relevant transferable experience so you make sure it’s seen instead of getting lost in the mix.

This is the exact tactic I used when I was switching careers from medical device sales into advertising/tech.

My day job was in healthcare, it didn’t offer much in the way of traditional skills, but I had been spending nights and weekends learning digital marketing. I took courses, got certified, and even started doing a bit of freelancing. I wanted that to show at the top of my resume so I used an objective to highlight that ahead of my current role:

Tip: Target Everything for the Role You Want

This section is contributed by: Sarah Johnston – Former Recruiter, Executive Resume Writer, and Job Search Coach at BriefcaseCoach.com

When writing a resume for a career change, it’s important to target your resume for the role that you want. I recommend finding a few job descriptions that interest you and scanning for keywords and themes. Use the target job title or skill set in the header to frame the resume.

The Ladders did an eye tracking study that found that recruiters and hiring managers only spend 7.4 seconds scanning a resume before deciding to pass or read more. The heat map showed that better-performing resumes have keywords at the top to immediately draw the eye.

Attached is the top of a career changer sample resume. This hypothetical job seeker is wanting to transition from an account manager role to being an executive assistant . The resume plays up her transferable skills and includes a header that references the job that she wants.

As a former corporate recruiter, I am not a fan of functional resumes. Recruiters are taught to scan resumes chronologically. When you take the experience out of context or “order,” it often gives the recruiter the impression you are trying to hide or fudge experience.

Tip: Use Bullets to Stand Out

This section is contributed by: Madeline Mann – Human Resources Leader & Career Coach, Creator of Self Made Millennial

Consider writing your resume intro or summary in bullet format, as this makes it easier for people to quickly scan it.

The first couple of bullet points should emphasize the most important keywords from the job description.

Get creative with how you integrate these terms into your summary. For example, use phrases like “experience with” and “knowledge of” to indicate tasks that you have become familiar with inside or outside of your job.

Personal projects, volunteering, and education should all contribute to what you describe here. If the most prominent keywords in the job description are tasks and concepts that you are unfamiliar with, that is a sign that you need to build those skills on your own time. Here is a video on how to build these important skills without getting hired.

The next couple of bullet points should focus on the most relevant accomplishments to the role you are pursuing, which may not be from your most recent role.

This is where the magic of the summary section comes into play. Pull in early-career achievements, side projects, and unpaid work where you did tasks that are more closely aligned with your new career. For example, if you are a Psychology Lab Assistant, and you want to be a Building Manager, many of your lab tasks won’t translate.

But, five years ago you were the treasurer of your sorority (budgeting is a keyword), and you handled many contractors to ensure the house was renovated and maintained (knowledge of the trades is a keyword). While that experience may be buried due to it being 5 years ago and not a paid position, it can hop to the top of your career change resume as a highly relevant accomplishment in the summary.

The summary section is an opportunity for you to truly spell it out for the hiring manager where your transferable skills will be too well-matched to ignore!

Editor’s note: Bullets are also a great way to make your resume work history section stand out. This article explains how to do this with 22 resume bullet examples. 

Career Change Resume Work History Section: Samples and Tips

After a brief summary or intro paragraph, you’ll need a powerful employment history section to continue to impress the recruiter or hiring manager. Use the tips below to help you write yours.

Write Your Resume by Working Backward from the Job Description

This section is contributed by: Kyle Elliott – Career & Life Coach and Resume Writer at CaffeinatedKyle.com

The key to a successful career change resume is to work backward from the job posting. I encourage clients to literally pull language from the posting of the job they are targeting, then massage it until it truthfully reflects their experience. You really want to speak the language of the industry you are moving into.

In the example below, my client was targeting sales roles. However, she has several years of impressive experience from working in higher education that we wanted to include on her resume. So we repositioned her earlier experience as a “customer experience manager” role, pulling language directly from the job postings she was targeting.

Add Keywords to Get Past the ATS

This section is contributed by: Susan P. Joyce – Publisher of Job-Hunt.org

When your goal is a career change, be sure that your resume contains the relevant keywords for the career you want. Without these keywords, your resume will not be found in a recruiter’s search of the applications and resumes stored in the applicant tracking system (ATS).

Analyze the job description and pay attention to the job’s requirements as well as the nice-to-have skills. Make a list of the skills and other job requirements you meet. Those terms are typically the terms that will be used most often when the employer is searching for qualified job candidates.

If you have acquired skills or experience outside of work, don’t be afraid to include them, too. These include skills you have acquired while volunteering or participating in other non-work activities, especially if those skills are required for this job (and, thus, important keywords).

One of the best places to start including keywords on your career change resume is your “Skills” section.

The Skills section provides a quick way to show employers that you have the skills they’ve listed on their job description.

For example: Assume the job requires hard skills like QuickBooks or SQL, and you have experience with them or have certifications from training you have taken. Include the appropriate term in your Skills section, like “QuickBooks” or “QuickBooks Certified”.

Then, in the “Experience” section of your resume , include those skills in the descriptions of your past jobs (or volunteering) where you acquired and/or used those skills. This will show the employer when and where you demonstrated your skills, which they always want to see!

Repetition of keywords is usually a good thing when the repetition is natural, relevant, and appropriate. So, having these important terms in both the Skills and Experience sections of your resume will help your resume be found.

However, simply repeating keywords at the bottom of your resume is not smart or useful.

Career Change Resume Templates

You should now have a general idea of how to format and write your resume or CV for a career change.

If you need a great starting point and don’t want to create your resume from scratch (or if your existing resume is outdated and doesn’t look great) then this job search resources page has multiple free resume templates that are great for changing careers.

After clicking the link above, scroll down to the section titled: “ATS-Compliant Resume Templates.” All of the templates on that page are free to use and download.

Recap: How to Write a Resume for Career Change

If you’re planning on switching careers, you should write your resume to make your experience seem as relevant as possible for the job you want next.

Always think of the employer’s perspective when deciding what to put on your resume and what to leave off.

Write your career change CV or resume based on the employer’s job description and you’ll be much more likely to win the interview.

That’s how to get a new job in a new field. Employers want candidates who can step into a role, learn the position quickly, and succeed. They want low risk.  The more you can show similarities between what you’ve done and what the employer needs for this job, the better!

To summarize: Your CV or resume for a career change will be most successful if you start with the employer’s needs in mind, work backward, and think carefully about how to position your own experiences – both professional and personal – to make yourself seem capable of stepping into their job and being a success!

About the Author

Read more articles by Biron Clark

Read our Resume Essentials Guides

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How to Write a Career Change Resume (Guide, Templates, & Examples)

Customers Interviewed by:

Quitting your job and switching careers can be one of the most unsettling moments of your life. It is scary, intimidating, and sometimes overwhelming. 

But changing careers could also be one of the bravest and most fulfilling things you can do if you are willing to put in the work. A critical asset in your big move is a career change resume that focuses on all the right things.

In this guide, we will help you craft your career change resume and gain more confidence as you take that next big step in your career.

Table of Contents

• How to write a career change resume
• Career change resume templates
• Career change resume examples

Key Takeaways

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Career Change

Need help in deciding whether to do a career pivot? Try our career change tool today!

How to craft a resume for your career change

Doing a career pivot means you are starting over. With this, you need to convince recruiters and hiring managers that you have what it takes to do the new job well. And one way to prove your value to recruiters is by creating a career change resume that will grab their attention. Here’s how you write one.

1. Study the job description to match up your transferable skills

First things first, you need to carefully read the job posting and understand how your past achievements and transferable skills can help you succeed in your desired new role.

Transferable skills are any skills that you can take with you from one job, field, or industry to another.

For example: A job seeker with a background in journalism might recognize the keyword “writing” in the job description for an advertising position. While this job seeker doesn’t have advertising experience, they do have expert-level writing skills that would make them a great candidate for the new role.

Writing, in this example, is a transferable skill. Transferable skills include both hard skills and soft skills , like leadership , time management , multi-tasking, communication , organization, emotional intelligence , listening, research, and many more.

Pro Tip: Include these skills in your work experience section, focusing less on duties and more on the skills you have developed, as these will be of the most interest to the hiring manager. 

2. Choose a career change resume format that highlights a logical connection in your career change

Oftentimes, job seekers choose a functional resume for career change job searches. A functional resume can be appealing because it turns the focus away from work history and toward skills and accomplishments. However, it can make it look like the job seeker has something to hide. 

A better option for most job applicants making a career change is the hybrid resume (also called a “combination resume”), which still showcases skills and accomplishments but includes a traditional work history in the second half of the document.

Here’s the bottom line when it comes to resume format when changing careers: if you’re staying within the same industry, a hybrid resume will work great for you. If you’re changing careers and industries, you can consider a functional resume format, though the hybrid resume is likely still a better choice.

3. Write a resume objective or summary that frames your career change as a strength

Your resume objective or resume summary sections are a great way to convince recruiters that your past experience sets you up as the perfect candidate for the new role. These statements tie in your experience and skills with what your new career demands.

When writing your resume objective, focus on the skills that you’ve picked up throughout your current career and other previous roles and explain how you plan to use them in this new industry. 

For example:

Accounting professional with over 10 years of experience looking to transfer my skills to the finance industry. My proven mathematical and money management skills make me an ideal fit for the Finance Assistant position.

Passionate sales representative with over 5 years of experience working with customers and selling software. Looking to leverage my proven skills in seeing our customers’ pain points and providing solutions to whatever I write as an aspiring Content Manager.

Kerianne Burke , a tech recruiter at Segment in San Francisco, recommends that job seekers provide recruiters with insights into how they have gained knowledge about this new category and role. “Have they taken classes? Completed extensive independent research? Be very specific here!” 

Second, Burke said that job seekers need to show that they would be able to make an impact in the role they are applying for.

4. Use keywords

Resume keywords prove to recruiters that you have what it takes to succeed in the new role. These keywords also help you get noticed by recruiters who use search functions in their applicant tracking system (ATS) to filter candidates by what’s on their resume.

You can find relevant keywords in the job description or job posting. Take stock of these keywords and incorporate them into your career change resume when possible.

Tailoring is key to a career change resume

Even in a field that is brand new to you, you can find keywords that relate to your past experience. As Burke explains, “Look closely at the qualifications in the job description and tailor some of your first few bullets on your resume to highlight that applicable experience. It’s always great to tie your impact to data when possible!”

Read our full guide: How to Tailor Your Resume to the Job Description

Jobscan makes it easy to identify the most important keywords in the job description, so you know what to focus on. Try it below:

5. Add training and certifications to your career change resume

Adding training and certifications to your resume is another way to show off relevant skills during a career change. List down all the relevant training, courses, and certifications under your belt and show recruiters how these could help you in the new role or career.

A word of encouragement here: You don’t have to go back to school and take extensive training in order to make a career change. In many cases, the skills you’ve honed over your career will be enough!

As Monica Fochtman , a career coach who specializes in career changes put it: “Going back to school is the last thing that I suggest to people. Especially now, with so much on-demand learning like LinkedIn and Coursera and Teachable…there’s no shortage of places to get on-demand training. There are other ways to get those skills and demonstrate that you have those skills without going back to school.”

You don’t need the certification; you need to demonstrate that you have what the certification represents – the knowledge. The important thing is to choose a career that fits your already developed skills. That doesn’t mean your duties will be the same. It just means you’ll be able to use the same skills.

Learn more: Read our full guide on how to make a career change , with tips and insights from Monica Fochtman, PhD.

Career Change Resume Templates

1. hybrid resume.

The hybrid resume or combination resume is ideal when changing careers as this format highlights your skills and accomplishments while still detailing a chronological format of your career trajectory.

Here’s an example:

The hybrid format draws attention to your most important skills, accomplishments, and values and so recruiters and hiring managers can see what you bring to the table quickly.

2. Functional Resume

When you are switching to a career in a different industry where you have limited or zero experience, you can use a functional resume. It puts the spotlight on your transferable skills while downplaying your limited work experience.

Here’s what a functional career change resume looks like:

You can find more sample career change resume templates on Jobscan’s Resume Templates page, which you can use for free.

Career Change Resume Examples and Ideas

Here are career change resume examples to get your resume writing juices flowing:

1. From project management to a job in sales

This career change resume highlights Mindy’s robust experience in Project Management under her work experience section. In her resume summary, she relates how she can use her project management skills in her new role in sales and proves to the hiring manager that she has the necessary skills and experience to excel and succeed as a Sales Manager.

2. From administrative work to writing

In his resume, James mentioned in his resume objective statement that he is passionate about solving customer problems. Having worked in various fields, his empathy and problem-solving skills make him an effective content writer who can relate to the readers’ struggles but is also able to share tips and insights that work. He also mentioned writing as one of his skills.

3. From accounting to a project management role

In this career change resume example, although the job seeker is an accountant by profession, she showed that she had relevant experience in leading teams and managing projects which makes her a good candidate for the new job. The resume summary also states her desire to use her skills as an accountant to run projects effectively and see them through to completion.

You can check more resumes for any job to help you with your career change resume in our Resume Examples Page.

Pro Tip: To supplement your career change resume, include a cover letter to provide context for your past achievements and build a strong case as to how your accomplishments and skills can help you with the new position.

Read our full guide: The Career Change Cover Letter: How to Get it Right

Changing careers can feel scary and intimidating. But it is also a great opportunity for you to discover more about yourself and grow into the best person you can be.

Here are some key takeaways to help you with your career change:

• Craft a powerful career change resume that will prove to recruiters that even when you are jumping into a completely different career, you have what it takes to do the job and do it well.
• Use the hybrid resume (combination resume) format when creating your career change resume. It highlights your top skills while detailing your work experience and career trajectory.
• Proactively seek opportunities to upgrade your skills and pursue professional development through training, courses, and mentorship.

Save your time and get more career change insights with Jobscan’s career changer tool !

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 5 questions to consider before making a career change: 1. Why do you want to switch careers? 2. Why are you dissatisfied with your current role? What do you hate about your job? 3. What are your career goals? What is your dream job? Is your current career aligned with your passions, skills, or interests? 4. How much does it pay? Can you live on it comfortably? If not, are you willing to take the risk? 5. What type of company do you want to work for?

Here’s how. 1. Choose the best format for your resume. 2. Write a resume objective or resume summary explaining how your previous roles will help you succeed in the new role. 3. Include relevant keywords (especially those found in the job description.) 4. Tailor your resume for career change to each job you are applying for. 5. Showcase transferable skills and include certifications and relevant training when possible.

A resume objective for career change bridges the gap between your previous role and your new role. A good objective would clearly and briefly provide your relevant experience and explain how this will help you succeed in your new career. For example, an accountant wanting to land a job in sales would write: “ Certified Public Accountant with 10 years of experience writing accurate and timely financial reports, reducing costs, and improving overall efficiency. Looking to leverage my analytical skills and attention to detail in crafting sales systems that will streamline all sales processes and increase profitability. “

Here’s how you share about your career transition: 1. Provide a brief description of yourself: who you are, what you value, and what you want to achieve. 2. Share about your most recent and significant work experience. 3. Explain how your skills and experiences make you the best fit for the new job. 4. Stress why you want to do a career change and the value you can add to the company.

Focus on showing recruiters and hiring managers what you bring to the table, even as someone who is switching careers. Here’s an example of a career change resume summary. For example: “ Customer-focused cashier with 5+ years of experience serving different customers and creating a warm and friendly store environment. Has raised sales by 5% through strong communication and interpersonal skills. Looking to bring my leadership and organizational skills to an executive assistant position. “

Transferable skills are critical when you are switching careers because these show recruiters, hiring managers, and potential employers that you have the skills that they need for the new job position. To showcase these on your career change resume: 1. Include them in your resume summary or resume objective. 2. Add skills to your work experience section. 3. Clearly write transferable skills in your skills summary section. Pro tip: Check the job description for specific skills and work those skills into your resume for career change.

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Career Change Resume for 2024 [9+ Examples]

Thinking of switching careers?

It might feel a lot like taking a leap of faith. 

You’re stepping into the unknown - that alone takes a lot of courage and determination.

You might even feel like a recent graduate all over again.

You have 0 experience, entering an entirely new field, competing with people who’ve been doing it forever!

That sounds pretty scary.

But here’s the thing:

As long as you’re armed with the right resume, the transition can be a piece of cake.

And luckily, we’re here to help and guide you through the process.

So, if you’re thinking of breaking into a new career industry, be sure to read on.

• How to pick the best resume format for a career change
• How to create a skill summary and wow the recruiter
• How to show off transferable work experience
• 3+ other ways to impress the recruiter (even if you have 0 relevant work experience)

Choosing the Best Career Change Resume Format

A big part of creating an effective resume is choosing the right resume format to tell your story with.

You need to structure your resume in a way that best shows your transferable skills and experience.

And when it comes to switching careers, the combination resume format does that best.

Here’s why:

This format places equal emphasis on skills and important work experience . 

This way, you can show you have the right industry transferable skills , even if you haven’t had the actual job title.

The format is ideal for people:

• Making a career change with transferable skills or work experience.
• With some employment gaps.
• With a diverse range of skills and experience .
• Applying to both creative and traditional roles.

And here’s what you include within this format:

• Contact information
• Resume objective or summary
• Skills summary
• Work experience
• Certification

Now, we’re going to go over each of those sections and explain how to write them step-by-step.

Here’s what you need to know:

How to Add Your Contact Information the Right Way

Your contact information is arguably the most important part of your resume.

Even if you’re the most qualified person in the world, it’s not going to matter much if you misspell your email and the HR manager can’t contact you.

So, here’s what you should include in this section:

• First name, last name 
• Phone number - Make sure to include your country code if you’re applying outside your country.
• Email address - Something professional like [[email protected]].
• Location - The company needs to know if you’re located in the region or if they may have to sponsor your relocation.
• Title - Either your current professional title or your new desired one. We’d recommend including the job title you’re applying for word-for-word.

Once you’re done, we’d recommend that you double-check, even triple-check everything. You wouldn’t want to miss your chances of landing the job because of a typo, would you?

• Got an online portfolio? You can also mention the links here. For example, if you’re a developer, you can include a link to your GitHub profile. If you’re a writer, a Medium link, and so on...

All clear? Good!

Now, let’s cover how to write a successful career change resume objective or summary.

Impress the Recruiter With a Career Change Resume Objective or Summary

So you’ve got your contact details down.

Now, you need a reason for the HR manager to continue reading the rest of your resume.

So, how do you get the recruiter to stop and read your career change resume when they only look at resumes for 6 seconds on average?

The answer: by using a resume objective or summary.

Both of these sections explain why you’re the best person for the job and act as a preview to the rest of your resume.

Here’s how the two differ:

Your resume summary shows your best accomplishments that are relevant to the job you’re applying for.

Your resume objective highlights how your current skills are relevant and will transfer to your new position.

As someone going through a career change, you can include either one.

But as a rule of thumb, if you were working in a related field and have some transferable skills, go for a resume summary.

On the other hand, if you were working in a completely unrelated field, go for a resume objective.

Check out these examples to get a better idea of what both of these might look like:

Career Change Resume Summary Example

• “Customer support specialist with over 4+ years of experience in over-the-phone technical support looking to leverage communication skills as a Sales Agent at Company XYZ. Excellent track record of delivering quality support, with an average rating of 4.6/5 over the past 2 years.”

A career change resume summary helps the HR understand how your skillset from your previous job can translate into your new one.

In that case, it’s best to mention:

• Your current relevant skills or experience.
• How your background can help you excel at the current job.

Career Change Resume Objective Example

• “Organized and hard-working employee looking to join XYZ as a marketing assistant. Looking to take advantage of my skills in Photoshop, graphic design, and creative copywriting to help XYZ with their marketing efforts.”

See the difference here?

Even though the person doesn’t have any relevant work experience, their resume objective still shows how their skill set is relevant to the new job.

Show Off Your Know-How With a Skills Summary Section

Your resume summary / objective is only an introduction. Now, you need to show the HR what you’ve got.

To do that, you need a good skills summary section.

Skills summary is a must-have section for just about any career change resume.

It puts more emphasis on your skill-set, as opposed to your work experience. This allows you to show how you’re a qualified candidate, even though you haven’t done the job before.

Here’s what a sample skills summary section might look like for a front-end developer.

Career Change Resume Skills Summary Example

• Built an online personal portfolio and resume website using HTML, CSS, JS.
• Created an online JS/jQuery quiz game that takes multiple answers and shows results to the user.
• Built a beautiful weather app with Angular 8 from scratch, designed UI with Sketch.
• Created responsive website templates (that are also mobile friendly) using modern CSS techniques and JS libraries.
• Worked with design and development groups to create applications from mock-ups in Sketch, Illustrator, and Photoshop.
• Familiar with Git, XDebug, and Chrome Developer Tools.
• Debugged over 10 JS web apps for a SaaS project.

Simple enough, right?

You list out each of your key skills, and then back it up with how you’ve used it in the past.

Now, you might be thinking, “what about the work experience section?” Do I just skip it, and use a skills summary instead?

Nope - you still need to list your work experience.

In this case, though, you’d want to use it to show off your transferable skills. Here’s how:

Use Your Work Experience to Show Off Transferable Skills

Let’s take a different example and say you’re moving from a job in sales to copywriting.

A resume you’d use for sales compared to a more creative field like copywriting is probably going to be a bit different.

But what do both of the roles have in common?

Well, for one, they both require you to have excellent communication skills. You also need to be good at understanding your target market and conveying complex information in simple language.

And that’s the common thread you want to focus on in your work experience section.

So, when listing your previous jobs, think of some transferable skills that you bring to the table that are going to be relevant.

Even unrelated jobs have some universal skills that are helpful everywhere.

To give you a better idea of what we mean, let’s look at some examples:

Sales Executive

Company X - 11/2016 - 04/2019

• Created and presented pitch deck that secured a $500,000 deal - largest for Company X to date.
• Boosted sales for the most underperforming product by 40% by developing helpful and instructional material for prospects.
• Created and edited sales materials, scripts, and technical documents for accuracy and consistency.

Here’s what’s done right:

• Shows transferable skills and achievements.
• Highlights only the parts from the experience that are related to the new role.

While the above example doesn’t talk about product descriptions or ads, communication materials and sales scripts do show that the candidate can write.

So, for a copywriting position, it’s going to be relevant and worth mentioning.

Now, compare that to the career change work experience below:

• Cold-emailed 100+ prospects daily.
• Closed 14+ deals in 2019 so far.
• Hit and exceeded company KPIs for the past 2 years in a row.

Sure, this example is good. But only if the candidate is applying for a sales job.

For copywriting, though, none of the skills mentioned are going to come in handy.

So, when listing previous job positions, you should focus only on what’s relevant.

Now that you know how to properly list work experience, let’s move on to the next section: Education.

Make Your Education Section Shine

Your education section is going to be an important requirement for just about any position above entry-level.

Listing education on your resume is pretty straightforward.

All you have to do is list your latest educational entry (e.g. college degree), and then include all the important stuff below it.

For example, you can include things like:

• Name of degree (Minor - optional): e.g. B.A. International Business Administration.
• Name of educational institution: e.g. University of Groningen.
• Years attended: e.g. 2015 - 2019.
• Location of the program (optional): e.g. Groningen, Netherlands.
• GPA (optional): 3.84 (only include if you excelled).
• Courses that are relevant to the job (optional): e.g. Advanced Business Finances.
• Exchange programs (optional): e.g. exchange program in Florida, U.S.

Here’s what the full listing for this educational entry might look like:

You might be wondering, what if I don’t have the right education for the job? Maybe, you have an M.A. in Philosophy, but you’re applying for a job in marketing. Do you still list it?

The answer is a definite yes.

Even if the degree is not relevant at all, it still shows that you’re passionate about learning and education.

In some cases, you might even be able to show off some transferable skills with your degree.

Let’s say, for example, you have a B.A. in English Literature , and you’re applying for a job in marketing. 

You could stress on how your degree gave you amazing writing skills (a must-have for most marketing roles), like so:

B.A. in English Literature.

University XYZ - 2014-2018

• Excelled in creative writing courses
• Part-time as a reporter for the university website

PS - Do you still have some questions on how to list your education section? Maybe you’re wondering what else you can include? Check out our full guide on how to list education on a resume with 13+ real-life examples.

Done with your education section? Awesome!

This brings us to the next section on your career change resume.

How (and Why) to List Skills On a Career Change Resume

When it comes to the skills section, what most recruiters want to know is if you can actually do what the job ad asks for.

And like with the other sections till now, relevance is key.

You should only ever list skills that are appropriate to the job you’re applying for.

To find out what’s relevant, start by scanning the job listing.

Most job ads usually include a list of requirements or skills they expect for a good candidate to have.

So, all you have to do is mention those exact skills on your resume.

Let’s take a look at an example.

Career Change Resume Skills Example

Assuming the job ad is for a junior front-end developer who has:

• 2-4 Years of professional experience using JavaScript, CSS, and HTML.
• Up to 1 years of visual design experience focusing on strong UX/UI.
• Good communication skills and team-player

You’d want to list the following skills:

• Communication Skills
• Team-Player

So, all you have to do is mention these skills, and you’re good to go!

• Not sure which skills are a must-have for your role? Check out our complete list of all must-have skills for any given field or position!

Showing Career Certifications on a Resume

When you’re switching careers, certifications are an amazing way to show you’re serious about your craft.

This shows you’re willing to put in the work and that you’ve already taken the first steps.

When listing certifications though, make sure they’re relevant to your field.

For a marketing role, here’s what that might look like:

• HubSpot Inbound Marketing Certified, 2019.
• Google Analytics Individual Qualification, 2018.
• SEMrush Content Marketing Toolkit Course, 2018.

And here’s an example done wrong:

• TechCamp Python Bootcamp, 2019.
• Udemy JavaScript 101 Course.

For a marketing role, those certificates are completely irrelevant and aren’t even in the same field.

While they might be impressive on their own, that doesn’t mean they make you a better marketer.

Listing Personal Projects

Another great way to show that you’re the right person for the job is to list personal projects.

This can be just about anything:

• Founding a sports team in university
• Project you did for business class
• A Part-time online store you created on Etsy
• Passion-project for wood-working
• And whatever else you love (that’s relevant for your new career)

Pretty much anything that can make up for your lack of experience in the field counts.

But of course, keep in mind that your projects should be relevant to your new job.

Getting into coding? Here’s what your projects section could look like...

Make sure to stick to relevant projects, though.

The HR manager cares about your CODING experience, not about the fact that you started a basketball team in college.

Now, compare that to:

• Excelled in Anthropology and Archaeology classes at University X.
• Self-taught knitting pro.

You shouldn’t list projects just for the sake of standing out or filling up space. 

The more irrelevant information you mention in your resume, the more likely it is for the recruiter to accidentally skip out on all your must-have sections.

• Still have some space on your resume? You can also include the hobbies & interests section. Check out our guide to learn how (and why)!

How to Write a Career Change Cover Letter

Done with your resume?

But wait, before you get too excited - you’re still not done.

You need to back up your resume with a career change cover letter.

And no - it’s not like the usual cover letter you’re used to writing. 

When you’re switching careers, you want to use your cover letter to highlight WHY you’re switching fields and WHY your skills are a good match for the new role.

To do this, make sure you bring up a ton of examples and call out any key statistics or measurable results to draw upon, if possible.

To help you craft the best career change cover letter, check out the example below:

Here’s what’s done right with this cover letter:

• Addresses the reader (i.e. “Dear Doris” or if you can’t find their name, “To Whom it May Concern.”).
• Makes it clear they want to transition into a different career (from marketing and retail sales into public relations in this case).
• Shows they’ve done the research and the letter is tailored to the company's products and brand.
• Provides specific examples and achievements (“raised more than $ 10,000 for the event.”).
• Ends on a confident note and provides a call-to-action (and where to contact them).

Think your cover letter game is lacking? Check out our complete, step-by-step guide on how to write a cover letter.

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Unsettled’s Lifestyle Incubator program is a 4-week highly interactive “virtual retreat” for professionals seeking to redefine their career trajectory and be more intentional about designing their next steps.

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Key Takeaways

To recap, going through a mid-career transition probably sounds intimidating. 

But if you craft your career change resume focusing on transferable skills and experience - then you’re good to go!

Just make sure you follow these main key tips while working on your resume:

• Use the combination resume format to highlight your transferable skills and work experience.
• Include all the essential career change resume sections - contact information , resume objective or summary , skill summary , work experience , soft and technical skills , certifications and personal projects.
• And while doing so, highlight only what’s relevant to your new position.
• Finally, make sure you attach a tailored cover letter to your resume and mention WHY you’re switching fields and what unique skills you’re bringing with you.

At Novorésumé, we’re committed to helping you land your dream job, every step of the way. Be sure to check out our career blog to stay up to date with the industry-leading advice and more actionable tips.

Suggested Reading:

• How to Get Your Resume Layout Right [3 Free Templates]
• How to Write an ATS Resume
• 20+ One-Page Resume Templates [Free Download]

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Career Change Resume: Examples, How to Write, and Other Tips To Support Your Career Transition

When you make the difficult choice to look for a job in a new industry, it’s important to write a career change resume.

Your old resume, tailored to your old career, won’t suit your new field. For your job search to succeed when you make a career change, you have to make sure that your resume is tailored to the right positions and highlights the right skills.

Important steps for writing a career change resume include:

• Picking the right resume format
• Highlighting transferrable skills
• Tailoring your resume to suit your new industry
• Emphasizing your most relevant experience

Anyone can reach a crossroads in their profession and decide that it's time to make a change. Maybe you've developed new skills, run out of opportunities, or realized that your current career doesn't motivate you like it once did. Whatever the reason, if you want to change jobs, you will need to know how to write a resume for a career change.

• What is a Career Change Resume?

A career change resume is a resume specifically designed and written to explain a career transition. From the objective to the mentioned skills, everything highlights the transferability of past experiences and skills to a new job.

Let’s say, you are a marketer who is trying to transition to a project management position. If you send over a generic resume that lists your marketing skills and experience - it would leave the hiring manager confused to see your resume.

If there’s no explanation of why you are even applying for a job, you would be rejected as the hiring manager would assume you are randomly applying for jobs.

• Why Write a Career Change Resume?

A career change resume better connects your professional work experience and skills to a job when you are applying for either a new job or entering a new industry. You stand out as an applicant as it makes it extremely easy to see relevant past experience and skills that you have is relevant to the job you are applying for.

In our example of marketing to project management career transition, without a career transition resume a hiring manager would not understand:

• Why do you want to apply for this role?
• What relevant skills do you bring to this role?
• What past experience do you have that’s relevant to this role?

Now, some assume that the HR or hiring manager is going to read through their resume and extract the right information. But that in 2023 is a big mistake. No one is going to take the time to read through your resume when there’s no explanation to support the questions above.

But let’s say you did the following to show your marketing management skills are relevant to the project management skills:

• Highlighted how you did planning, organizing, and execution of projects along with timeline management and
• Showcase how your collaboration skills for marketing project management required you to foster collaboration with stakeholders and other employees.
• If you practice agile, scrum, etc highlight that and show how you improved project management through tactical changes (e.g. story points to iteratively improve epics).

The career change resume tips alone make a big difference. But, the real difference maker is how you show relevance for the role through each individual section and your resume layout as well. A good starting point would be to understand how to write a career transition resume.

• How to Write a Career Change Resume

To write a career change resume and explain your career transition better, follow these steps:

• Select the right career change resume format. Reverse chronological isn’t the best choice here. We recommend selecting either a functional or a hybrid resume format.
• While writing your resume header, instead of your current job title, write something like “Entry-level {job title}” to show relevance.
• Write an objective instead of a resume summary and mention that you are changing careers in it.
• While listing your work experience, reduce the focus on non-relevant job responsibilities and achievements. Increase focus on relevant responsibilities and achievements. Go as far as removing irrelevant ones. Do this for each job you apply for.
• The skill section of your resume should be changed based on what skills the job actually needs. And, do it for all jobs.
• Highlight relevant education or certifications in your resume.
• At the end, your resume should support your intent to transition in the new role from top to down.

Now that we have looked into how to write a career transition resume, let’s look into each of these in depth.

• The Right Career Change Resume Format

There are three resume formats that you can consider for a career change resume.

• Functional : This format emphasizes skills above work experience, and groups past positions by topic rather than chronologically.
• Combination : This format emphasizes your skills, but still uses a reverse-chronological work history section.

The third resume format is reverse chronological resume format, but we don't advise to use it for you career transition.

We recommend using a combination format for a career change resume. This resume format allows you to showcase your skills while maintaining a clear timeline of your career.

To write a combination resume , create a Skills section near the top of your resume, above your Work Experience section. This is where you can highlight and explain your most impressive and most relevant skills. Your Skills section will be the focus of your resume, as this section is where you can make the case for your skill set, even if your past positions were in a different field.

Your Work Experience section will follow your Skills section. This section can be shorter than in a typical reverse-chronological resume, with less detail than your Skills section, but it should still have a clear timeline. Even if you are changing industries, hiring managers will be interested to see how your career has progressed. A reverse-chronological work experience section allows you to clearly tell that part of your story.

Of course, these aren’t hard and fast rules. You can use a typical reverse-chronological resume format if you prefer. Just make sure you can highlight the right skills and experience for your new industry.

• Selecting the Right Career Transition Resume Template

Any resume for changing careers needs a great template.

Your resume won’t do you any good if it’s difficult to read, no matter how well-targeted your skill set is. Make sure your resume is easy to read, with simple organization and clear headings.

Additionally, ensure that you choose a resume template suited for the industry you want to work in.

If you want to move into a more formal industry, like law or accounting, find a traditional resume template with simple formatting and no colours. If you are moving into a more creative field, like marketing or design, you can look for a more modern template, with pictures or colours.

To find the perfect resume template for your new career, check out these VisualCV resume templates .

• What to Add in Your Career Change Resume Header

Your career change resume should begin with your name and contact information. The hiring manager needs this information to contact you, so you should make it easy to find.

Your resume header should include:

• Prospective job title
• Phone number
• Email address
• City of residence

You can also include hyperlinks to your professional online profiles, such as LinkedIn or Twitter. If you’re applying for a software development position, you can link to your GitHub profile. If you are moving into a creative field, you might have an online portfolio to link to.

You may also want to include a headline or job title in this section. However, if you are changing careers, this could confuse the hiring manager. Avoid using a job title that isn’t supported by your resume.

• Write an Objective instead of Summary for Career Change Resume

A resume summary fails to explain career transition.

For example, consider this resume summary below of a marketer applying for a project management role: Results-driven marketing professional with extensive experience in developing and implementing successful marketing strategies. Demonstrated expertise in brand management, digital marketing, and campaign execution, driving revenue growth and customer engagement.

The candidate would be rejected right away as the hiring manager would find it difficult to understand why this candidate is even apply for a PM job.

Now, let's use an objective instead of summary to better explain career transition.

Career Change Resume Objective Example

Aspiring project management professional with a proven track record of successfully leading and executing complex projects. Skilled in strategic planning, cross-functional collaboration, and delivering results that drive business growth and exceed client expectations.

Notice how this objective better explains career transition here by:

• Clearly stating that the applicant is aspiring to become a project management professional.
• Shifting the focus towards past work experience and achievements relevant to project management.

This would compel a hiring manager to read further dive deeper into your past work experience and skills.

• Highlight your transferrable skills

Your Skills section is the key to your career change resume. Your past roles may not be directly relevant to positions in your new industry, so your Skills section is where you will need to demonstrate that you have what it takes to succeed.

To identify the skills you will need in future roles, study job postings in your new industry, network with professionals in that field, and learn as much as you can before you start applying.

Then, look back on your career and think about the skills you've developed. Some of them will be relevant to the new industry, and will be perfect for your career change resume.

By reading as much as you can about your target profession and brainstorming your existing skills, you should be able to figure out which transferrable skills to highlight. These may be soft skills like leadership, teamwork, creativity, or problem-solving, or hard skills like writing, software expertise, or bookkeeping. Identifying transferrable skills is the key to a successful career change resume.

Once you’ve settled on the right transferrable skills, think about the best way to showcase them. It may be that a simple list will do the trick. If this is the case, create a simple bulleted list for your most relevant and impressive skills.

To really sell your skills, however, you may want place more emphasis on the skills section. Make each skill in the list a heading, and then provide evidence for each skill in bullet points below. The best way to do this is to give concrete, measurable examples of achievements relevant to that skill.

For example, if you count Leadership as a transferrable skill, provide examples of projects you have led, teams you have managed, or decisions you have been responsible for.

Clear, concrete examples are the best way to showcase your skills. When your skills are the focus of your resume, as they will be in a career change resume, it’s important to give your Skills section the attention it deserves.

Career change resume example skills section

• Time Management
• Problem-Solving
• Adaptability
• Communication
• Project Management

How to Support Career Change through Resume Work Experience Section

• Use numbers and measurable successes as much as possible. For example, if you worked in sales in a previous job, give your sales revenue or the number of clients you gained. This approach makes your claims more concrete and impressive.
• Use action words to describe your duties. Terms like accelerated , spearheaded , generated , centralized , and mentored can add some energy to your work experience section and make your roles sound impressive.
• Emphasize any transferrable skills. Your resume should be focused on your next job, including when you describe past ones.
• Make it clear to the hiring manager that you have the skills to succeed in the new industry.

In each job description, be sure to focus on the accomplishments that could be relevant to your new industry. Think about the requirements listed in the job posting, and consider what employers in your new field are seeking. Every job may not be perfectly relevant, but it’s important to show that even though you are changing careers, you have what it takes to be successful in a challenging role.

Career Change Resume Work Experience Example

Researcher ABC Labs, New York Sept 2018 - Present

• Instrumental part of a team that completed government-funded research on Alzheimer’s Disease, resulting in a second phase project funding of $5 million
• Managed and coordinated a 200-person volunteer research program that examined neurological diseases
• Conducted in-depth research to understand the current state of medications and their efficacy for Alzheimer’s Disease
• Collaborated on data analysis and contributed to research paper on progressive neurological disorders
• Presented findings at three annual conferences
• Wrote monthly press releases to update the public about our work and findings

How to List Education on a Career Change Resume

Your education is an important part of your career story. You should list your any degrees, diplomas, and certificates in your resume, even if they aren’t immediately relevant to your desired field. It’s important to show that you can work towards a goal and complete a degree, even if that degree is in an unrelated field.

If your education is completely irrelevant, simply listing your degrees and the institution name is sufficient.

If you would like to give your education more emphasis, however, you can give more details. For example, you may want to give your GPA, list academic awards, or describe relevant projects or areas of study.

Example of a Career Change Resume Education Section

MSc in Mechanical Engineering University of Iowa

• New Product Development
• Advanced CAD
• Advanced Static Analysis

BSc in Mechanical Engineering University of Iowa

• Engineering Concepts
• Systems modelling
• Material analysis
• Customize your Career Change resume for every application

You should customize your resume for every application.

While this is true for any resume, it is especially true for a career change resume. Your resume has to be perfectly targeted to prove that you have the right skills not only for a new job, but for a new career.

To do this, study each job posting and identify the specific keywords that the company is using. They will be looking for specific skills and experience. Then, look at your own background and identify the skills that overlap, and use the same words or phrases to describe your skills. This will ensure that the keywords match, and get your resume to the next round.

• Career change resume example

Experienced accounting professional and recent Bachelor of Education graduate seeking a role in education. Proven ability to communicate clearly to all levels of an organization, including legal, technical, and executive, to ensure objectives are met. Versatile mentor with experience teaching and training new hires. Several years of experience in financial analysis, accounting, and auditing. Excellent financial reporting, budget forecasting and team management skills. Experience closing leads and building and maintaining a client base. Established track record of successfully managing and executing multiple projects under tight deadlines to achieve successful results.

• Team Management
• Financial Analysis and Reporting
• Client Education
• Financial Statement Analysis

Bachelors of Education State University

Master of Business Administration University of Northampton

Work Experience

Financial Accountant Andrew Industries Limited

• Manage and oversee the daily operations of the accounting department.
• Hire, train, and mentor new employees.
• Meet accounting financial objectives by forecasting requirements, preparing an annual budget, scheduling expenditures, analyzing variances and initiating corrective actions.
• Educate department heads regarding important accounting processes.
• Analyze and interpret financial information that corporate executives need in order to make sound business decisions.
• Communicate with other departments by researching and interpreting accounting policy.
• Recommendations courses of action in plain language.
• Monitor and analyze accounting data.
• Produce financial statements and reports.
• Confirm financial status by monitoring revenue and expenses.
• Preparing special reports for Banks, creditors and for investors.
• Maintain accounting controls by establishing a chart of accounts, defining accounting policies and procedures.

Senior Accountant Ambition UK

• Prepared individual and consolidated financial statements and other accounting reports as per defined policies and applicable accounting standard.
• Prepared monthly and quarterly management reports with evaluation of divisional performance.
• Developed and implemented in the effective internal control system to enhance the company financial performance.
• Set policies for transferred pricing and critical success factors for divisions & branches and relevant financial key performance indicators to align the division’s goals with the organization.
• Monitored and controlled the costs of activities under different projects. Monitored revenue growth and margin.
• Monitored the liquidity in banks accounts, management of Daily working capital & liquidity planned.
• Letter of Credit, Bank Guarantee, Performance bound & other banking transactions.
• Ensured the maintenance of day to day financial records & transactions as per Group policies and procedures.
• Ensured the arrangement of funds for timely Processing of payroll.
• Ensured the proper recording of inventories and monthly adjusting entries.
• Finalized financial statements, Trail Balance, & formulated various analyses of general ledgers & other documents for submission to external auditors.
• Participated in various internal audit reviews in the Group as directed by Group Chief Financial officer.

Community Success Manager & CV Writing Expert

Ben is a writer, customer success manager and CV writing expert with over 5 years of experience helping job-seekers create their best careers. He believes in the importance of a great resume summary and the power of coffee.

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How to Write a Resume If You’re Changing Careers in 2024 (+Example)

• Kaja Jurcisinova , 
• Updated January 16, 2024 6 min read

Changing careers is both scary and exciting. While you're happy about starting a new adventure, you may also wonder where to begin. Well, updating and tailoring your resume is always the best start for a career change. 

At first, the prospect of starting from scratch all over again may seem daunting. But remember that you're not alone in this. People change careers all the time for all kinds of reasons, and they do so successfully. 

What's more, you won't really have to start from scratch, will you? After all, now you have all the skills you've acquired during your career up until now. You just need to be able to demonstrate that you can also make use of them in your new professional path. 

So if you're among those who are brave enough for a career change , we've got tips and advice for how to write about your skills and abilities in your resume so you can land a job in a new field.

Table of Contents

Click on a section to skip

Are you ready for a career change? 

1. choose the right resume format, 2. open strong with a resume objective, 3. emphasize transferable skills, 4. make your past work experience relevant, key takeaways: career change resume.

First of all, are you really sure that you're ready for a career change? Or are you just temporarily fed up and rather than a new professional calling, you need a nice long vacation (or a sabbatical )? 

There are some “signs” that can help you determine it.

Take a look at these four common reasons why people decide to make a career change :

• Low career satisfaction. There's nothing really wrong with your workplace, but you just know that the job you do now isn't your calling. 
• Low salary. Half of the respondents would be willing to change a job if they were offered a higher salary, according to a FlexJobs survey . And you may be among them. After all, a good salary can easily make you feel satisfied in a position that you otherwise wouldn't consider staying in long-term.  
• Bad work-life balance. Do you have enough time for family, friends, and hobbies? Or do you have to work constant overtime and long weekends? We should work to live and not the other way around, right? 
• Bad workplace relationships. There's a difference between not being friends with your colleagues, and dreading coming to the office every morning because of that one mean colleague, or a rude boss.

Are any of these reasons on your list as well? If yes, it truly may be the right time to move on. 

Here's how to do that:

Introduce yourself with a BANG!

Create a new resume for your new career right now.

Once you've truly made up your mind about changing careers, it's time to take concrete steps. 

In this case, you should start by tailoring your existing resume to the needs of your newly chosen career path.

Most likely, you'll have to re-arrange your resume sections in such a manner that you'll be able to make your transferable skills shine through and push less important information towards the same end of the document.

What will help you do this is choosing the most appropriate resume format . 

Generally, there are three common resume formats: 

• Chronological resume format. This is the standard type of the resume. The work history is the primary section of this resume format. Simply list your current/most recent job first and then continue in reverse-chronological order.
• Functional resume format. This format lets you put more emphasis on your skills and most important accomplishments. The reverse-chronological list of your work experience is seen as less important. Place it at the bottom of your resume and describe it in less detail.
• Combination resume format. The combination of the previous two types. You still want to place your work experience below skills and accomplishments, but you describe it in bigger detail (as you would in the chronological resume).

At the end of the day, the functional (or the combination) format is the best choice for your resume if you're switching careers.  

These two resume formats will let you highlight the skills you've developed over years of hard work, while putting less emphasis on the fact that they have been gained in a different industry. 

After you've successfully chosen the right resume format, let's see what else you can do to impress the recruiter at your new workplace. 

HR managers are busy people. They don't have much time to go through each resume in detail, as they receive dozens or hundreds of them. 

What's more, many of these resumes may come from people who, unlike you, have plenty of industry-related experience.

Because of that, you want to catch the hiring manager's attention from the get-go. This will allow you to take control of how they interpret your lack of experience .

Do so by putting a well-written resume objective at the very beginning of your resume .

However, your resume objective should do much more than just make the recruiter pay attention to the rest of your resume. 

A good resume objective can also help you to:

Explain your lack of experience in the industry

Address the elephant in the room before they even notice it's there. As a career changer, you need to take control of your story as soon as possible. Otherwise, they might see you simply as someone who lacks the necessary skills — and you know there's more to you than meets the eye. After all, you've gained success in your previous career. There's no reason why you should be less successful in the new one.

Communicate your motivations 

Why would anyone want to change careers? In the end, employers are going to ask you about your motivations at some point. The sooner you explain your "why", the better. Just like everybody else, hiring managers are more inclined to trust those candidates whose motivations they can understand and relate to. However, never say anything negative about your past employers . Rather articulate your reasons in a way that emphasizes future growth and opportunities.

Emphasize your transferable skills

You need to look for intersections between your old and new career. Take a look at the job advertisement and emphasize any points where the two overlap. Even if you're transitioning into a completely unrelated field, you should be able to fall back upon your soft skills like leadership, communication, or even your language skills.

Show that you've already embarked on a new career

Chances are you've already come in contact with the field you want to transition into. Ideally, you've even acquired several related hard skills. Emphasize them in your resume objective to show you're serious about pursuing your new career.

How does this advice translate to reality? Take a look at this resume sample below: 

Career Change Resume Example

This resume was written by our experienced resume writers specifically for this profession.

Now, let's take a closer look at the resume objective and see if it follows the guidelines we've just outlined:

Career Change Resume Objective Example

Certified Human Resources Associate aiming to leverage an extensive background in experience in digital marketing to develop a career in human resources.

Knowledge of multiple HR software programs, such as Bamboo HR and Zenefits.

Results-oriented and self-driven professional with exceptional communication and leadership skills, and the ability to adapt quickly to change.

Looking for a human resources-related job within a company that offers flexibility and opportunity to grow both personally and professionally.

Here's a rundown of the strongest points made in the resume objective above:

Pros: 

• Engracia ' s background in digital marketing and her goal to transition to HR is clearly presented right at the beginning.
• The focus is on relevant hard skills and certifications, such as being a certified human resources associate and proficiency in HR software such as Bamboo HR and Zenefits. 
• The last two points highlight the soft skills and personal motivation for a career switch. Both of these bullet points are extremely important when trying to move into a different field, so if applicable, you should include them in your resume objective as well. 

Cons:  

• The resume objective may be a little too long. If the text was divided using bullet points, it would have been easier to read. 
• Placing the “Skills” section right after the resume objective instead of “Work experience” may have worked better for a career change resume.

This brings us to the next point.

As you probably know, there are two types of skills : hard skills and soft skills. 

• Hard skills can be: computer skills, writing skills, management skills, technical skills.
• Soft skills can be: leadership, time management, listening, problem-solving.

In your previous career, you probably gained (or perfected) skills from both categories. But unlike hard skills, most soft skills are easily transferable. 

This will come in handy once you're changing careers, as most of your earned hard skills may no longer be relevant. 

However, there's no need to worry. Despite the name, hard skills are usually easier to learn than soft skills. 

Also, 67 percent of HR managers said they'd hire a candidate with strong soft skills even if their technical abilities were lacking.

Career Coach Advice

“When re-positioning your work history for a role in a different industry, focus on describing how you used your soft skills and the results you achieved by applying them. Your soft skills will be the most transferable, and often transcend niche industry specific experience, making you attractive to hiring managers in other industries.”

Naomi Rothwell-Boyd, Accredited Career Coach and Founder of  Tribe and Seek

How should you include the transferable skills on your resume?

1. First, take a look at the job advertisement . Have you acquired any of the listed hard skills in your previous career? If your answer is yes, bingo! Make sure you include them in your resume.

2. Second, think of any soft skills that could be useful in your new career. Even in more technical jobs, dealing with people is a necessity. Because of that, leadership, negotiation, and communication skills are in high demand in every industry. If you have them, they for sure belong on your career change resume. 

3. Third, avoid buzzwords at any cost . Everybody is flexible. Everybody is hard-working . Today, it's hard to find a single person who's not an out-of-the-box thinker . Unless these words were used in the job advertisement you're responding to, don't use them. Rather focus on skills that are listed in the job ad or skills that are highly relevant for the specific job position.

3. Finally, complement your “ Skills ” section with a strong work experience section . Anyone can say they have leadership skills. But if you tell them about how you've already led a team in your previous job, they'll have one more reason to take you seriously.

Here's an example of a career change skills section:

Career Change Skills Section Example

Languages: Spanish, English, French

Computer skills: ActiveCampaign, Moz, Hubspot Marketing, BambooHR, Zenefits

Interpersonal skills: adaptability, communication skills, change management, leadership skills, negotiation skills, project management, team work, time management

So — what did Engracia do right here? 

First, she divided her many skills into various sub-sections. This always increases readability and can help you to draw attention to more important information that you want to highlight. 

Second, the hard skills that she has included are relevant to the HR field. Therefore, she's demonstrating that although she's never worked in the field before, she already possesses the abilities necessary for succeeding in it. 

Don't disregard your past accomplishments just because you've decided to transition into a different field. 

Your past work experience can say a lot about who you are and your work ethic. 

Let's take a look at the career change resume example from before and see how Engracia included her work experience:

Career Change Work Experience Example

Online Marketing Specialist 09/2017 – 11/2019 APPR Group, Inc., Barcelona, Spain

– Recruited, trained, and coordinated 5 summer marketing interns and maintained relevant documents and files. – Co-managed the annual digital marketing budget and completed detailed reports on the performance of existing online promotional campaigns. – Awarded employee of the month for completing all assigned tasks and projects ahead of schedule. Special recognition for team work and leadership abilities.

As you already know, Engracia sought to transition from digital marketing to HR. 

Because of that, she first mentioned how she recruited and onboarded summer interns in her previous position. This way, they demonstrated that they already know how to employ the skills necessary for the job they sought to transition into.

Additionally, Engracia was well-aware that HR involves plenty of administrative work. So, she didn't forget to mention that in her past position, she "maintained relevant documents and files" and "completed detailed reports" .

All that remained was to convince potential employers that she's dependable and has a way with people. She did that by including the fact that she was awarded an employee of the month for timeliness and teamwork. 

Pro tip: Ultimately, you want to make use of your past experience to show that you’re already familiar with some aspects of the new industry and that you’re a reliable and proactive employee who’s eager to learn. 

Now that we've covered the basics, let's see the final things that you can do to ensure that your career change resume will land you an interview: 

• It's a good idea to do some work related to your new career before actually transitioning into it. Attend related courses, take a part-time job, or try job shadowing and volunteering in the desired field. Then include it in your resume. 
• A good place to start are these 30+ best online courses to get a job which include courses provided for free by institutions like MIT, Harvard University or top companies like IBM (e.g. AI Chatbots without Programming course by IBM ).
• Tailor each resume to a specific job opening. Sending a generic resume rarely leads to success. 
• Double-check, proofread , and avoid typos. 
• Use bold text. Highlight any essential and the most impressive parts of your resume information that needs to get noticed by the recruiter. 
• Be critical when deciding what's relevant. You don't have to include everything that you've ever done. Focus on the most relevant things and the biggest achievement of your past career. 

And that's it! If you'd like more general tips on how to write a resume, refer to our complete guide . 

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So, for a quick recap let's look at how to write a resume if you’re changing careers.

The functional resume format is the best choice for your resume if you're switching careers. It places your skills to the forefront and will, thus, let you highlight the skills you've developed over years of hard work, while putting less emphasis on the fact that they have been gained in a different industry. 

A well-written resume objective can help you 1.) explain your lack of experience in the industry, 2.) communicate your motivations, 3.) emphasise your transferable skills, and 4.) show that you've already embarked on a new career.

In your previous job, you probably gained both hard and soft skills. Lucky for you, unlike hard skills, most soft skills are easily transferable. This will come in handy once you're changing careers, as most of your earned hard skills may no longer be relevant. Hard skills are, however, easier to learn.

Highlight specific achievements, tasks, or experiences that demonstrate how your previous roles have prepared you for success in your new field. Connect the dots between your past and future roles to showcase your adaptability and the value you bring to the table in your career transition.

This article was recently updated. The original article was written by Martin Poduska in 2019.

Kaja Jurcisinova is a junior copywriter at Kickresume. Kaja completed her undergraduate degree in Art History at the University of St Andrews in 2018 and graduated with a Master’s in Arts and Culture from the University of Groningen in 2021. She was an intern at multiple cultural institutions across Europe, including the Dutch Museum Association in Amsterdam, the Matter of Art Biennale in Prague, and the European Cultural Centre in Venice. At the moment, she resides in Visby on the Swedish island of Gotland.

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• • Spearheaded a digital transformation project, integrating innovative patient education tools into our services, leading to a 40% increase in patient engagement.
• • Managed a team of 15, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration, which reduced patient wait times by 25%.
• • Oversaw the implementation of a new EHR system, improving data accuracy and accessibility for medical staff.
• • Negotiated with vendors to secure state-of-the-art medical equipment, staying within budget constraints and ensuring high-quality patient care.
• • Led cross-functional teams in the development of healthcare programs that received national accreditation, enhancing the hospital's reputation.
• • Initiated community health outreach programs, increasing healthcare access and preventive care awareness.
• • Directed multiple healthcare projects with budgets over $500K, completing all on time and under budget.
• • Implemented a patient feedback system, analyzing data to drive continuous service improvements.
• • Collaborated with IT and medical staff to enhance patient care technology, resulting in a 15% improvement in treatment outcomes.
• • Managed vendor contracts, ensuring compliance and maximizing investment in healthcare technologies.
• • Facilitated training sessions for medical staff on new protocols, ensuring high standards of patient care.
• • Coordinated patient care plans, improving efficiency and patient satisfaction by 20%.
• • Assisted in the development of an innovative care model, reducing hospital readmission rates by 15%.
• • Led community health workshops, increasing public knowledge on preventative care.
• • Managed scheduling and logistics for patient services, enhancing operational workflows.

5 Career Change Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

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All resume examples in this guide

Resume Guide

How to format a career change resume

How to write your career change resume experience

How to list your hard and soft skills on your resume, how to list your certifications and education on your resume, how to write your career change resume summary or objective, key takeaways.

Embarking on a career change is an exhilarating journey filled with opportunities for growth and discovery. Whether you're transitioning from healthcare to graphic design, from education to IT, or from hospitality to digital marketing, the process of reinventing your professional self can be both thrilling and challenging. Crafting a resume that captures your unique blend of skills and experiences is a critical step toward securing your dream job in a new field.

As you navigate this transition, it's essential to focus on the transferable skills that bridge your past and future careers. Highlighting your adaptability , problem-solving abilities , and lifelong learning mindset can make your resume shine, even if your direct experience in the new field may seem limited at first glance. It's about painting a picture of a candidate who is not only capable but eager to embrace new challenges and contribute meaningfully from day one.

A recent poll found  that approximately half (52%) of American employees are considering making a career change this year. 44% are already planning to make the switch.

While the task may seem daunting, especially when trying to align your previous experiences with your new career goals, remember that your unique path adds value. Your diverse background brings a fresh perspective that can differentiate you from other candidates. Embrace the narrative of your career change with enthusiasm , focusing on how your journey has equipped you with a rare and valuable combination of skills.

Yes, there may be moments of doubt or hurdles along the way, such as mastering new industry jargon or gaining specific technical skills. Yet, with persistence, a willingness to learn, and a strategic approach to your resume, you're not just changing jobs—you're stepping into a future brimming with possibilities. Let your resume be a testament to your journey, an invitation for employers to be part of your exciting next chapter.  Remember, every skill you've acquired, and every challenge you've navigated, has prepared you for this moment. Now, it's time to leap confidently into the new adventure that awaits.

Making a big life change is pretty scary. But, know what’s even scarier? Regret.

Looking for some more information related to career change? Here are some further links that may be interesting for you:

• Career Change Cover Letter Guide
• How to Write a Career Change Resume Summary
• LinkedIn Headline for Career Changers
• How to Answer the "Why Do You Want to Change Your Career Path" Interview Question
• Tried and Tested Career Change Resume Tips
• Which Resume is Considered Most Useful for Changing or Starting Careers

How to format a career change resume

The most effective way to format a career change resume  is by using a combination or hybrid resume format  as opposed to reverse-chronological  or functional formats . This approach allows you to showcase your transferable skills and competencies upfront, followed by a reverse-chronological listing of your employment history.

Here’s why this format works best for career changers:

• Highlights transferable skills:  Start with a strong summary  or objective statement  that articulates your career change goal and value proposition. Follow this with a skills section  that highlights transferable skills  relevant to the new field. This setup ensures that your applicable abilities capture the hiring manager’s attention first.
• Demonstrates relevant experience:  After the skills section, include a "Relevant Experience" section where you can list any direct experience, projects , or roles (including volunteer work ) that relate to your new career path, even if they weren't part of your main job duties previously.
• Includes professional experience: Continue with a reverse chronological order of your professional experience , focusing on achievements and responsibilities that demonstrate skills applicable to the new field. Use bullet points to quantify achievements  and show how your work contributed to organizational goals.
• Education and continuous learning:  Clearly list your educational background  and any additional certifications or courses that are relevant to your new career. This shows your commitment to developing the necessary skills for the transition.
• Custom sections for extra impact:  Depending on your unique situation, you might add sections for projects, certifications , or professional affiliations  related to your new field. These can further demonstrate your interest and engagement with the industry you’re moving into.

Remember, the key is to tailor your resume  for each job application, emphasizing the skills and experiences most relevant to the job description. This targeted approach, combined with a hybrid format, can make your career change seem not just plausible but advantageous to potential employers.

It’s not all smooth sailing though.

The biggest challenges facing individuals making a career change resume

We have gathered several common issues that many career changers come across while creating a resume for a new position in a new field. Have a look before we go on to remedy them:

• Writing a compelling career objective: Career changes often necessitate a brand new objective or personal statement at the top of the resume. The challenge is making this compelling and convincing to prospective employers.
• Translating skills and experiences to fit the new industry:  Many skills learned in one profession may be transferable to another. The challenge is translating these applicable skills on paper in a way that the hiring manager from the new industry can appreciate and value.
• Understanding industry jargon:  Different professions have different vocabularies. Making a career change may mean encountering unfamiliar terms, tools, or protocols. Without a good understanding, it can be a challenge to create a resume that speaks to the specific needs of the industry.
• Using relevant job posting websites: Every industry has its specific job boards . If switching from tech to finance, for example, platforms like Dice or TechCrunch might not be as relevant as eFinancialCareers or Wall Street Oasis.
• Identification of relevant further training or certification programs:  Depending on the industry you're moving into, you may need to highlight in your resume relevant qualifications or certifications that demonstrate your dedication and eligibility.

Here are the most important sections you’ll be focusing on while crafting your next resume.

The top sections on a career change resume

• Objective or professional summary : It helps recruiters understand your career intent and how it aligns with the role.
• Skills:  This section helps showcase your capabilities and proficiencies, as they relate to your new career path.
• Relevant training and certifications:  Detail any training you've taken or certifications earned to show you're acquiring the necessary skills for the new job.
• Transferable experience:  Highlight your past experiences that apply to the new role, showing you have a relevant background.
• List of references:  It adds credibility and allows recruiters to verify your skills and capabilities.

It’s not all about format, it’s about content, too. Throughout your resume aim to communicate and demonstrate the following elements.

What recruiters want to see on your resume

• Relevant skills:  These are prioritized to see if you possess the necessary capabilities for the role you're transitioning to.
• Transferable skills: Recruiters look for these to gauge if previous experiences can benefit the current role.
• Willingness to learn: Emphasizing this shows your initiative and drive, crucial for someone changing careers.
• Networking connections:  If you have connections in the new field, it may indicate a smoother transition.
• Career change rationale:  Your reasons for changing careers are crucial; they can demonstrate your commitment to the new path.

This can be the trickiest section for anyone changing careers. When writing the work experience section on a career change resume, focus on transferable skills that align with the new role.

Unlike a regular resume, you need to:

• Emphasize how your past experiences, though in different industries, have equipped you with skills relevant to the new job.
• Highlight achievements and tasks that demonstrate universal competencies like leadership, problem-solving, and communication.
• Use action verbs and quantify achievements to show impact.
• Tailor each entry to reflect how your background is an asset to the new field, making connections between your past roles and your future career goals clear and compelling.

Let’s take a look at one possible experience entry and how to direct it towards a career change.

• • Spearheaded a team of 10, enhancing team productivity by 25% through strategic leadership and effective communication skills.
• • Implemented a customer feedback system that reduced response times by 30%, demonstrating keen problem-solving abilities and a focus on efficiency.
• • Led cross-functional training programs that improved team adaptability and technical knowledge, showcasing an ability to educate and empower others.
• • Negotiated with suppliers to reduce costs by 15%, highlighting strong negotiation and financial management skills.

So although the actual position may not be related the skills are. They highlight transferable skills like leadership, efficiency, problem-solving, and financial savvy, making the candidate's experience

How to quantify impact on your resume

On a career change resume, quantifying impact, once again, involves highlighting accomplishments that demonstrate transferable skills and relevance to the new field, similar to a regular resume but with a focus on universality and adaptability .

Here’s how:

• Use numbers and percentages : Just like on any resume, include data and metrics to quantify your achievements. For example, "Increased sales by 20%" or "Reduced customer complaints by 30%."
• Emphasize transferable outcomes:  Choose metrics that showcase results relevant to your desired field. For instance, if moving to project management, highlight achievements in organization, leadership, and efficiency, like "Managed a team of 5" or "Completed projects 10% under budget."
• Highlight efficiency improvements:  Demonstrate how you made processes more efficient or saved time/money, as these are universally appreciated skills. For example, "Streamlined inventory management, saving 5 hours weekly."
• Focus on problem-solving:  Quantify your impact by showing how you addressed and solved problems, "Resolved a recurring issue, improving customer satisfaction by 25%."

The key difference is ensuring that the way you quantify your achievements not only reflects success in your past roles but also aligns with the priorities and values of your new industry, demonstrating your potential for impact even without direct experience.

In the skills section of your resume  prioritize transferable ones. List hard skills relevant to the new field first, followed by soft skills demonstrating adaptability and potential. Unlike a regular resume, emphasize how each skill applies to the new industry, even if acquired in a different context.

Hard skills  are technical abilities or knowledge learned through education or training, specific to a job (e.g., software proficiency).  

Examples of transferable hard skills for a career change resume

• Technical proficiency:  Skills in software and applications relevant across industries, such as Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, or programming languages.
• Data analysis:  The ability to collect, analyze, and interpret data, using tools like Excel, SPSS, or Google Analytics.
• Project management:  Experience with project management methodologies and tools, such as Agile, Scrum, or project management software like Trello or Asana.
• Foreign languages:  Proficiency in additional languages can be a significant asset in many fields.
• Financial literacy:  Skills in budgeting, financial forecasting, and using financial software.
• Digital marketing:  Knowledge of SEO, content marketing, social media marketing, and using platforms like Google Ads or Facebook Business Manager.
• Technical writing:  The ability to produce clear, concise, and useful documentation and reports.

Soft skills  are interpersonal attributes and traits that affect how well you can work or interact with others (e.g., communication, teamwork).

Examples of transferable soft skills for a career change resume

• Communication:  Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Problem-solving:  The ability to identify problems and find effective solutions.
• Adaptability:  Being able to adjust to new environments and challenges.
• Teamwork:  Working well with others towards a common goal.
• Team leadership:  The ability to lead and motivate others.
• Time management:  Efficiently managing your time to meet deadlines.
• Emotional intelligence:  Understanding and managing your emotions and those of others.
• Critical thinking:  Analyzing information and making reasoned decisions.
• Creative thinking:  Generating innovative ideas and solutions.
• Interpersonal skills:  Building and maintaining strong work relationships.

Properly listing certifications and education on your resume is crucial for career changers for several reasons.

On a regular resume, education, and certifications complement your work experience directly related to the job. For career changers, these sections are critical to highlight transferable skills and new knowledge that align with the career shift.

By strategically presenting your certifications and education, you can bridge the gap between your past career and your desired new path, making it easier for employers to see how your background equips you for a successful transition.

Here’s what you should consider while you list them:

• Prioritize relevance:  List the most relevant education and certifications near the top of your resume. If you've taken courses or earned certifications specifically for your new career, highlight these first.
• Include details:  For each certification or course, include the name of the certification/course, the issuing organization, and the date of completion or expiration. For education, include your degree, field of study, and the institution.
• Explain relevance:  Briefly mention how specific certifications or aspects of your education are relevant to the new field, especially if it’s not immediately obvious. This can be done in a short bullet point or parenthetical note.

It’s time to explore perhaps the most essential element of your career-changer resume— the resume profile .

The resume summary or objective statement is crucial on a career change resume as it immediately clarifies your intent to shift fields and highlights your transferable skills and motivation.

A resume summary  highlights your top achievements, skills, and experience relevant to the job, aimed at experienced professionals. An objective statement  outlines your career goals and what you aim to achieve in the role, often used by new graduates or those changing careers, focusing on how they can benefit the employer.

For a career change, focus on crafting a compelling objective statement that outlines your career goals, why you’re transitioning, and how your existing skills and experiences align with the new field.

Include specifics about your professional background, emphasize your eagerness to learn, and mention any relevant skills or training you have undertaken to prepare for the change. This approach personalizes your application and demonstrates your commitment to the new career path.

Below you can see an example of an effectively written objective statement doing just that.

This is what’s done right:

• Clear transition:  It explicitly states the shift from healthcare to tech, guiding the employer through the career change narrative.
• Highlights transferable skills:  The statement emphasizes skills like project management and communication that are valuable in both sectors.
• Demonstrates enthusiasm:  Shows eagerness to contribute to the new field, which can be compelling to potential employers.
• Focuses on contribution : It's oriented towards how the candidate can benefit the new industry, not just what they wish to gain.

Tailor your objective statement to the specific job and industry you’re targeting by incorporating keywords from the job description. This customization not only shows your genuine interest in the role but also helps your resume pass through Applicant Tracking Systems  (ATS), making it more likely to reach the hiring manager.

Crafting a career change resume is a strategic endeavor that highlights your transferable skills, showcases your adaptability, and demonstrates your passion for a new field. With careful tailoring and a focus on your unique journey, your resume can open doors to exciting opportunities and mark the beginning of a fulfilling new chapter.

Here are some key takeaways from our article:

• Focusing on transferable skills is crucial for a career change resume.
• A combination or hybrid resume format is most effective for career changers, allowing them to showcase transferable skills and relevant experience up front.
• Including a clear objective statement helps articulate career change intentions and how past experiences align with new roles.
• Translating skills to fit the new industry, understanding jargon, using industry-specific job boards, and identifying relevant training are common challenges.
• Demonstrating suitable skills, related experiences, willingness to learn, and networking connections are key.
• Hard skills like technical proficiency and soft skills such as communication are equally valuable in new careers.
• Education and certifications should be listed with relevance to the new field in mind, showing commitment to transitioning successfully.

Looking to build your own Career Change resume?

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This Is How You Spin 1 Resume for 5 Different Industries

You’d like an engaging new job and—here’s the kicker—you want it in a totally new field. As a career coach, former tech recruiter, and certified professional resume writer, I’ve helped more than 500 job seekers update their resumes and land jobs. (I’ve also sat on the other side of the table as a hiring manager, too.) More often than not, the people I work with want me to show them how to create materials that’ll help them change careers .

How do I help them go about it? Those of us who geek out over resumes use the term transferable skills . In a nutshell, it’s a tactic that lets you take the exact same experience and make it sound relevant to multiple industries.

It’s absolutely doable, but you’ve got to be strategic about it. Selling yourself as an undeniable fit—especially when you lack the same experience as your competition—means explaining where you’ve been, based on where you want to go.

The best way to understand it is to look at examples. So, I’m going to show you how to flip one sales resume so it’d work for positions in five other fields:

Sales Resume

This is our starting point—the resume you’d use if you were staying in sales. The job seeker leads with relevant experience and uses numbers and active verbs to show impact throughout the bullets.

Copywriting Resume

Jumping from sales to an arguably more creative field like copywriting can be challenging, but both require blistering hot communication skills and a “closer” mindset. Seize any opportunity that you can to outline ways you’ve sold through your writing.

While they’re not ads or product descriptions, materials like phone scripts or pitch decks still count as content that sells. Check out the same bullet on both resumes:

Sales Resume “Prepare and execute presentations / demos, and provide solutions to customer inquiries (traveling as needed)”

Copywriting Resume “Created content for and presented a pitch deck that secured a $15M deal—Vitrucon’s largest ever”

In addition to your career timeline, use your heading and skills sections to highlight content creation (and consider flipping the order, combination resume style). Ditto for your summary: Make it clear up front that you know how to string together words to inspire action. (And yes, you’ll see summaries here, because career change is one time an objective statement is definitely the way to go.)

Sure, marketing involves the same muscle memory as sales and copywriting, but what should you do when you have next to no formal experience and you’re competing against candidates who’ve already been in the field for a bit?

Well, once you’ve taken the time to describe anything you’ve done on the job in the way of communications, social media, or reaching audiences; demonstrate how you’ve gained marketing experience outside your nine-to-five life.

Flesh out a story around your community involvement or passion project. As you’ll see, I swapped the earliest career position for a volunteer experience section that expressly points to time spent in marketing and social media. That way, Cora’s resume is still the same length, and only highlights what’s most relevant.

Operations Management

In operations, your professional value lives in your ability to wrangle teams, steer and improve processes, and most importantly, foresee and manage change. Talk of targets, metrics, goals, and measuring performance will warm your readers up—and to show you mean business, present clear-cut evidence that you can do those things.

Were you the guy who guided your team through a choppy period of change? Talk about it! Did you anticipate and resolve a serious business breakdown? Explain the benefits your resourcefulness delivered ( and quantify it ).

Your operations resume has to show that you’re a planner and problem solver in every move it makes. For example, I added in “Trained and onboarded team of 3 sales coordinators recognized by regional sales director as ‘exemplary’” to the second job in Cora’s operations’ resume, because training is an operational skill. Even little tweaks like shifting the first bullet verb from “manage” to “execute” makes it feel more suited to operations.

Business Intelligence

Sometimes, it takes more than shifting some wording around to show employers you’ve got what they need. If you’re looking to make a leap into the business intelligence world, you’ll want to note that you’ve completed specialized training, which can range from a bachelor’s degree in computer science (OK, less likely if you're changing careers) to a certificate or program in database technology and analysis (more likely, and important nowadays).

The bulk of this magic will happen in your education section, but don’t forget to polish up your skills list with a mention of the data management tools you’re savvy with. In this version, I added “Systems Analysis Certification” along with relevant coursework.

Finally, look at your bullet points and draw out any hands-on experience you’ve gains in organizing, reviewing, and presenting important data. Even routine reports and recommendations can demonstrate your proficiency in identifying patterns and trends that are important in making business decisions.

Product Management

Product Management is another field that will require more than a little resume wizardry to get you in the door. Again, use your Education and Skills sections to present your newfound credentials and swinging range, touching on field-specific lingo to show that you “get it.” So, along with listing an accelerated course, I also changed the following bullet:

Product Management Resume “Create business cases / demos to influence partners about the potential product-market fit and prioritization”

Beyond that, be sure to work in language around your ability to identify needs and build consensus (your Summary and Professional Experience section are prime real estate for this!).

Despite what some people might tell you, you’re never stuck in the field that you started in. But there is one vital hack to pivoting like nobody’s pivoted before, and that’s being able to articulate your value creatively, in ways that you competition can’t. How you tell your story makes all the difference.

Create a resume that shows you’re ready for the curveballs your new role might serve you. (Because, you so totally are).

Writing a Resume for Career Change: How to Navigate a Successful Transition

3 Key Takeaways

• A resume for a career change should bridge the gap between your past experiences and your new career path.
• Your career change resume should not only be tailored to every role you apply for but also concentrate on transferable skills and relevant experience.
• Teal's AI Resume Builder can help you customize your resume for each job application by aligning your experience with the specific requirements of the job.

You've been through it all—the contemplation, the deep conversations, the sleepless nights—and you've finally decided to make a career change.

And whether you've dedicated just a few years or what seems like a lifetime to your current profession, you know deep down that now is the time. You're ready to look for your dream job.

But, let's be honest, switching careers is both exhilarating and scary. It requires careful planning, self-awareness, and the ability to articulate all that you've done in a way that highlights just how successful you'll be in a new career.

Now that you've set your mind on this new direction, crafting a resume for a career change becomes the crucial first step in taking control of your future and embracing the exciting possibilities ahead.

Understanding the importance of a career change resume

If you're on a career change journey, you may have quickly realized a traditional resume may only partially showcase that you're the right fit for a new industry or field.

So how can you create a document highlighting the things that'll make you successful?

By creating a career change resume.

A career change resume differs from a traditional one because it aims to bridge the gap between your previous experiences and a new career path.

While a chronological resume (the type most commonly used) highlights a continuous progression in a single profession, a career change resume focuses more on communicating relevant skills (especially transferable skills or soft skills), knowledge, and achievements in a new context (even if you use a chronological resume format).

The challenge in creating a document like this is presenting past experiences that align with a new industry's needs and expectations. This is where you'll need to emphasize your adaptability and potential for success in unfamiliar territory.

Former educator Rebecca Dershowitz pivoted to a career in SaaS as a Content Marketing Coordinator. When it came to creating a career change resume, Rebecca says,

"As I shifted my career from education to SaaS, I realized that relying solely on my work experience wouldn't set me apart as the most competitive candidate. Early on, I recognized the importance of briefly explaining my career change and incorporating my transferable skills to showcase my collaboration skills, problem-solving skills, and leadership abilities. After that, I focused on the impact of those skills in my role as an educator. Once I started, I also began tailoring my resume to align with specific job descriptions—highlighting how my transferable skills and previous experiences complemented the requirements of each position I applied for."

How to explain a career change on a resume

Explaining a career change on a resume is important to show prospective employers you have a clear and thoughtful approach to your professional development.

Below are some strategies for effectively explaining the "why" behind your career change.

Use the professional summary: Begin your resume with a concise, professional resume summary that briefly explains your career change. Emphasize the skills and experiences where you excel that will help contribute to your success.

Highlight transferable skills: Clearly demonstrate how the skills and experiences from your previous career are transferable and relevant to the new field. Focus on those you can apply in both contexts and showcase how they align with the new role.

Showcase relevant education and training: If you've pursued additional education or training related to your new career, make sure to highlight it prominently.

Address the career change in the cover letter: Use your cover letter to explain more detail. Share your genuine interest in the new field, your passion for the work, and the reasons behind your decision to transition (as long as they're positive).

How to explain a gap in work

If you're navigating a career change and have a  gap in your resume , your approach should be transparent yet strategic. You can do this by: 

Using your cover letter:  Briefly acknowledge the gap in your cover letter and focus on how you've used this time proactively. 

Prioritizing hard skills at the top of your resume : The top section of your resume, just below your professional summary, should list the hard skills you've acquired, especially those relevant to the new industry.

Focusing on upskilling : Create a resume section for "Certifications." If you pursued courses, workshops, or certifications during your employment gap, list them here.

By adopting these strategies, you showcase growth, adaptability, and readiness for your new career path.

Tailoring your resume for a career change

In creating a career change resume, tailoring your content is vital. Hiring managers, recruiters, and prospective employers want to see how your background aligns with their specific job requirements. 

Tailoring—customizing and adapting your professional summary, skills, and work experience for every job application—allows you to address the unique demands of a desired field or role strategically.

Wondering how to tailor your resume to a job ? Below are some actionable steps you can take.

• Include transferable skills:  Emphasizing skills that are applicable across industries helps demonstrate versatility and relevance. (For example, strong communication, problem-solving, leadership, and project management skills are valuable in almost any role.)
• Downplay irrelevant experiences:  Your work experience may not directly align with your new career path. By minimizing the focus on unrelated roles and responsibilities, you can create more space to showcase relevant accomplishments. (One way to do this is to use a functional resume format. More on that later.) 
• Address gaps:  You might be worried about facing concerns regarding your lack of direct experience. Addressing these concerns through a well-crafted career change professional summary will build confidence about your potential to excel in the new role.
• Incorporate keywords:  Incorporating industry-specific keywords and skills can grab attention and increase your chances of being noticed by a hiring manager or recruiter. Often, companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) for digital filing systems. Then, those on the hiring team can search those systems for specific keywords that align with the role they're looking to fill. 

Pro Tip:  Teal's Job Application Tracker and  AI Resume Builder  extract the top keywords for any job description so you can quickly customize your resume with the right keywords for every job application. 

Steps to write a resume for a career change

Landing a role in a new industry or field requires a strategically crafted resume—one that highlights your transferable skills and aligns with the specific needs of your targeted position.

Below is a step-by-step guide to write a career change resume that grabs attention and showcases your potential to excel in a new job.

Step 1: Self-assessment and identifying transferable skills

The importance of self-assessment.

Understanding your unique skills, values, interests, and personality traits is crucial to aligning your experience with your career goals.

Knowing yourself helps you make informed decisions about what to include and omit—crafting a more effective and tailored resume.

Ways to conduct self-assessment

• Conduct a skill inventory:  Analyzing your skills, including hard (technical skills) and soft (interpersonal skills). Look at your previous roles and pinpoint what can apply to a new position.
• Ask for professional guidance:  Consult a trusted manager, mentor, close friend, or colleague that can provide personalized feedback on areas of strength and impact.
• Take an online assessment:  Use an online assessment (like the free Teal  Work Styles Assessment ) to give you an overview of what energizes and drains you.

Step 2: Researching the new industry or role

How to research a new industry.

• Use online resources:  Websites like Glassdoor and forums like Reddit can provide insider insights into industries, specific companies, and overall experiences and expectations.
• Network:  Talking to professionals currently working in an industry can offer realistic expectations (and unadvertised job opportunities!). If you don't feel comfortable reaching out to others quite yet, take to LinkedIn and search for topics related to the industry you're interested in.
• Take a course:  Online courses and relevant certifications (both paid and free) can give you a deeper understanding of what you'll need to succeed in your new field. Courses and certifications can also help you improve or add some of the skills hiring managers and recruiters are looking for.

How to research a specific role

• Job descriptions:  Analyzing multiple job descriptions for the type of role you're interested in will give an overview of what skills and experiences are most valued across the industry.
• Professional network connections:  Connecting with professionals in the role you're interested in on a social networking site like LinkedIn will give you more insight into the ins and outs of the role and industry.
• Informational conversations:  Talking to professionals in the role—whether at a company you're interested in or in the same position at a different company—can give you detailed insights (and provide connections).

Step 3: Writing a career change professional summary

Your resume summary (also known as your professional summary) is often the first thing people see when they look at your resume.

Sitting at the top, the "Professional Summary" section is your elevator pitch. It's a brief overview of your qualifications that encourages the reader to dig deeper into the rest of your career history. 

How to write a career change professional summary

• Focus on skills: Be specific about how your previous experiences apply to the new role. Include things like communication skills and organizational skills and how you used them to create impact and as a complement to any hard skills. (If you don't know where to start, check out these soft skills for your resume for over 200 examples.)
• Be open and honest: Let the reader know you want to change careers and express your passion or interest in the new field. 
• It's equally important to exclude any negative details about why you might be leaving your current field. But, as this question may surface in an interview, be sure to have an answer that focuses on the positive experiences you gained in your previous job or industry.
• Be concise: Write a focused and compelling career change resume summary to make a strong impression. No one needs to (or has time to) read your entire autobiography.

4 professional summary career change resume examples

Example 1: Special education to marketing coordinator

Example 2: Videographer to social media manager

Example 3: Backend engineer to project manager

Example 4: Financial planner to data analysis

Using a career change resume objective instead

It's important to note, that when writing a career change resume, it's also acceptable to use the resume objective format as your resume summary. A resume objective is more of a mission statement that includes your overall career goals.

For example, a resume objective for a career change could look something like, "Motivated educator transitioning into a customer success role looking to become a team leader, utilizing my strong problem-solving skills, empathy, and passion for customer satisfaction to exceed expectations, drive customer loyalty, contribute to the company's growth, and establish myself as a leader in the industry."

Step 4: Highlighting relevant skills and experiences

Your relevant skills and experiences are the bread and butter of your career change resume. After all, this is how you showcase your true potential to perform successfully in a new job.

Highlighting your skills and experience goes beyond including a list of words. (Although that's important, too.) When possible, it's crucial to showcase how you've used those skills and experiences to create impact.

Data, numbers, and metrics that showcase results offer a concrete look at how you've used your relevant skills and experiences. Think of them as tangible evidence of your skills, indicating: "This person is who they say they are. And they can do the things you need them to do!"

So what are some ways to highlight relevant skills and experiences?

Use specific examples in your work history achievements  

Include examples of how you've used relevant skills in your previous role. For example, imagine you're a social worker who wants to transition to a career in copywriting. In this case, you could include an achievement like,  "Authored over 300 comprehensive court reports within two years, showcasing a strong ability to communicate complex information clearly and concisely."

Include volunteer experience and projects  

If you have volunteer experience or projects relevant to your new role, they can help fill experience gaps. 

Maybe you volunteered at the local animal shelter, and beyond working with the animals, you spearheaded a fundraiser that brought in financial donations. On your career change resume, you could include this in a professional summary: 

"Detail-oriented administrative assistant with over 10 years of experience managing client communication and project coordination. In addition to my professional experience, I've demonstrated initiative and leadership in the community by spearheading a fundraiser at the local animal shelter resulting in $10,000 in financial donations. This experience and my ability to understand and meet client needs have fueled my desire to transition into a sales role where I can leverage my knack for relationship-building and results-driven approach."

Create a dedicated "Skills" section

A dedicated resume "Skills" section should highlight a combination of soft and (when applicable) hard skills. Often, when changing careers, this section sits just beneath your professional summary and serves as a snapshot of your overall strengths.

Imagine you're a sales rep with experience in various industries who wants to transition into a new role in healthtech as a customer success manager. Your "Skills" section could look like this:

• Account Expansion
• Adaptability
• Communication Skills
• Contract Negotiation
• Cross-functional Collaboration
• Customer Advocacy
• Customer Relationship Management
• Data Analysis
• Empathy and Active Listening
• Feedback Collection and Analysis
• Negotiation Skills
• Presentation Skills
• Problem-solving
• Project Management

Step 5: Do's and Don'ts for addressing gaps or lack of experience in a new field

When addressing gaps or lack of experience, it's key to approach the matter honestly (and with a positive attitude). 

• Do Highlight any relevant transferable skills you have that align with the role. 
• Don't oversell yourself: Avoid exaggerating or embellishing your abilities, and be truthful about your capabilities.
• Do Emphasize any relevant certifications or self-directed learning.
• Don't ignore opportunities for continuous learning; embrace it as an opportunity to grow and learn. (And then talk about this in an interview!) 
• Do include relevant projects and volunteer work that highlight your incredible skills.
• Don't include skills, certifications, or experience you don't have—this can be extremely detrimental to your professional reputation. 
• Do include a well-crafted cover letter. A cover letter offers more space for you to dive into the reasons behind your career change, including your motivations and enthusiasm. 

Step 6: Formatting your resume for a career change

The final step in creating your transitioning resume is choosing a career change resume format. Formats suitable for a career change resume are: 

• Chronological:  The most widely recognized format, a chronological resume, details your work experience in reverse chronological order. If you opt for this version, make sure your transferable skills are evident within your "Professional Summary," "Work History," and "Skills" sections.
• Functional Resume:  A functional resume allows you to group your experiences by skill rather than a job, helping to showcase your relevancy for the new role.
• Hybrid Resume:  This combines the chronological format with a strong skills section just under your professional summary, providing a well-rounded view of your experiences.

Managing multiple career change resumes with Teal

Once you've settled on the details you want to include in your resume, use the Teal AI Resume Builder to create multiple versions of your resume for different jobs—quickly. 

For example, one company might focus more on leadership potential, while another focuses on adaptability. With Teal, you can pick and choose which skills and experience align most with a particular role and add or remove those elements with the click of a button. 

To streamline the process further, Teal's Resume Syncing feature allows you to easily make changes to one resume. Then, those changes can automatically propagate to all of your other resumes if you choose (which means you don't have to update each version individually every time you manually edit).

Tips for writing a resume for a career change

•  Use strong action verbs and quantifiable achievements whenever possible
•  Leverage your network and get professional feedback
• Tailor your resume to the job description for each job application
• Save multiple resumes in one central location for ease and accessibility
• Include a career change cover letter
• Be honest and confident

Create your career change resume with Teal

Congratulations on taking the brave and incredible step to change careers! It's an exciting time in your professional journey—one that's filled with new possibilities and challenges. 

Crafting a career change resume that showcases your potential in a different industry is the key to making this transition successful. Remember to be honest and positive, and highlight your transferable skills and relevant achievements to demonstrate just how successful you're going to be. 

To make the process easier,  sign up for Teal for free today  and use Teal's AI Resume Builder to save time and effort and to create a resume that stands out as you confidently embrace this exciting new chapter. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How can i highlight transferable skills on a career change resume, what is the best resume format to use for a career transition, should i include a summary or objective on my career change resume.

Kayte Grady

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• How to Make an ATS-Friendly...

How to Make an ATS-Friendly Resume - Tips for ATS 2024

15 min read · Updated on May 21, 2024

Here's everything you need to know about applicant tracking systems

We've all been there: you find the perfect job opportunity, customize your resume and cover letter , submit your application to a job listing online, and then pray it will pass the infamous six-second resume review test. Unfortunately, more often than not, your job application is lost in the applicant tracking system - and you're left wondering why the employer or hiring manager wasn't that into you.

What many job seekers don't realize is that 75% of job applications don't get seen by human eyes. Before your resume reaches the hands of a live person, it must often pass muster with what's known as an applicant tracking system.

Below is everything you need to know about applicant tracking systems - and what best practices you can use to optimize your resume to ensure it gets selected.

What is an applicant tracking system?

An applicant tracking system - or ATS, for short - is a type of resume scanning software used by recruiters and employers during the hiring process to collect, sort, scan, and rank the job applications they receive for their open positions.

Why do companies use ATS?

There are some very good reasons why today's companies are so heavily reliant on ATS to narrow their job candidate search. The modern hiring process is more complex than ever before - and not just because there are so many more workers applying for a position. The reality is that most companies lack the resources and time needed to search through every resume submission they receive. By using automated systems, they can free up those resources to focus on their core company mission.

But there are also legal compliance issues that need to be considered. Employment law - and especially laws prohibiting various kinds of discrimination in hiring - need to be followed with care. Many employers understand that one of the best ways to reduce potential bias in the initial stages of any hiring process is to allow unbiased machines to handle some of the work.

The bottom line is that ATS resume scanners provide companies with an automated way to narrow any list of candidates to only those who meet the position's posted qualifications. And it does that in a way that avoids potential discrimination by ignoring characteristics like race, gender, and age. As a result, companies enjoy savings in both time and cost, while optimizing their compliance with existing employment laws.

How do applicant tracking systems work?

The ATS parses a resume's content into categories and then scans it for specific and relevant keywords to determine if the job application should be passed along to the recruiter. Its job is to essentially weed out unqualified applicants, so the recruiter can devote his or her time to evaluating the candidates who are more likely to be a match for the position. In other words, the ATS is apt to put the least-qualified candidates to the bottom of the pile, rather than identify the applicants who are the best fit.

Unfortunately, that means if a resume template is not written and formatted with the applicant tracking system in mind, a qualified candidate can be easily passed over.

How to write an ATS resume

To determine what makes an ATS-friendly resume, TopResume analyzed 1,000 resumes from professionals across the US with at least eight years of experience, to identify the most common resume mistakes that will cause an applicant tracking system to toss an application. The infographic below highlights some of the costliest mistakes that make a resume incompatible with an ATS scan.

If you want to make sure your resume is compliant with an ATS, follow the tips below to write and use an ATS-optimized resume.

Select the right file type for your resume

Contrary to popular belief, a PDF is not the most ATS-friendly file type. While PDF files are the best at preserving the design and format of your resume template, it's not compatible with all ATS software. If you're asked to upload your resume to an applicant tracking system and “PDF” is listed among the file formats you can use, feel free to send a PDF version of your resume. However, if the system does not specify which file types are compatible, play it safe and stick to a Word document in .doc or .docx. Plain-text files are also incredibly ATS-friendly for resumes, but they limit your formatting options and can look unprofessional. 

Since the best resume templates are written with two audiences in mind - the ATS pre-screening your application and the live human in HR who will review your resume content - we recommend using a Word document instead of a plain-text file for your resume file type. This will provide more creative freedom to write an ATS resume that will appeal to a recruiter or hiring manager.

Related: How to Avoid the Top 10 Resume Mistakes That Make Recruiters Cringe

Don't put important details in the header or footer

Not all applicant tracking systems are able to properly read and parse information stored in the header and footer sections of a Word document. In fact, our study confirmed the ATS was unable to identify a portion of the job seeker's contact information 25% of the time. Avoid this same fate by placing important contact details (such as your name, phone number, and email address) outside the header or footer of your resume. 

Optimize your resume with keywords

One of the best ways to ensure your resume is compatible with an ATS is to optimize your resume with the right keywords (also known as keyword optimization). Unlike a “buzzword,” which is typically considered to be a fluffy term such as “proactive” or “self-starter,” keywords represent the soft skills and hard skills you possess and the expertise you've acquired over the years that qualify you for your target job.

If you're unsure which resume keywords should be used, start by collecting three to five job descriptions that represent the type of position you're pursuing. Then, copy and paste the job description into a free word and phrase frequency tool like Online-Utility.org's Text Analyzer , to identify the terms that are regularly used throughout your desired positions. If you possess these skills or qualifications from the job posting, incorporate these terms into your resume.

You should also pay careful attention to the job posting and any description of the position contained in that post. Identify any listed skill requirements, as well as desired experience and educational qualifications. These are likely to be included in any ATS resume scan too, so you'll want to ensure that these keywords can be found within your resume.

When it comes to creating an ATS-optimized resume, you need to think about the frequency, as well as the placement of these relevant keywords throughout your resume. Some applicant tracking systems will determine the strength of your skills based on the number of times a term shows up in your resume (aim to add the term two to three times throughout your resume), whereas others assign an estimated amount of experience for a particular skill based on its placement within the resume. To make your resume truly compatible with any ATS, you'll want to optimize it with both systems in mind.

First, create a “Core Competencies” or “Areas of Expertise” section below your resume professional summary that lists your strongest hard skills and soft skills. If there's a common abbreviation for one of your proficiencies, such as “SEO” (for search engine optimization), include both versions in your resume. Then, pepper these same terms into your “ Work Experience ” or “ Education ” sections, where appropriate, to demonstrate when you leveraged that skill.

Related: Why Soft and Hard Skills Are So Important for Your Resume

Some applicant tracking systems will associate the length of experience for a skill, based on how long you held the job where that skill was leveraged. For instance, if you worked at your past job for five years and you mention that you handled SEO for the company, the ATS will assume you have five years' worth of SEO experience from that job. If a skill is listed on its own - such as within the professional summary or a core competencies section - then the ATS scan will assign a few months' experience for that skill. This is why it's incredibly important to reiterate your skills throughout your entire resume, rather than just in a skill section at the top.

Include a resume headline

Make sure that your resume also includes a headline . This one-line heading should be located right after your contact information and before your summary statement. Companies that use an ATS to screen resumes will typically include the job title in their ATS assessment criteria. To create an ATS-friendly headline, simply:

Identify the job title you're applying for. It should be in the job posting or job description. For example, let's say that you're applying for a position as a Marketing Director. Those two words are keywords that need to be included in your headline.

Identify other key requirements that you may be able to highlight in your headline. It could be something as simple as a requirement that candidates have at least five years of experience in managing marketing teams. Take note of that job qualification since you may want to incorporate it into your headline too.

Create a headline that includes the job title and some descriptive language that helps to immediately identify you as a qualified candidate. If you use our example keywords, your headline might look something like this:

Dynamic Marketing Director with over 5 years of experience in client success

Avoid images, charts, and other graphics

While these may look nice to the human eye, resumes with embedded images become a garbled mess after they pass through the applicant tracking system. For instance, if you insert an image or chart to showcase your key skills, the ATS resume scanner will be unable to read it. If you use a cool graphic to brand your name on your resume, this piece of information will be lost on the applicant tracking system.

Stick to simple bullet points

When used appropriately, bullet points are a great method for highlighting accomplishments and qualifications on a resume. However, if you choose an elaborate symbol for your bullets, your important selling points could get scrambled. Avoid using intricate characters when creating a bulleted list on your ATS-compliant resume. Stick to the simplest options, such as a solid circle, open circle, or square, to ensure your bullet points enhance your resume, rather than make it incompatible with an ATS.

Use a clean resume design with a clear hierarchy

When it comes to your ATS-friendly resume design, less is more. Not only do complex resume designs or unusual formats confuse most applicant tracking systems, but they also annoy recruiters who are accustomed to quickly scanning a resume for specific information that they expect to find in specific areas within the document.

Click on the following link for more tips on how to write a resume that will beat the ATS .

How to create an ATS-friendly resume format

If you want your resume to perform well in an ATS scan , stick to a standard resume format such as a reverse chronological or  hybrid resume . These resume formats use a professional summary section at the top of the document to outline your key skills and qualifications and combine it with a chronological “Work History” section that explains how you've leveraged these qualities to produce results for your employers.

Most applicant tracking systems do a better job at reading and interpreting a reverse chronological or hybrid format, because they rely on chronological data to parse your resume.

As a result, it's in your best interest to avoid a functional resume format at all costs - where the focus is placed on your abilities, rather than a chronological work history.

Make sure your resume sections are easily identifiable

You'll notice that we've mentioned different resume sections throughout this post. There's a good reason for that, of course. Resumes are not like typical prose documents. If your resume is just one long story with different kinds of information spread across one or two pages like an essay, it won't perform well. And, even if it did, no human hiring manager would bother to read it.

To ensure that key details can be found by both the ATS and a hiring manager, separate that information into distinct sections. This helps to provide structure to your ATS resume and makes it easier for machines and humans to quickly scan for the information they want to see. Are you wondering why we said “scan” instead of “ read?”  It's simple: even hiring managers don't bother to read your resume from the first word to the last. Instead, they scan it until they see what they're looking for - and then read that part.

Below is a simple structure that you can use to ensure that your resume satisfies the needs of both the ATS and any hiring manager who sees it:

Contact information : This section goes right at the top of your resume, but not in the header. Remember, ATS systems are not adept at reading information in that area of your resume. Include vital details like your name, location, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn URL. This section doesn't need a label.

Resume headline : We covered the resume headline earlier in the post, so you can find some tips on how to create this attention-grabbing section there. Like the contact section, this requires no label.

Summary statement : This section should be a three to five-sentence elevator pitch designed to capture any hiring manager's attention. You can include keywords in this paragraph that highlight your most vital skills, experiences, and measurable achievements that showcase your potential value to the employer. 

Core competencies: This is where you list the skills that show you're qualified for the position. Depending on the job you're seeking, your skill section may be weighted toward either soft or hard skills - but you should try to include some mix of both. You can label this section “Skills” or “Core Competencies” to ensure that both humans and machines can readily identify its content and importance.

Professional history : Otherwise known as work experience, this labeled section should include your relevant work history dating back 10-15 years. Make sure that you start by listing your most recent position and then list the others in reverse order. For each position you've held, include the company name, job title, dates of employment, and several bullet point examples that demonstrate your achievements in each role.

Education : This section also needs to be labeled and should include the name of the college you attended, the years of attendance, your course of study and degree, and any relevant coursework that you need to show to demonstrate your qualifications. You can also include listings for certifications, continuing education, and other relevant training.

How to run an ATS resume test for compliance

There are two easy ways to determine if your resume is compatible with an applicant tracking system during the job search.

Convert your resume to a plain-text file

Copy the entire content from your ATS-friendly resume, paste it into a plain-text document, and review the results. If the plain-text version is missing details from your original resume, has characters saved incorrectly, or looks disorganized (i.e., the heading for your “Education” section appears in the middle of your work experience), then assume your resume will require editing before it's ATS compliant.

Request a free ATS scan for your resume

Here at TopResume, we offer career advice and a free ATS resume scan as part of our free resume review. When you request a free resume review from TopResume, you'll receive feedback on your resume's content, as well as its ATS compatibility.

The first half of the review offers an objective look at what your resume is doing well and where it's falling short, from both an information and design perspective. The second half of the free resume review shows you exactly what information an ATS will pull from your resume, what information it will be unable to identify and retrieve (such as your name, contact information, most recent job title, and most recent employer), and what top skills and keywords your resume currently ranks for.

If the ATS is unable to identify this important information or thinks you're a fit for a job when you're not, then your ATS resume will need to be further optimized before it passes the ATS compatibility test. Fortunately, our experienced team of resume experts has the expertise you need to help with that optimization and ensure that your resume has what it takes to perform well in an ATS scan.

Click on the following link to watch our latest #OfficeHours video on how to write an ATS resume to beat the bots .

Don't let the ATS stop you from landing your dream job. Get an ATS-proof resume today . This article was originally written by Amanda Augustine and has been updated by Ken Chase. 

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Essential Steps to Navigate a Career Change

Thinking about changing careers? People make professional transitions for a variety of reasons, but few approach these decisions lightly. While major career changes can certainly be challenging, you can make the process smoother by adhering to the following tips.

10 Steps for Successfully Navigating a Career Change 

For those who might be changing careers, explore this step-by-step guide to help plan a rewarding professional transition. 

1. Evaluate Your Current Level of Job Satisfaction 

Numerous factors impact overall job satisfaction; not all workers weigh these factors equally. Beyond increases in pay and benefits, common criteria for assessing your professional situation might involve the industry in which you currently work, your hours and schedule, the amount of job stability you enjoy, and the employer’s culture and work environment. Of course, career alignment with your specific passions and abilities is also crucial. 

2. Identify Your Interests, Values, and Skills 

To objectively assess your level of job satisfaction, examine your interests, values, and skills. This entails organized tracking and planning; for example, you could keep a journal to document your professional experiences and genuine thoughts and feelings about them. 

3. Consider Viable Alternative Careers 

After defining the specific “pain points” underlying your lack of job satisfaction, brainstorm ways to overcome them. This might mean conducting in-depth research into viable alternative career paths. Using the same criteria you used to evaluate your current job satisfaction, investigate potential areas of improvement that other jobs may offer. 

4. Conduct Informational Interviews 

An effective way to gain insights into your current career and gather information about others is to conduct informal interviews with people of interest, who might include colleagues or mentors. Never underestimate the value of a new perspective! 

5. Upgrade Your Skills or Education 

If you have limited knowledge or experience in your target career field, consider restructuring your resume with a future-oriented focus. In many cases, you will need to complete substantial training and build a new knowledge base to change careers successfully; keep reading for more on this below. 

6. Network With Professionals in the Field 

The importance of networking cannot be overstated, as expanding and redefining your professional network can help you grow into new professional areas and find your next job. This makes networking an essential element of successful career change. 

7. Gain Experience in Your New Field 

It is a paradox that vexes many people: You need experience to get a job, but you can’t get a job without experience. However, you can enter a new career sector by accepting a position (even a part-time, contract, or entry-level job) related to your existing position. Also, consider accepting volunteer work and completing pro-bono projects. 

8. Update Your Professional Credentials and LinkedIn Profile 

While rewriting your resume or CV for a new career specialty, emphasize any new educational or professional experience you have garnered. In addition, you must ensure your LinkedIn profile and all other credentials listed online reflect these changes. For further help with this, learn more about how to optimize your LinkedIn profile and tips for success. 

9. Prepare for Job Interviews 

Too many interviewees regard the employment interview as a largely passive and reactive experience. People who are proactive, curious, and adequately prepared for job interviews can shape the process to ensure that their objectives are met. To maximize your preparedness, check out some good questions to ask a future employer during an interview . 

10. Plan Financially for Your Career Transition 

Considering factors such as your desired work/life balance, schedule flexibility, personal obligations, financial needs, and future objectives, you must plan financially for any significant changes in employment. Weigh the potential opportunity costs of pursuing training that might result in income loss or savings depletion. 

Leveraging Education for a Career Transition 

Any plan for a substantial professional change must consider learning and training variables. Relevant educational programs may require considerable money, time, and energy, but they are often essential for acquiring new skills and honing existing ones. 

Exploring Champlain College Online’s Programs 

You can hit the ground running in a new career by building a foundation through a relevant online degree or certificate program. Champlain College Online proudly provides dozens of programs that might suit your needs—from undergraduate and graduate certificates to associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees. These are some programs we offer: 

• Accounting 
• Business management 
• Computer science and cybersecurity 
• Esports and gaming development 
• Healthcare administration 
• Human resources 
• Information security and technology 
• Marketing 
• Web design, development, and programming 

Utilizing Champlain College Online’s Resources 

Students at Champlain College Online have access to a broad range of academic and career resources, including a dedicated advisor to help them reach their professional and personal goals. 

Overcoming Challenges During a Career Change 

Although major professional transitions are rarely easy, you can position yourself for success by doing the following: 

Addressing Gaps in Your Resume 

If it’s not viable to spin existing educational and professional experience to meet the demands of your new career, you will need to acquire new skill sets to transition successfully. 

Dealing With Uncertainty and Fear 

Honest self-assessment of factors like risk tolerance can do wonders to quell the uncertainty and fear that are inseparable from the career change process. You will also want to establish a support system that includes family, friends, and colleagues. 

Common Questions 

Considering a career change? Here are answers to these FAQs: 

How long does it typically take to make a career change? 

Various factors can impact the overall duration of the career change process, from the complexity of your desired professional transition to the limitations of your evolving schedule. However, Indeed reports that the average worker spends 11 months weighing the pros and cons of significant career changes before making a move. After that point, the timeline depends on the length of any educational credentials and the job-seeking process. 

Can I make a career change without experience? 

By conducting an honest self-assessment along with appropriate industry research, you can determine how much, if any, additional experience you will need to make your targeted career change. Some fields have minimum college education requirements, whereas others value more practical, hands-on experience. 

What age is best for making a career change? 

Major professional transitions may be generally better made earlier than later in your career, yet advice on how to change careers at any age warns against writing off prospective career changes as unfeasible due to age. 

Is it easy to change careers? 

In general, changing careers is challenging yet perfectly achievable with the proper planning and support. Even if it’s not easy, what matters is whether it’s worth it to you in the long haul. 

Prepare for a Career Transition Today 

If you are ready to make your career transition dreams a reality, a relevant college degree is the go-to route to get you there. At Champlain College Online, we offer a diverse range of degree and certificate programs that may suit your aspirations. All our programs are career-oriented ; in other words, they are tailored to meet current industry needs and provide a bedrock for professional success. 

For further details about any of these programs, request more information by completing a short online form on our website.

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Champlain college online, related programs, business management, web design & development, you may also like.

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What to bring to a career fair: complete checklist

1. Business cards

2. resume copies, 3. tailored resumes , 4. smartphone , 5. portfolio, 6. elevator pitch , 7. application materials , 8. notebook and pen, 9. change of clothes .

Heading to a career fair is a savvy move when looking for a new job. This is your opportunity to rub shoulders with the right people and get your name out there. However, you should never turn up to this type of event empty-handed. In the following guide, we will cover what to bring to a career fair, plus some bonus tips on how to succeed. 

What is a career fair?

First, let’s talk about a career fair. Also known as a job fair, this is an event where a selection of employers and businesses host stalls and meet job seekers. Often, career fairs take place in large event spaces, such as a university campus or an exhibition venue. 

Job fairs come in all shapes and sizes. Some colleges will host annual events to give students a chance to meet prospective employers. However, there are also career fairs targeted toward a certain field—for instance, a healthcare career fair or a marketing and media job fair. 

Don’t sleep on these events. If you are looking for a new job, attending a career fair is a savvy way to get your foot in the door. Job fairs provide the opportunity to network with decision-makers, learn about companies, and get some less formal interview practice. 

The rise of virtual career fairs

This guide focuses on what to bring to an in-person career fair. However, that’s not the only type of job fair you will encounter. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual career fairs have seen a surge.

Of course, there are benefits of virtual career fairs. The main one is that you don’t have to travel. You can meet and greet potential employers from the comfort of your own home. 

If you are planning to attend a virtual career fair, you still need to prepare. It’s important to make sure that you dress to impress and have your introductory statement at the ready.  

Looking for some more inspiration? Check out our Skype job interview tips here.

Checklist of what to bring to a career fair 

Turning up to a career fair empty-handed is a faux pas. This is your chance to make the right first impression on prospective employers. Don’t miss out. Before you attend the job fair, make sure that you have the right things with you. Here’s a quick checklist to help you out:  

First things first, you should have a business card at the ready. This is a simple card that contains your basic contact details. When you get talking to a stallholder and feel as though you hit it off, you might want to leave them with a business card so they can reach you. 

Here are the things that you need to include on this card: 

• Your name . Start off by including your first and last name.
• Job title . What role are you aiming for? Include it on the card now.
• Location . Employers need to know where you are based. If you are willing to relocate for the right job, you might want to add this detail to your business card.
• Phone number . List a number where you can be reached. Make sure that your answer phone message is suitable for work, too.
• Email address . Include a work-worthy email address. If in doubt, you can use one that features your first and last name or your initials.
• Socials . In some cases, you might want to include your social media handles. Should you choose to include these, you need to make sure that they are professional.

Don’t scrimp when it comes to printing. Your business card represents you on a professional level. You want to get every part of this process right from the start. Remember it’s better to get a small run of high-end cards than it is to get hundreds of low-quality ones. 

When considering what to bring to a career fair, you cannot forget your resume. You can kick things off with a general—i.e. not tailored—resume here. This should give a brief overview of your experience, education, and skills.

Most of the time, we recommend using a tailored resume when applying for jobs. However, since you don't know what employers you could meet, this is a rare occasion when you can use a one-size-fits-all document. Ensure that you have lots of copies of your resume. 

Looking for some inspiration? We’ve got you covered. We have expert-backed resume examples and writing guides for over 500 different professions. When you are ready to get started, you can also use our simple resume builder to create your document in just a few clicks. 

Is there a specific company that you are interested in working for? If the answer is yes, it will pay off big time to bring a tailored resume to your next job fair. Why not take things to the next level and research the businesses that are at the event ahead of attending?

Often enough, you can find a list of vendors and stallholders on the career fair site. Check out the employers that will be there and then start researching the ones that pique your interest. 

You can customize your resume by looking at the company’s website, social media channels, and any news about them. Pay close attention to the business’ values and vision. You can tweak your general resume to meet their needs and align well with their company culture. 

Your smartphone could be your best friend at a career fair. First up, some admin. You need to make sure that you put your device on silent throughout the event. The last thing you want is to be interrupted when you are talking to a prospective employer. 

However, there are many ways that you can use your smartphone when you are at a career fair. Let’s take a look at some of the tricks that you may want to use along the way: 

• Google brands and companies . If you come across a business you haven’t seen before, you might want to sneak off to Google it. Knowing your stuff could help you make the right first impression on the person who is running the stall.
• Save important numbers and details . Spoiler: you will be collecting a whole load of business cards when you are at the event. However, having your smartphone is useful if someone tells you their phone number or email address.
• Follow businesses on social media . You might find that stallholders ask you to give the company a quick follow on social media. One tap, and you’re in.

Of course, you don’t want to be glued to your phone the entire time. The whole point of a job fair is to make the right first impression on other professionals. So, when you’re not using your smartphone, make sure that you keep it in your bag or pocket. 

If you’re a creative professional, you might want to bring your portfolio with you to a career fair. For example, photographers, graphic designers, and even writers can benefit from this move. Make sure that you pick out your top work and display it well. The aim of the game is to make it as easy as possible for people to flick through your work and see your value quickly. 

When you introduce yourself to prospective employers, what are you going to say? Now is not the time to find yourself lost for words. You need to make sure that you have a clear and concise message that you want to share with them. Make it memorable from the offset. 

That is where your elevator pitch comes into play. Now, this should last no longer than 30 seconds and needs to cover who you are, your Unique Selling Proposition (USP), and then end with a call to action or a question. Before you head to the career fair, master your pitch.  

Are there certain roles you would jump at the chance to apply for? If so, make sure that you take your application materials with you. These are all the things you need when it comes to applying for a job. For example, you should have your referees’ contact information and details of past employers. Have all of the above to hand. 

While it is rare, you may be asked to share this information with employers at the career fair. You never want to be caught off guard. That is why it’s important to have everything ready. Above all else, this simple move will show you have a high level of organization. 

Prepare to talk, talk, and then talk some more. Like any networking session , career fairs are about communicating with people and making new connections. However, you don’t want to forget what you said to who and when. That’s why you need to have a notebook on you, too. 

After you have made a new connection, step aside and make a few notes about it. You should include details of what the next steps are (e.g. if they told you to add them on LinkedIn ) and when you plan to follow up with them. When we talk about what to bring to a career fair, this is one of the main things that most candidates forget. Don't make that mistake. 

Accidents happen. Maybe you spill coffee on your fresh, white shirt. Perhaps there’s an unexpected downpour of rain, and you end up soaked. Whatever the case, you want to walk into the career fair feeling confident. Pack a spare change of clothes in your bag to ensure that is the case. That way, if the worst should happen, you can deal with it quickly and easily. 

What to wear to a career fair, explained 

Attending a career fair is all about making the right first impression. When it comes to your outfit, you should wear what you would to an interview. That way, you show prospective employers that you are serious about establishing your career. 

Read more about what to wear to an interview here.

Bonus: Tips for attending a career fair 

Now you know what to bring to a career fair, you can start getting ready for your next event/ Before you attend a job fair, there are some final things you need to know. Check out our simple tips below to help you make real connections with the right people: 

• Give yourself a confidence boost . You may be feeling nervous ahead of the event. However, you want to come across as cool, calm, and collected. Take the time to steady your nerves before you go to the event. You can try meditation or deep breathing.
• Do your research first . As mentioned here, you can learn a lot about the job fair online. Do some research and find out which companies will be at the event.
• Be curious . One of the best ways to make a good impression on prospective employers is to appear curious. Be genuinely interested in what they say and ask plenty of questions. It might make all of the difference!

Key takeaways 

Understanding what to bring to a career fair is your first step toward success. Make sure that you go through this checklist when you are preparing for the event. Planning will help you to make the right impression on prospective employers. While these events can be intimidating, put your best foot forward, show you are prepared, and make connections.