Many people find it challenging enough to update their resume when looking for work in the same field, but writing a career change objective resume may prove to be even more difficult. This article will help you prepare and give you a sample resume to highlight skills you can offer an employer in a new career.
How to Write a Career Change Objective Resume
When writing a resume to find a job in a new career, you can't assume the potential employer will see you as a good fit for the position based on your previous work experience. You need to help the person reading your resume to pick out skills and personal qualities you possess that make you a good fit.
List Your Transferable Skills
If interested in changing careers, focus your resume on transferable skills as opposed to positions held in the past. As the name implies, your transferable skills are those you have acquired that can be transferred from one job to another. Resume objective statements, if used, should illustrate what you can do for the potential employer rather than what you've done in the past for your previous company.
When considering what skills you can use in your next career choice, don't limit yourself to what you have developed through previous employment. You have also developed skills at school and through hobbies and activities.
Examples of transferable skills to include on your career change objective resume are:
- Works well under pressure
- Able to work independently or as part of a group
- Good communication skills
- Leadership ability
- Eye for detail
- Organizational skills
As you can see, these types of skills can be used in a number of different work environments and can be applied to several different careers.
You will also want to highlight personal qualities that will benefit your new employer. Using descriptive words helps the employer get a clear idea of who you are and why you would benefit the company. Consider using words and phrases such as the following to describe yourself:
- Reliable
- Loyal
- Trustworthy
- Mature
- Flexible
- Energetic
Prepare a Functional Resume
You may be familiar with the chronological style of resume, where you list the jobs you have held by date. A functional resume does not follow this format; instead, it is divided into sections where the applicant's skills and experience are listed. Dates may be included, but they are downplayed in this type of resume.
Example of a Functional Resume
A functional resume may look something like this:
Susie Q. Jobseeker
123 Main Street
Your Town, NY
(555) 555-5555
Career Objective: To obtain a position as an office administrator
Qualifications:
- Exerience working in a number of office settings
- Highly skilled in several software packages, including WordPerfect and Excel
- Able to complete assignments with little turnaround time
- Good people skills, whether dealing with individuals on the phone or in person
Experience:
Assistant to the President - XYZ Company
Executive Secretary - Tulle Corporation
Executive Assistant - London Transportation
Education:
Collins College of Business
Major: Office Administration
Attended: 2001-2003
As you can see, the functional resume is set up to highlight a person's skills and abilities, as opposed to the time they spent in previous positions. Some career experts even suggest that previous jobs that are not related to the new career choice be left off of the career change objective resume.
Consider the Employer's Point of View
When you send your resume off to a potential employer, keep in mind that the person reviewing resumes may have to weed through a considerable number of applicants before deciding which candidates to invite into the office for an interview. When you put your career change objective resume together, you want to make it as easy as possible for the employer to see how your skills and abilities would be a good fit for the position. Anything that distracts the employer's attention from that goal should be left off the resume when you are looking to make a career change.
