1. Broader Skills
Reanalyze your skills and include every area of the business that you’ve been able to impact, says Jill Smart, chief human resources officer at Accenture, a management consulting and technology firm. “People changing careers need to make sure their résumé shows the full breadth of their skills—operations, leadership, management, communication,” explains Smart.
2. Summary Paragraph
Experts’ opinions are mixed on the need for a résumé summary or objective if you’re staying in your field, but it’s an important feature for a career changer, says Bonnie Marcus, a New York-based business coach and founder of Women’s Success Coaching. In the summary paragraph, tie “everything in the job description with everything you’ve accomplished in the past,” she says.
3. Relatable Job Title Descriptions
Adding a short descriptor after the official job title can help hiring managers easily identify your transferable skills. “For example, if your job title was ‘software engineer,’ but you want to transition to project management, consider writing the job title as ‘Software Engineer (with a heavy emphasis on Project Management),’ ” résumé writer Robyn Feldberg explains. But, she adds, “You only want to use this approach if you can do it honestly.”
4. A Mixed Format
When working with career switchers, Feldberg creates a functional-style résumé on the first page and includes the traditional chronological format on the second page. “In other words, the first page looks like a glorified profile,” says Dallas-based Feldberg, who runs Abundant Success Coach, a career coaching and résumé writing service.
5. A Little Name Dropping
Showing that you’ve been able to succeed and work with established industry leaders in your previous career shouldn’t be saved for the interview, says Theresa Szczurek, chief executive of Radish Systems, a Boulder-based software firm.
6. Non-Work Related Experience
Include activities that relate to your desired role, like professional association memberships, volunteering, internships, or part-time consulting.
7. Natural Alignments
“Look for things about your current position that would have meaning to the person considering you for the new position,” says Luke Tanen, who left the music industry to work as the director of the Chicago Innovation Awards. For example, Tanen’s mention of closing sponsorship deals was similarly impressive in both fields.