resume profile examples for career change

22+ Career Change Resume Summary Examples & Samples

• Resume Format
• November 7, 2024

Resume Summary

Career Change Resume Summary : Navigating a career change can be both exciting and daunting, especially when it comes to presenting yourself through your resume. A well-crafted resume summary is crucial in capturing the attention of potential employers and showcasing your transferable skills. In this article, we present 22+ career change resume summary examples and samples designed to help you make a strong impression.

These summaries are tailored to highlight your unique experiences and strengths, ensuring that you stand out in a competitive job market. By focusing on your accomplishments and the value you bring, you can effectively communicate your readiness for a new role, regardless of your previous industry.

Whether you’re transitioning to a new field or seeking a different position within your current industry, these examples will provide inspiration and guidance. Get ready to transform your resume and take the next step toward a fulfilling career change!

What is Career Change Resume Summary

A Career Change Resume Summary is a brief statement at the top of your resume that highlights transferable skills, relevant experiences, and your motivation for transitioning to a new field. It effectively showcases your unique value, demonstrating how your background aligns with the requirements of the desired position.

Why Adding Career Change Job Summary is Important

A career change can be both exciting and daunting, and a well-crafted resume summary is crucial in making a strong first impression. This brief section at the top of your resume serves as a powerful tool to highlight your transferable skills, experiences, and motivations, setting the stage for potential employers.

• First Impressions Matter : A strong resume summary grabs attention and encourages hiring managers to read further. It’s your chance to make a memorable impact right away.
• Showcase Transferable Skills : Highlighting skills that apply to your new career path demonstrates your adaptability and readiness to take on new challenges.
• Clarify Your Intentions : A well-written summary clearly communicates your desire for a career change, helping employers understand your motivations and goals.
• Tailored Messaging : Customizing your resume summary for each job application allows you to align your skills and experiences with the specific requirements of the position, increasing your chances of being noticed.
• Build Confidence : A concise summary reinforces your self-belief and commitment to the new career, which can be contagious and resonate with potential employers.
• Set the Tone : The summary establishes the overall narrative of your resume, guiding the reader through your professional journey and emphasizing your growth and potential.

In summary, a compelling career change resume summary is essential for effectively communicating your value and making a strong case for your candidacy in a new field.

Must Use Keywords to Add in Career Change Resume Summary

• Accomplished
• Results-oriented
• Collaborative
• Professional

Key Components of Professional Summary of Career Change Job

Creating an effective career change resume summary is crucial for capturing the attention of hiring managers and showcasing your transferable skills. Here are the key components to include:

• Clear Objective : Start with a concise statement that outlines your career goals and the specific position you are targeting. This sets the tone and direction for your summary.
• Transferable Skills : Highlight skills that are relevant to the new career path. Focus on abilities that can be applied across different industries, such as communication, problem-solving, leadership, and project management.
• Relevant Experience : Even if your previous roles are not directly related, emphasize experiences that demonstrate your capability to succeed in the new field. Use examples that showcase your adaptability and willingness to learn.
• Achievements and Results : Quantify your accomplishments where possible. Use metrics or specific outcomes to illustrate your impact in previous roles, which can help build credibility and demonstrate your potential value.
• Industry Knowledge : If applicable, mention any relevant training, certifications, or coursework that pertains to the new industry. This shows your commitment to the career change and your proactive approach to gaining knowledge.
• Personal Attributes : Incorporate personal qualities that align with the new role, such as being a quick learner, adaptable, or having a strong work ethic. These traits can help convey your suitability for the position.
• Tailored Language : Use terminology and keywords from the job description to align your summary with the employer’s needs. This not only demonstrates your understanding of the role but also helps your resume pass through applicant tracking systems.
• Conciseness : Keep your summary brief, ideally between 3-5 sentences. This ensures that hiring managers can quickly grasp your qualifications without wading through excessive information.
• Call to Action : End with a statement that invites the reader to learn more about your qualifications, such as expressing enthusiasm for discussing how your background can benefit the company.

By incorporating these components, your career change resume summary will effectively communicate your readiness for a new role and capture the attention of potential employers.

Resume Summary of Career Change – For No Experience

Dynamic and motivated professional seeking to transition into a new career. Eager to leverage transferable skills and a strong work ethic to contribute effectively in a challenging environment.

Enthusiastic individual with a passion for learning and growth, aiming to pivot careers. Committed to applying problem-solving abilities and creativity to drive success in a new field.

Detail-oriented and adaptable professional ready to embrace a career change. Strong communication skills and a proactive attitude will support team collaboration and project success in a new industry.

Results-driven individual seeking to transition into a new career path. Eager to utilize analytical skills and a commitment to excellence to make a positive impact in a fresh role.

Motivated career changer with a strong desire to learn and grow. Ready to apply interpersonal skills and a collaborative mindset to thrive in a new professional environment.

Passionate about embarking on a new career journey. Equipped with a strong foundation in customer service and a dedication to delivering exceptional results in any role.

Ambitious and resourceful individual seeking to pivot careers. Committed to leveraging a diverse skill set and a willingness to learn to excel in a new professional landscape.

Dedicated professional eager to transition into a new field. Strong organizational skills and a positive attitude will contribute to achieving team goals and enhancing overall productivity.

Creative thinker with a desire to shift careers. Ready to apply innovative ideas and a strong work ethic to drive success in a new and exciting professional setting.

Enthusiastic individual looking to change careers. Committed to utilizing strong communication skills and a passion for teamwork to make a meaningful contribution in a new industry.

Professional Summary Examples for Career Change Job

Dynamic marketing professional transitioning to data analysis, leveraging strong analytical skills and a passion for insights to drive strategic decisions and enhance business performance in a tech-driven environment.

Dedicated educator shifting to corporate training, utilizing exceptional communication and presentation skills to foster employee development and enhance organizational effectiveness in diverse learning environments.

Results-oriented sales representative transitioning to project management, combining strong negotiation skills and a detail-oriented approach to lead cross-functional teams and deliver successful project outcomes.

Creative graphic designer moving into digital marketing, bringing a unique blend of artistic vision and marketing acumen to create compelling campaigns that engage and convert target audiences.

Experienced customer service specialist pivoting to human resources, applying strong interpersonal skills and a commitment to employee satisfaction to enhance workplace culture and drive talent retention.

Analytical financial analyst transitioning to business development, leveraging data-driven insights and strategic thinking to identify growth opportunities and foster long-term client relationships.

Detail-oriented administrative professional shifting to operations management, utilizing organizational skills and process improvement expertise to streamline workflows and enhance productivity in fast-paced environments.

Passionate software developer transitioning to UX design, combining technical expertise with a user-centered approach to create intuitive and engaging digital experiences that delight users.

Skilled nurse moving into health informatics, leveraging clinical experience and a passion for technology to improve patient outcomes through data management and innovative health solutions.

Motivated researcher transitioning to market research, applying strong analytical skills and a keen understanding of consumer behavior to drive strategic marketing initiatives and business growth.

Experienced retail manager shifting to e-commerce strategy, utilizing leadership skills and a customer-centric approach to enhance online shopping experiences and drive sales growth.

Creative writer transitioning to content marketing, harnessing storytelling skills and digital marketing knowledge to engage audiences and elevate brand presence across multiple platforms.

Detail-oriented accountant moving into compliance, applying financial expertise and a strong understanding of regulations to ensure organizational adherence and mitigate risks effectively.

Enthusiastic event planner transitioning to community outreach, leveraging organizational skills and a passion for social impact to foster relationships and drive engagement in local initiatives.

Proactive IT support specialist pivoting to cybersecurity, utilizing technical knowledge and a commitment to safeguarding information to enhance organizational security protocols and protect sensitive data.

Sample Resume with Career Change Resume Summary

Contact information.

John Doe 123 Main Street City, State, ZIP (123) 456-7890 [email protected] LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johndoe

Dynamic professional with over 5 years of experience in project management and a proven track record of delivering results in fast-paced environments. Seeking to leverage transferable skills in communication, problem-solving, and team leadership to transition into a marketing role. Passionate about utilizing analytical skills to drive strategic initiatives and enhance brand visibility.

• Project Management
• Team Leadership
• Data Analysis
• Strategic Planning
• Communication
• Problem Solving
• Digital Marketing Fundamentals
• Social Media Management

Professional Experience

Project Manager XYZ Corporation, City, State June 2018 – Present

• Led cross-functional teams to deliver projects on time and within budget, improving overall efficiency by 20%.
• Developed and implemented project plans, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and client expectations.
• Analyzed project performance metrics to identify areas for improvement and optimize processes.

Assistant Project Manager ABC Solutions, City, State January 2016 – May 2018

• Supported project managers in executing project plans and managing timelines, contributing to a 15% increase in client satisfaction.
• Coordinated communication between stakeholders, ensuring clarity and transparency throughout project lifecycles.
• Assisted in the development of marketing materials for project launches, enhancing brand awareness.

Bachelor of Arts in Communication University of State, City, State Graduated: May 2015

Certifications

• Google Analytics Certification
• HubSpot Content Marketing Certification

Volunteer Experience

Marketing Volunteer Local Non-Profit Organization, City, State January 2023 – Present

• Collaborate with the marketing team to create engaging content for social media platforms, increasing follower engagement by 30%.
• Assist in organizing community events to promote the organization’s mission and services.

Additional Information

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, Asana, and Trello
• Fluent in Spanish
• Available for relocation and travel

Do’s & Don’ts of Career Change Resume Summary

A well-crafted Career Change Resume Summary can set the tone for your entire application, making it crucial to get it right. This brief statement should highlight your transferable skills and relevant experiences, showcasing your potential to succeed in a new field. Here are some essential do’s and don’ts to consider when writing your Career Change Resume Summary.

Do’s:

• Focus on Transferable Skills: Emphasize skills that apply across industries, such as communication, leadership, and problem-solving.
• Tailor for the New Role: Customize your Career Change Resume Summary for each position, aligning it with the job description.
• Highlight Relevant Experience: Include any volunteer work, internships, or projects that relate to your new career path.
• Use Action-Oriented Language: Start sentences with strong action verbs to convey confidence and capability.
• Keep it Concise: Aim for 2-3 sentences that succinctly capture your qualifications and aspirations.

Don’ts:

• Avoid Jargon: Steer clear of industry-specific terms that may confuse hiring managers unfamiliar with your previous field.
• Don’t Downplay Your Past: Instead of dismissing your previous experience, frame it as a valuable asset that contributes to your new career.
• Skip Generic Statements: Avoid clichés and vague phrases; be specific about what you bring to the table.
• Don’t Use Passive Language: Passive constructions can weaken your message; assert your strengths actively.
• Neglect Formatting: Ensure your Career Change Resume Summary is visually appealing and easy to read, using bullet points or clear spacing if necessary.

By adhering to these guidelines, you can create a compelling Career Change Resume Summary that captures attention and drives interest in your application.

Also Read : Resume Summary Writing Tips with Examples

FAQs about Career Change Resume Summary

What is a career change resume summary.

A Career Change Resume Summary is a brief statement at the top of your resume that highlights your skills, experiences, and goals relevant to a new career path. It serves as a powerful introduction, showcasing your transferable skills and setting the tone for the rest of your application.

How should I structure my Career Change Resume Summary?

Your Career Change Resume Summary should be concise and focused. Start with a strong opening statement about your professional background, followed by key skills and experiences that relate to your new career. Conclude with your career objectives, emphasizing your enthusiasm for the new direction you’re pursuing.

What key elements should I include in my Career Change Resume Summary?

Include your relevant skills, experiences, and accomplishments that align with the new career path. Highlight any transferable skills, certifications, or training that demonstrate your suitability for the role. Additionally, express your passion for the new field to create a compelling narrative that engages potential employers.

How long should my Career Change Resume Summary be?

Your Career Change Resume Summary should ideally be 2-4 sentences long, or about 50-100 words. This length allows you to convey essential information without overwhelming the reader. Focus on clarity and impact, ensuring that each word contributes to your overall message and career transition.

Can I use a Career Change Resume Summary for any industry?

Yes, a Career Change Resume Summary can be tailored for any industry. The key is to customize it for the specific role you’re targeting. By emphasizing transferable skills and relevant experiences, you can effectively position yourself as a strong candidate, regardless of your previous industry background.

Resume Tips

Choose the right format.

Select a resume format that best showcases your skills and experience. Common formats include chronological, functional, and combination resumes.

Tailor Your Resume

Customize your resume for each job application by highlighting relevant skills and experiences that match the job description.

Focus on Key Sections

Include essential sections such as contact information, professional summary or objective, work experience, education, skills, and relevant certifications.

Use Clear and Concise Language

Be concise and use action verbs to describe your accomplishments and responsibilities in each job role.

Quantify Achievements

Whenever possible, quantify your achievements with numbers or percentages to demonstrate your impact in previous roles.

Highlight Transferable Skills

Emphasize transferable skills that are relevant to the job you're applying for, such as communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills.

Prioritize Readability

Ensure your resume is easy to read by using a clean and professional font, adequate white space, and bullet points for listing information.

Proofread Carefully

Avoid spelling and grammar errors by proofreading your resume multiple times or asking a trusted friend or colleague to review it.

Keep it Updated

Regularly update your resume with new experiences, skills, and accomplishments to reflect your most current qualifications.

Seek Feedback

Consider seeking feedback from career advisors, mentors, or professionals in your industry to improve your resume further.

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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.

If you're thinking about a career change, and want to join a community of global professionals who are also re-designing and reframing their careers, then consider Unsettled’s Lifestyle Incubator.

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.

Through original workshops, weekly live sessions, practical tools, frameworks and peer-to-peer conversations with a global and diverse community of professionals, they will help you identify the core tensions between the lifestyle you want and the career trajectory that aligns your values, interests, and skills.

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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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.

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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