How to Prepare Your Resume for a Career Change

business career path

Today’s job market is tough. Many companies are cutting back on staff through lay-offs or by not replacing workers who retire. When workers get laid off, it usually means that their field is experiencing a decline in revenue, which means other companies in the same business are probably laying off their workers too. When a local business suffers

a recession, the workers are frequently forced to either relocate or pursue employment in a new field. It’s not uncommon to see assembly line workers preparing for IT careers. People who had been on a business career path may turn to healthcare careers or vice versa.


Before applying for a job in a new field, job seekers must retool their resumes so that they emphasize skill sets and related experience that will convince a hiring manager to hire them. Some folks take classes to bolster their background. Others use their experience from previous jobs or hobbies to show why they would succeed at the new position. People looking to move into a new field should research what types of jobs are available and what sort of background is required for them. Online job listings are great places to get familiar with the terminology and job descriptions for a new field. For example, people looking for healthcare careers can learn the difference between a Licensed Practical Nurse and a Registered Nurse. They can also get an idea of the pay scale for a particular job in their area.
Healthcare jobs

 

IT careers are popular among those who are switching career tracks. When applying for a job in the IT field, their resumes should emphasize their level of familiarity with computers and any extensive on-the-job experience. It’s also good if the resume expresses an enthusiasm for computers. Human resource personnel like to see that a candidate is excited to break into a new position.

Some skills transfer naturally into a new field. Someone who was the manager of an apartment building or the bookkeeper for a family business could easily apply those skills to a similar job in a different field. Numbers are numbers, and people who are skilled with numbers can work in almost any field they choose.

There are many people applying for only a few jobs. To be successful, job seekers who are switching fields must edit their resume to put any related work and personal experience at the top of the form. Education and work history aren’t as critical as the skill set that job seekers bring with them. Previous jobs and schooling should be at the bottom of the resume. With a little resume revamping, job seekers will give themselves the best opportunity to find employment in a new field.

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