Resume Objectives for Changing Careers
Recruiters spend approximately 10 seconds looking at each resume, so if you're making a career change you must demonstrate why you're a match for the job immediately through a career objective. Those doing the hiring get hundreds of applications each day, so they don't have the time to consider how skills from another field might line up with the vacancies at hand. You must take it upon yourself to align your transferable skills with the position you want to make it to the interview stage.
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Establishing Your Qualifcations
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Take a look at your existing resume and pick out the skills you currently use or have used in the past that will be valuable in the new job. Include information about other duties you've had that weren't applicable to your original resume but that you can use to demonstrate why you'll be a good fit for the position you're aiming for.
Specificity to Job Description
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Although making your resume specific to a job is important in every situation, it is particularly vital for career changers. A career objective should be tailored to the position that you're applying for by taking the skills of the position and aligning them with your strengths. By doing so, the recruiter will see that you took the time to thoroughly establish your match with the job, and it will be easier to see why you're a fit for the position.
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Word Choice
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Because time is of the essence when recruiters are reviewing resumes, you must make your objective as simple and easy to read as possible. Maureen Crawford Hentz, an independent career and human resources consultant, recommends using the specific job title, then listing a few of your transferable skills to craft an effective objective. One example she gives is of an accountant applying for a research position: "Seeking a biology research position that will effectively maximize my experience in program and personnel management."
Formatting the Resume
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It is important that the rest of your resume supports the claims that you make in your objective. Hentz recommends dividing your transferable skills into categories that are applicable to the new position. This type of resume is referred to as a "competency-based resume" or a "functional resume." To create a competency-based resume, use your core competencies as headers, then include details about the experience you have. Below, you can list your work experience and education.
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