resume title examples for career change

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11 Career Change Resume Examples [& Templates]

Marketing Manager

Best for senior and mid-level candidates

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• Career Change Resumes
• Changing Careers To Resumes
• Changing Careers From Resumes
• Career Change Resumes for Teachers

Noah breathed a sigh of relief as he found a few accounting job descriptions that intrigued him. After spending years in various financial roles and racking up some impressive creds as a financial analyst, he felt confident in this career switch. But was he as prepared to  make a resume as he was for his career change?

Noah’s confidence went up when he found our library of career change resume examples and time-tested hints. Plus, he knew he’d be able to expand upon his career objective and add even more value by making a cover letter ! The notes he took while preparing his application materials even helped him navigate a victorious interview.

Whether you’re looking to change careers in accounting, teaching, or any other profession, check out our handy resources to build your own success story like Noah did!

Career Change Resume

or download as PDF

Why this resume works

• A summary merges your background with the opportunities you’re seeking. In other words, a summary demonstrates how your experience has prepared you for your new field. However, you should only use a summary if you’ve had  at least 10 years of experience.
• Choosing a  professional resume template  and  resume format  can help make your resume look professional and cohesive without much effort.

Multiple Career Resume

• The keywords you include will help tie your expertise together and prove that you have the right abilities for the job. 
• Start by listing hard skills (aka technical, learned skills) listed in the job description. If you don’t have a lot, then simply use soft skills like “analytical” and collaboration.”
• Whatever jobs you’ve held, find a common thread between them and the new job, then sew that thread into every job experience. It’ll be a subtle but powerful tool to increase credibility despite multiple career changes. 

Career Change To Accounting Resume

• If you’re applying to be an accountant but it wasn’t your most recent role, be sure to add a certifications section highlighting that you are a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Career Change To Administrative Assistant Resume

• Enhance your career change to administrative assistant resume with a short summary that shows recruiters where to draw parallels between your past experience and target title.

Marketing Manager Career Change Resume

• There are numbers everywhere; look for percentages relating to your skills, like how you boosted efficiency or increased sales from last quarter. The sky’s the limit!
• If you can’t find (or don’t have access to) percentages, then use plain numbers relating to how many team members you worked with, how many clients you took on, or how many referrals you gained.
• Things like only using active verbs and avoiding personal pronouns might seem minor, but they make reading your resume easier, which is huge for recruiters and hiring managers.
• And speaking of details, always  double-check your resume  for proper grammar, punctuation, and overall flow.

RN Career Change Resume

• An objective is only two to three sentences, so make sure each word packs a verbal punch by showing off your years of experience, skills, and desire for the role you’re seeking.
• For example, mentioning your adherence to HIPPA guidelines can demonstrate to hiring managers that you will stick to the rules. On the flip side, explaining how you used active listening to assist patients will show your compassion and customer service skills.

Journalist Career Change Resume

• Start by keeping your resume to a single page. Otherwise, you’ll overwhelm hiring managers (who will likely toss your resume into the recycling).
• It’s best to use reverse-chronological formatting on your resume to keep your most relevant job history at the top. While other formats are necessarily wrong, they aren’t standard, and they’re harder for hiring managers (and the ATS) to read.
• In your contact header, include your email address (make sure it’s a professional email), your phone number, and your location. 
• Consider adding a hyperlink to your LinkedIn profile if you have a LinkedIn account.

Mechanical Engineer Career Change Resume

• Consider asking a friend, relative, or even a career advisor from your alma mater to scan your resume for errors and discrepancies.
• Nothing tells a recruiter you’re not the right person for the job like saying you’re great at “time management.” 
• Put color in your section headers (or company titles) and your contact header. This will add visual interest without being overwhelming.
• If you’re applying to work at a conservative financial firm, you may want to stick to traditional colors rather than pastel pink or lavender.

Teacher Career Change Resume

• Look for ways to connect your previous duties to the responsibilities listed in the job description.
• Many skills  indirectly  transfer from one job to another. Consider your collaboration skills: your ability to work well with fellow teachers will help you work on team projects at your next job.
• Of course, if you have any skills, projects, or experience in your new field, include them, and explain how you’ve mastered them in your career change cover letter .
• Using a  resume template  is invaluable here, as you can easily scooch sections to the side, adjust your margins, and fix your font type to give you some extra wiggle room.

Teacher to Project Manager Resume

• The work experience bullet points to occupy the largest share of your CV—no more than four bullets for each role. As for your contact info, education, skills, hobbies, and certifications, a side column will do the trick. The cherry on top is restricting the entire resume to one page.

Teacher to Human Resources Resume

• But more importantly, mention the relevant transferable skills you bring to this entry-level role, a requirement Elijah executes well in his teacher to human resources resume. Better yet, let your bullet points show how you used these proficiencies in previous teaching roles.

Related resume guides

• Engineering

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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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Career Change Resume: Examples and Tips from Experts

By Biron Clark

Published: November 8, 2023

Biron Clark

Writer & Career Coach

If you want to change careers, you’re going to need a great resume to show employers why they should take a chance on you.

You need to convince them that you’ll succeed in their role, even if you’ve done different work in the past.

And while you can do some of this convincing in the job interview, you aren’t going to get interviews if your resume or CV isn’t great , too, so it all starts here!

Don’t worry if this sounds intimidating – this article has everything you need to write an effective resume for career change…

I spoke to multiple professional resume writers, coaches, and other experts and put together this list of resume tips for career changers, as well as real-life examples of resumes that got interviews.

Here’s what you need to know…

Career Change Resume/CV Format

The best resume format for a career change is the chronological resume (also known as “reverse chronological resume”). With this format, your resume or CV lists your work experience in the order it happened, starting with your most recent or current position at the top.

This is what most hiring managers and recruiters are used to seeing and prefer to see, so it’s the best format to use when switching careers (or in any job search, for that matter).

So the first thing to do with your resume is to make sure you’re using this format. Put your most recent position at the top of your “Work Experience” section , and then go backward from there. You’ll see examples of this coming up – don’t worry.

The bottom line is: You aren’t going to hide something or “sneak” through the process by using a less-common (and more confusing) resume format like a functional resume.

This will just confuse and frustrate the hiring manager or recruiter .

So rather than trying to hide gaps in your experience, you should tailor your experience to be as relevant as possible for the job you’re applying to. That’s how to approach resume formatting as a career changer.

Career Change Resume Objective (And Why NOT To Include This)

You should not include a resume objective when changing careers (or on any resume, in fact). A resume objective is an outdated section that should be replaced with a resume summary section – a brief intro summarizing your experience, skills, accomplishments, and anything else you’d like to share.

Coming up next, we’ll look at examples of how to write this “summary” section as a career changer.

Writing Your Resume Summary for Career Change

Rather than a resume objective, you should include a brief Summary section to show employers what you’ve accomplished and how you can help them in their role.

I asked multiple experts for tips and examples of how to write a resume summary for a career change, so here are some tips from coaches, resume writers, and other experts.

Career Change Resume Example: Switching Careers from Business Development at a Skilled Nursing Facility to Medical Device Sales 

This section is contributed by: Virginia Franco – Executive Resume Writer at Virginia Franco Resumes

When writing a summary section for a career change, think about what you bring to the table that aligns with the role you seek, and what makes you less of a hiring risk for the hiring manager or interviewer.

In the example above, my client wanted to pivot from a business development role at a skilled nursing facility into medical device sales. In writing his summary, I:

• Chose a headline that contained some keywords related to the role he currently held AND the role he was targeting.
• Created a tagline that spoke to his success in Skilled Nursing using language that was industry-neutral.
• Identified a few differentiators that would make him appealing to a hiring manager and help outweigh the fact that he was new to the role and industry.

In this case, the fact that he:

• Knew lots of key players meant he could hit the ground running and build a sales funnel fast
• Was multilingual but raised in the U.S. meant he could interface well with many cultures – important in the area where he lived, and in working with surgeons that are often from other countries.
• Kept abreast of the industry and trends meant he was passionate about the industry and that he embraced continual learning.
• Established trust by working to overcome obstacles in a creative fashion meant that he was a problem solver – a trait that would make him attractive to a hiring manager.

In other words, I worked to make him seem like a candidate that was a risk worth taking!

Career Change Resume Example: Changing Careers from Medical Device Sales to Advertising & Technology

This section is contributed by: Austin Belcak – Founder at Cultivated Culture

When your changing careers, one of the biggest resume challenges is getting visibility on the transferable and relevant experience that you have.

Maybe you worked on a relevant project two jobs ago, maybe you took a course that’s buried in your education section, or maybe you’ve been working on a side hustle but are worried about leading with that vs. your current job.

Using resume objectives is a good way to combat this issue.

Resume objectives allow you to cherry-pick the most relevant work experience from your career, education, and side projects and feature it right at the top of your resume. This gives you the chance to lead with the most relevant transferable experience so you make sure it’s seen instead of getting lost in the mix.

This is the exact tactic I used when I was switching careers from medical device sales into advertising/tech.

My day job was in healthcare, it didn’t offer much in the way of traditional skills, but I had been spending nights and weekends learning digital marketing. I took courses, got certified, and even started doing a bit of freelancing. I wanted that to show at the top of my resume so I used an objective to highlight that ahead of my current role:

Tip: Target Everything for the Role You Want

This section is contributed by: Sarah Johnston – Former Recruiter, Executive Resume Writer, and Job Search Coach at BriefcaseCoach.com

When writing a resume for a career change, it’s important to target your resume for the role that you want. I recommend finding a few job descriptions that interest you and scanning for keywords and themes. Use the target job title or skill set in the header to frame the resume.

The Ladders did an eye tracking study that found that recruiters and hiring managers only spend 7.4 seconds scanning a resume before deciding to pass or read more. The heat map showed that better-performing resumes have keywords at the top to immediately draw the eye.

Attached is the top of a career changer sample resume. This hypothetical job seeker is wanting to transition from an account manager role to being an executive assistant . The resume plays up her transferable skills and includes a header that references the job that she wants.

As a former corporate recruiter, I am not a fan of functional resumes. Recruiters are taught to scan resumes chronologically. When you take the experience out of context or “order,” it often gives the recruiter the impression you are trying to hide or fudge experience.

Tip: Use Bullets to Stand Out

This section is contributed by: Madeline Mann – Human Resources Leader & Career Coach, Creator of Self Made Millennial

Consider writing your resume intro or summary in bullet format, as this makes it easier for people to quickly scan it.

The first couple of bullet points should emphasize the most important keywords from the job description.

Get creative with how you integrate these terms into your summary. For example, use phrases like “experience with” and “knowledge of” to indicate tasks that you have become familiar with inside or outside of your job.

Personal projects, volunteering, and education should all contribute to what you describe here. If the most prominent keywords in the job description are tasks and concepts that you are unfamiliar with, that is a sign that you need to build those skills on your own time. Here is a video on how to build these important skills without getting hired.

The next couple of bullet points should focus on the most relevant accomplishments to the role you are pursuing, which may not be from your most recent role.

This is where the magic of the summary section comes into play. Pull in early-career achievements, side projects, and unpaid work where you did tasks that are more closely aligned with your new career. For example, if you are a Psychology Lab Assistant, and you want to be a Building Manager, many of your lab tasks won’t translate.

But, five years ago you were the treasurer of your sorority (budgeting is a keyword), and you handled many contractors to ensure the house was renovated and maintained (knowledge of the trades is a keyword). While that experience may be buried due to it being 5 years ago and not a paid position, it can hop to the top of your career change resume as a highly relevant accomplishment in the summary.

The summary section is an opportunity for you to truly spell it out for the hiring manager where your transferable skills will be too well-matched to ignore!

Editor’s note: Bullets are also a great way to make your resume work history section stand out. This article explains how to do this with 22 resume bullet examples. 

Career Change Resume Work History Section: Samples and Tips

After a brief summary or intro paragraph, you’ll need a powerful employment history section to continue to impress the recruiter or hiring manager. Use the tips below to help you write yours.

Write Your Resume by Working Backward from the Job Description

This section is contributed by: Kyle Elliott – Career & Life Coach and Resume Writer at CaffeinatedKyle.com

The key to a successful career change resume is to work backward from the job posting. I encourage clients to literally pull language from the posting of the job they are targeting, then massage it until it truthfully reflects their experience. You really want to speak the language of the industry you are moving into.

In the example below, my client was targeting sales roles. However, she has several years of impressive experience from working in higher education that we wanted to include on her resume. So we repositioned her earlier experience as a “customer experience manager” role, pulling language directly from the job postings she was targeting.

Add Keywords to Get Past the ATS

This section is contributed by: Susan P. Joyce – Publisher of Job-Hunt.org

When your goal is a career change, be sure that your resume contains the relevant keywords for the career you want. Without these keywords, your resume will not be found in a recruiter’s search of the applications and resumes stored in the applicant tracking system (ATS).

Analyze the job description and pay attention to the job’s requirements as well as the nice-to-have skills. Make a list of the skills and other job requirements you meet. Those terms are typically the terms that will be used most often when the employer is searching for qualified job candidates.

If you have acquired skills or experience outside of work, don’t be afraid to include them, too. These include skills you have acquired while volunteering or participating in other non-work activities, especially if those skills are required for this job (and, thus, important keywords).

One of the best places to start including keywords on your career change resume is your “Skills” section.

The Skills section provides a quick way to show employers that you have the skills they’ve listed on their job description.

For example: Assume the job requires hard skills like QuickBooks or SQL, and you have experience with them or have certifications from training you have taken. Include the appropriate term in your Skills section, like “QuickBooks” or “QuickBooks Certified”.

Then, in the “Experience” section of your resume , include those skills in the descriptions of your past jobs (or volunteering) where you acquired and/or used those skills. This will show the employer when and where you demonstrated your skills, which they always want to see!

Repetition of keywords is usually a good thing when the repetition is natural, relevant, and appropriate. So, having these important terms in both the Skills and Experience sections of your resume will help your resume be found.

However, simply repeating keywords at the bottom of your resume is not smart or useful.

Career Change Resume Templates

You should now have a general idea of how to format and write your resume or CV for a career change.

If you need a great starting point and don’t want to create your resume from scratch (or if your existing resume is outdated and doesn’t look great) then this job search resources page has multiple free resume templates that are great for changing careers.

After clicking the link above, scroll down to the section titled: “ATS-Compliant Resume Templates.” All of the templates on that page are free to use and download.

Recap: How to Write a Resume for Career Change

If you’re planning on switching careers, you should write your resume to make your experience seem as relevant as possible for the job you want next.

Always think of the employer’s perspective when deciding what to put on your resume and what to leave off.

Write your career change CV or resume based on the employer’s job description and you’ll be much more likely to win the interview.

That’s how to get a new job in a new field. Employers want candidates who can step into a role, learn the position quickly, and succeed. They want low risk.  The more you can show similarities between what you’ve done and what the employer needs for this job, the better!

To summarize: Your CV or resume for a career change will be most successful if you start with the employer’s needs in mind, work backward, and think carefully about how to position your own experiences – both professional and personal – to make yourself seem capable of stepping into their job and being a success!

About the Author

Read more articles by Biron Clark

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How to Write a Career Change Resume (Guide, Templates, & Examples)

Customers Interviewed by:

Quitting your job and switching careers can be one of the most unsettling moments of your life. It is scary, intimidating, and sometimes overwhelming. 

But changing careers could also be one of the bravest and most fulfilling things you can do if you are willing to put in the work. A critical asset in your big move is a career change resume that focuses on all the right things.

In this guide, we will help you craft your career change resume and gain more confidence as you take that next big step in your career.

Table of Contents

• How to write a career change resume
• Career change resume templates
• Career change resume examples

Key Takeaways

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Career Change

Need help in deciding whether to do a career pivot? Try our career change tool today!

How to craft a resume for your career change

Doing a career pivot means you are starting over. With this, you need to convince recruiters and hiring managers that you have what it takes to do the new job well. And one way to prove your value to recruiters is by creating a career change resume that will grab their attention. Here’s how you write one.

1. Study the job description to match up your transferable skills

First things first: you need to carefully read the job posting and understand how your past accomplishments and transferable skills can help you succeed in your desired new role.

Transferable skills are any skills that you can take with you from one job, field, or industry to another.

For example: A job seeker with a background in journalism might recognize the keyword “writing” in the job description for an advertising position. While this job seeker doesn’t have advertising experience, they do have expert-level writing skills that would make them a great candidate for the new role. 

Writing, in this example, is a transferable skill. Transferable skills include both hard skills and soft skills , like leadership , time management , multi-tasking, communication , organization, emotional intelligence , listening, research, and many more.

Pro Tip: Include these skills in your work experience section, focusing less on duties and more on the skills you have developed, as these will be of the most interest to the hiring manager. 

Read more : The Top Resume Skills You Need to Get Hired

2. Choose a career change resume format that highlights a logical connection in your career change

Oftentimes, job seekers choose a functional resume for career change job searches. A functional resume can be appealing because it turns the focus away from work history and toward skills and accomplishments. However, it can make it look like the job seeker has something to hide. 

A better option for most job applicants making a career change is the hybrid resume (also called a “combination resume”), which still showcases skills and accomplishments but includes a traditional work history in the second half of the document.

Here’s the bottom line when it comes to resume format when changing careers: if you’re staying within the same industry, a hybrid resume will work great for you. If you’re changing careers and industries, you can consider a functional resume format, though the hybrid resume is likely still a better choice.

3. Write a resume objective or summary that frames your career change as a strength

Your resume objective or resume summary sections are a great way to convince recruiters that your past experience sets you up as the perfect candidate for the new role. These statements tie in your experience and skills with what your new career demands.

When writing your resume objective, focus on the skills that you’ve picked up throughout your current career and other previous roles and explain how you plan to use them in this new industry. 

For example:

Accounting professional with over 10 years of experience looking to transfer my skills to the finance industry. My proven mathematical and money management skills make me an ideal fit for the Finance Assistant position.

Passionate sales representative with over 5 years of experience working with customers and selling software. Looking to leverage my proven skills in seeing our customers’ pain points and providing solutions to whatever I write as an aspiring Content Manager.

Kerianne Burke , a tech recruiter at Segment in San Francisco, recommends that job seekers provide recruiters with insights into how they have gained knowledge about this new category and role. “Have they taken classes? Completed extensive independent research? Be very specific here!” 

Second, Burke said that job seekers need to show that they would be able to make an impact in the role they are applying for.

4. Use keywords

Resume keywords prove to recruiters that you have what it takes to succeed in the new role. These keywords also help you get noticed by recruiters who use search functions in their applicant tracking system (ATS) to filter candidates by what’s on their resume.

You can find relevant keywords in the job description or job posting. Take stock of these keywords and incorporate them into your career change resume when possible.

Tailoring is key to a career change resume

Even in a field that is brand new to you, you can find keywords that relate to your past experience. As Burke explains, “Look closely at the qualifications in the job description and tailor some of your first few bullets on your resume to highlight that applicable experience. It’s always great to tie your impact to data when possible!”

Read our full guide: How to Tailor Your Resume to the Job Description

Jobscan makes it easy to identify the most important keywords in the job description, so you know what to focus on. Try it below:

5. Add training and certifications to your career change resume

Adding training and certifications to your resume is another way to show off relevant skills during a career change. List down all the relevant training, courses, and certifications under your belt and show recruiters how these could help you in the new role or career.

A word of encouragement here: You don’t have to go back to school and take extensive training in order to make a career change. In many cases, the skills you’ve honed over your career will be enough!

As Monica Fochtman , a career coach who specializes in career changes put it: “Going back to school is the last thing that I suggest to people. Especially now, with so much on-demand learning like LinkedIn and Coursera and Teachable…there’s no shortage of places to get on-demand training. There are other ways to get those skills and demonstrate that you have those skills without going back to school.”

You don’t need the certification; you need to demonstrate that you have what the certification represents – the knowledge. The important thing is to choose a career that fits your already developed skills. That doesn’t mean your duties will be the same. It just means you’ll be able to use the same skills.

Learn more: Read our full guide on how to make a career change , with tips and insights from Monica Fochtman, PhD.

Career Change Resume Templates

1. hybrid resume.

The hybrid resume or combination resume is ideal when changing careers as this format highlights your skills and accomplishments while still detailing a chronological format of your career trajectory.

Here’s an example:

The hybrid format draws attention to your most important skills, accomplishments, and values and so recruiters and hiring managers can see what you bring to the table quickly.

2. Functional Resume

When you are switching to a career in a different industry where you have limited or zero experience, you can use a functional resume. It puts the spotlight on your transferable skills while downplaying your limited work experience.

Here’s what a functional career change resume looks like:

You can find more sample career change resume templates on Jobscan’s Resume Templates page, which you can use for free.

Career Change Resume Examples and Ideas

Here are career change resume examples to get your resume writing juices flowing:

1. From project management to a job in sales

This career change resume highlights Mindy’s robust experience in Project Management under her work experience section. In her resume summary, she relates how she can use her project management skills in her new role in sales and proves to the hiring manager that she has the necessary skills and experience to excel and succeed as a Sales Manager.

2. From administrative work to writing

In his resume, James mentioned in his resume objective statement that he is passionate about solving customer problems. Having worked in various fields, his empathy and problem-solving skills make him an effective content writer who can relate to the readers’ struggles but is also able to share tips and insights that work. He also mentioned writing as one of his skills.

3. From accounting to a project management role

In this career change resume example, although the job seeker is an accountant by profession, she showed that she had relevant experience in leading teams and managing projects which makes her a good candidate for the new job. The resume summary also states her desire to use her skills as an accountant to run projects effectively and see them through to completion.

You can check more resumes for any job to help you with your career change resume in our Resume Examples Page.

Pro Tip: To supplement your career change resume, include a cover letter to provide context for your past achievements and build a strong case as to how your accomplishments and skills can help you with the new position.

Read our full guide: The Career Change Cover Letter: How to Get it Right

Changing careers can feel scary and intimidating. But it is also a great opportunity for you to discover more about yourself and grow into the best person you can be.

Here are some key takeaways to help you with your career change:

• Craft a powerful career change resume that will prove to recruiters that even when you are jumping into a completely different career, you have what it takes to do the job and do it well.
• Use the hybrid resume (combination resume) format when creating your career change resume. It highlights your top skills while detailing your work experience and career trajectory.
• Proactively seek opportunities to upgrade your skills and pursue professional development through training, courses, and mentorship.

Save your time and get more career change insights with Jobscan’s career changer tool !

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 5 questions to consider before making a career change: 1. Why do you want to switch careers? 2. Why are you dissatisfied with your current role? What do you hate about your job? 3. What are your career goals? What is your dream job? Is your current career aligned with your passions, skills, or interests? 4. How much does it pay? Can you live on it comfortably? If not, are you willing to take the risk? 5. What type of company do you want to work for?

Here’s how. 1. Choose the best format for your resume. 2. Write a resume objective or resume summary explaining how your previous roles will help you succeed in the new role. 3. Include relevant keywords (especially those found in the job description.) 4. Tailor your resume for career change to each job you are applying for. 5. Showcase transferable skills and include certifications and relevant training when possible.

A resume objective for career change bridges the gap between your previous role and your new role. A good objective would clearly and briefly provide your relevant experience and explain how this will help you succeed in your new career. For example, an accountant wanting to land a job in sales would write: “ Certified Public Accountant with 10 years of experience writing accurate and timely financial reports, reducing costs, and improving overall efficiency. Looking to leverage my analytical skills and attention to detail in crafting sales systems that will streamline all sales processes and increase profitability. “

Here’s how you share about your career transition: 1. Provide a brief description of yourself: who you are, what you value, and what you want to achieve. 2. Share about your most recent and significant work experience. 3. Explain how your skills and experiences make you the best fit for the new job. 4. Stress why you want to do a career change and the value you can add to the company.

Focus on showing recruiters and hiring managers what you bring to the table, even as someone who is switching careers. Here’s an example of a career change resume summary. For example: “ Customer-focused cashier with 5+ years of experience serving different customers and creating a warm and friendly store environment. Has raised sales by 5% through strong communication and interpersonal skills. Looking to bring my leadership and organizational skills to an executive assistant position. “

Transferable skills are critical when you are switching careers because these show recruiters, hiring managers, and potential employers that you have the skills that they need for the new job position. To showcase these on your career change resume: 1. Include them in your resume summary or resume objective. 2. Add skills to your work experience section. 3. Clearly write transferable skills in your skills summary section. Pro tip: Check the job description for specific skills and work those skills into your resume for career change.

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Career Change resume examples & templates

Choosing the right resume format for career changes

Include your contact information, make use of a summary, outline your career change work experience, include the relevant key skills needed for your career change, detail your education & relevant career change certifications, pick the right resume layout and design for a career change resume.

If you’re ready for your next professional challenge, you’re in good company—a recent study found that more than half of workers are looking to make a career change! 

There are a lot of decisions that come with a career change, but one thing’s for sure: you’ll need a strong resume that highlights your transferable skills and shows why you’re the right candidate for a new industry.

Luckily, we’re here to help. This complete guide will help you understand the best ways to approach your career change resume and will provide plenty of adaptable sentences that you can modify for your own application.

Resume guide for a career change resume

Accelerate success with Resume.io. Our guides and resume examples cover over 500 professions, and our resume builder makes creating a compelling resume easier than ever.

This resume guide and corresponding career change resume example will cover the following:

How to write a career change resume

• How to add your contact information
• Using summaries
• Adding your relevant experience
• Listing education and qualifications
• Picking the right resume design/layout

The very first step in writing your career change resume is understanding what sections to include. Your resume should contain the following elements:

• The resume header
• The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
• The employment history section
• The resume skills section
• The education section

Every person’s career change will be a unique journey, but we have some general advice to help you navigate this pivotal moment. The first step is to research and make sure you have a complete understanding of your new career. 

Decide where you want to go before you jump into the job market. Maybe you already have a dream career in mind. You should still investigate both the skills you need to embark on your new career and the state of the job market. 

If you are ready for a change but aren’t sure what direction to head in, some basic research will help. Think about careers that have overlapping skills with your current position. You may be able to take a step in another direction while using the abilities you already have. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the jobs with the highest growth potential through 2030, median salaries, and information on skills and education needed to enter the fields. 

Consider the reasons you want to change careers as well. Are you burned out ? Is your industry waning? Do you want more flexibility? Are you looking for a higher salary? Make sure your new targeted career will offer the opportunities you seek. One great way to do this is by connecting with professionals already working in the new field and asking them about the realities of the industry.

Optimize for the ATS

Almost all HR departments use ATS software to evaluate candidates and filter out resumes that don’t contain enough keywords from the job description. If you’re applying to jobs online, make sure to consider these three tips to increase your chances of beating these automated software scans: 

• Read the job description carefully and place skills and qualifications important to the employer throughout your resume.
• Use common section titles like “Education” or “Employment History” which can be easily parsed by the ATS.
• Choose a clear and easy-to-read layout without any complicated images which could confuse the ATS.

For most career changers, the reverse chronological resume format remains the go-to choice. This format focuses on your professional journey, listing jobs in your employment history section from newest to oldest. Recruiters find it easy to scan and see your most relevant experience up front. Each position should have descriptive bullet points highlighting achievements.

However, if you're a recent grad or truly lack experience in your new field, consider exploring the functional and combination resume formats. These offer more flexibility, allowing you to showcase your skills or education above your work history, making them well-suited for emphasizing transferable skills over traditional experience.

Every career change resume should contain a well-organized header that makes it easy to find your name and contact information. As you’ll see on our adaptable career change resume sample, there’s no need to go overboard with fancy colors or formatting. 

The most important goal is that your contact information is easily accessible. You should adapt the style of your header to the job you’re applying to. Here are the essential points to include:

• Full name & title . List your first and last name. Use the title of the new role you are pursuing instead of your previous career.
• Professional email address . Use a clean format like [email protected] . Don’t use a quirky, unprofessional email address.
• Phone number . List a number where you can be readily contacted, with a professional voicemail greeting.
• Location . List only your city and state . Don’t list street address or zip code. It’s both outdated and unsafe. Note 'Willing to Relocate' here if applicable.

Don’t include:

• Date of birth : Not necessary and could potentially lead to age discrimination .
• Personal details : Marital status, social security number, passport number , etc.

Jessica Anderson

Digital marketer

201-000-0900

[email protected]

Jess Anderson

Career changer

A summary is one of the most important sections on your career change resume as it will allow you to speak directly to the employer and explain how your previous career has set you up for this move.

These 3-5 sentences should highlight your biggest accomplishments and tell recruiters how that will translate into your new chosen field. In either case, make sure you are attentive to keywords and phrases . Do not force them into your summary but use them appropriately. Be proud and show off your professional personality and passion without exaggerating.

Remember to use as many powerful action verbs and job-specific information as you can. Highlighting your key attributes and talents that prove your qualifications and accomplishments is crucial. 

Need inspiration for your summary? Check out our related resumes: 

• General resume example
• Self-employed resume example
• Traditional resume example
• Freelancer resume sample

You can find adaptable career change resume example summaries below:

Highly motivated project manager with 5+ years of experience in managing complex software development projects seeking to leverage analytical skills and problem-solving abilities to transition into a data analyst role. Proven track record of data collection, analysis, and reporting to optimize project timelines and budgets. Eager to contribute data-driven insights to inform strategic decision-making.

Results-oriented marketing manager with 7 years of experience developing and executing successful marketing campaigns. Seeking to leverage strong communication, relationship-building, and negotiation skills to excel in a sales manager role. Proven ability to understand customer needs and translate them into actionable strategies. Passionate about exceeding sales targets and building strong client relationships.

Compassionate registered nurse with 10 years of bedside experience seeking to leverage clinical expertise and patient advocacy skills to make a broader impact on public health. Highly motivated to transition into a public health specialist role and contribute to preventative healthcare initiatives. Proficient in data analysis, communication, and community outreach.

Your employment history or experience highlights your biggest professional successes and accomplishments. Each bullet point should tell of a challenge, your actions to solve it, and the results you achieved. Use data and details wherever possible. 

Start by creating subheadings with your previous role, the employer’s name, dates worked, and location. Underneath, add 4-5 bullet points that describe your professional responsibilities, achievements, and transferable skills needed for your career change.

If your new career overlaps your current career, use the employment history heading and focus on the transferable skills you can demonstrate through your jobs. Recruiters want to see a pattern of growth in expertise and responsibility, so think of your employment history as the story of your professional development. 

When your career change takes you in a completely different direction, the experience heading may serve you better. Here you can include your involvement in activities that are not work-related but are relevant to your new career. In either case, keep the ATS in mind. Use strong action verbs that describe you as a go-getter. 

Take a look at these bland bullet points:

• “Responsible for completing assigned tasks.”
• “Developed skills in various areas.”
• “Worked on projects with a team.”

Now check out these more engaging options:

• “Increased team efficiency by 20% through implementing a new project management system, reducing task completion time by an average of 1 day.”
• “Developed proficiency in 3 new programming languages (Python, Java, C++) within 6 months, increasing personal coding output by 40%.”
• “Successfully led a cross-functional team of 5 in developing a new marketing campaign, resulting in a 15% increase in customer acquisition.”

Here's the employment history section from our career change resume example:

Preschool Teacher at Little Seed School, Seattle  August 2012 - June 2019 

• Created developmentally appropriate lesson plans and activities for students ages 2-4.
• Worked to create and maintain a welcoming and stimulating environment for students.
• Maintained excellent communication with parents regarding their child's progress.
• Addressed any concerns from parents in a professional and courteous manner.
• Actively participated in school events and planned the first Spring Auction for the preschool.
• Attended workshops to learn about different educational approaches and tools.
• Recorded observations as written assessments of student performance.

HR Receptionist at Maxwell Publishing House, Seattle  July 2009 - July 2012 

• Assisted the head of HR with all clerical and administrative duties.
• Provided employees with forms and proper insurance applications.
• Answered calls and recorded messages.
• Made copies and handled incoming and outgoing mail.
• Assisted with the purchasing and arranging of supplies.
• Maintained confidentiality of employee files.
• Scheduled and confirmed interviews and appointments.

Administrative Assistant at TV Guide, Seattle  September 2007 - July 2009 

• Served as a reliable Administrative Assistant in the Editorial Department.
• Answered calls and recorded and reported messages.
• Maintained a neat and organized working environment.
• Maintained conference room calendars and scheduled meetings.
• Coordinated travel plans and scheduled appointments.

How to write a career change resume with no experience

It’s likely that you will be attempting to make a career change with limited experience in the new field. Here are a few tips to help you write a more effective career change resume:

• Focus on transferable skills . Show how your previous experience has set you up for success in your new career. You shouldn’t be embarrassed of your past jobs; instead, show how your fresh perspective can serve as a strength and help propel the employer forward.
• Gain new qualifications . You can’t make a successful career change without the basic qualifications needed for the new job. Spend some time in online courses and make sure you have the required certifications listed on your resume .
• Network . Meet with current employees of companies that interest you and research the demands of your new career. These connections could help open doors but can also give you a better understanding of the skills to highlight on your resume.

The skills section is a straightforward catalog and should be tailored to your new career. It is designed as a quick method of getting your top abilities in front of recruiters. Create a Master List of all relevant abilities and choose five or six that best align with the employer’s needs.

Be honest here. Because you are changing careers and may not have as many matching skills as a candidate already in the field, you may be tempted to list skills you are not truly adept at. Avoid this. Recruiters see hundreds of resumes and they are not easily fooled.

Make sure to include any hard skills from the job posting to show that you have the technical knowledge needed for the job. Your soft skills can also be a secret weapon during a career change. Communication , efficiency, and organization apply to nearly every industry and show that you're a well-rounded candidate.

Here's the skills section from our career change resume example:

• Self Starter
• Interpersonal Communication
• Organization Skills
• Presentation Skills
• Leadership Skills

List any degrees, certifications, or licenses you have earned in the education section . As with your employment history, make sure to list degrees from most recent to oldest and include the program name, school, dates attended, and location. 

If you have several certifications or licenses, consider adding a separate section so that they stand out. Drop your high school diploma if you have a master’s degree or higher.

Your skills section is also a great place to include training, certifications, or new qualifications needed for your career change. If you're a few years out of school, consider dropping any academic achievements to make space for professional awards, memberships, or publications if relevant to your field.

Here's the education section from our career change resume example:

Bachelor of Communications, University of Washington, Seattle  August 2005 - May 2009

Your professional look should be neat and clean. The layout and design of your resume are just as important as the text. Why? There are several reasons:

• Recruiters want to be able to scan for your contact information, current job, and other data quickly
• Your resume’s design is a representation of your image
• The all-important ATS may not find data that is incorrectly formatted

But, what makes a good layout? This may seem counterintuitive, but the simpler, the better! You want recruiters to be able to read every word. That means no big text blocks, no fancy fonts , and just a dash of color if any. 

Your accomplishments are what distinguishes you, not any overly fussy design. Legibility takes priority. If recruiters can’t find what they are looking for, they will move on, especially if they would be taking a leap by giving a career-changer a chance.

One way to quickly create a professional layout that stands out to recruiters is by using an expertly designed resume template which can easily be updated as you apply to new positions.

• Make your contact information stand out.
• Vary the lengths of descriptions
• Create a balance of white space to text.
• Have another person proofread for grammar, spelling, and clarity.
• Put information into headers or footers—the ATS can’t read them.
• Downsize the type to gain space.
• Send files in a format other than PDF—different programs may alter your formatting (Word files are notorious for this issue, don’t use them unless the online application system doesn’t give you a choice).

Career change text-only resume example

Self-motivated and enthusiastic worker with vast experience in many different fields. Bringing forth a proven track record of achievement and a reputation for positive collaboration. Confident, hard working, and committed to seeing results in whatever position I am in. Reliable and dedicated to finding a place that will benefit from my superior skill set and energetic drive. 

Employment history

Key takeaways for building a career change resume

When crafting a resume for a career change, showcase how your existing skills translate to your desired field. Focus on transferable skills like communication and project management, and tailor them to the new role's requirements. 

Highlight relevant achievements from past experiences, using data to quantify your impact. Your resume should tell a compelling story of how your transferable skills and experiences position you for success in your new career path.

An online resume builder can make it easy to format a professional resume that puts you on the path to making a successful career change!

Beautiful ready-to-use resume templates

• Youth Program
• Wharton Online

How to Write a Career Change Resume [With Template]

Starting a career in a new field is exciting, but getting your foot in the door often presents a challenge. If you’re worried about your application being overshadowed by candidates with more experience than you, don’t underestimate the role that a well-written resume can play in the hiring process. Even if you don’t have the work experience an employer is looking for, your resume can effectively convey why you’d be a great fit for the job. 

According to iHire’s 2020 Talent Retention Report , 66% of survey respondents have recently considered changing careers. The report also found that not knowing how to write a career change resume was a commonly cited roadblock for would-be career switchers. 

In this guide, we explain what a career change resume is and how to write one. We’ve also included a free template, so you can get to work on crafting a resume for your dream role.

How to Write a Resume for a Career Change

In general, most best practices for writing a resume also apply to career change resumes. However, there are a few areas you’ll want to be sure to emphasize when writing a resume for a new career path. While a traditional resume focuses heavily on work experience, career change resumes focus more on transferable skills.

In terms of how your resume is structured, a combination resume format may be the way to go. This type of resume places an equal emphasis on both skills and experience. Instead of starting the resume with your work experience, combination resume templates typically begin with an objective and a summary of relevant skills. 

The steps listed below can help you adapt your existing resume into one that is tailored for career switching. 

1. Craft a resume objective  

A resume objective is a short summary of your professional experience, skills, accomplishments, and career goals. 

Resume objectives and summaries are often considered optional, especially if you are trying to save room on your resume, but this section is crucial for those looking to change careers. The hiring manager may not make an immediate connection between your experience and the role you’re applying for, so your resume objective is essential for helping convey why you’re interested in this industry. 

Your objective should be no longer than a couple sentences. If it takes up more than two or three lines on your resume, try to shorten it.

2. Include a skills summary 

If you’re in the midst of changing careers, you’ll want to feature your skills prominently on your resume. In fact, we recommend listing them above your work experience. 

In the skills summary section, list a few skills you want to highlight, and add bullet points underneath each skill that provide examples of when you’ve used this skill. 

Not sure what type of skills to include in this section? Scan the job description for the position you’re applying for and use some of the required skills as your starting point. Some soft skills—such as leadership skills —are applicable for almost any job. Including some of the same keywords as the job description can help ensure that your resume makes it past automatic review filters.

In some situations, you might also choose to make a separate section for “Technical Skills.” In this section, you can briefly list your proficiency with various industry tools or software. This can be a great way to capture additional keywords from the job description, without having to list full examples of when you’ve used each tool. 

3. Focus on the most relevant work experience 

For a career change resume, the work experience section is all about transferable skills. You don’t necessarily need to list all of the responsibilities you had at your old job. Instead, focus on the responsibilities that are the most relevant for the new position you’re applying for. For example, if you’re a customer service representative hoping to land a job in digital marketing, you may choose to narrow in on your ability to find creative solutions for your customers. 

Here are a few tips for describing your work experience:

• Connect your work experience back to the skills listed in your skills summary section
• Focus on achievements, providing numbers and data whenever possible
• Tailor your descriptions to each job you apply for, working in keywords from the job description

If you’re running out of space on your resume, keep in mind that you don’t need to list every job you’ve ever had. Stick to your most recent two or three jobs, and leave older, irrelevant jobs behind. 

Related: How to Successfully Navigate a Midlife Career Change and Avoid a Crisis

4. Highlight your education (including certificates) 

Whether or not your education is directly related to the job you’re applying for, it’s still important to include this section on your resume. If you have limited professional experience, you can bolster your resume with some descriptions of your academic achievements, such as your GPA or relevant coursework you’ve completed. 

For example, imagine you have an undergraduate degree in history and are applying for a role as a business analyst. If you took any courses in business or analytics during college, be sure to mention them. They might not have been a part of your degree, but they show that you’ve had an ongoing interest in understanding how businesses operate. 

If you’ve earned any certificates outside of a degree program, be sure to list these, too. Online programs and certificates offer a way to expand your knowledge in a specific subject area, without the time commitment of a full degree program. They can show employers that you are serious about your professional development and would like to gain more experience in a particular industry. 

Related: Top 10 Most In-Demand Online Courses from Wharton Online Right Now

5. Add in notable projects and accomplishments 

Dedicating a section of your resume to projects and accomplishments isn’t always necessary, but if you’re changing careers or do not have much work experience, this can be a valuable way to round out your resume. You can use this space to highlight any personal achievements that are not directly related to work or school—for example, personal projects, volunteer work, or involvement in industry-related clubs or organizations. 

If you choose to include a section for projects or accomplishments, make sure that everything you list ties back to a key skill or characteristic that is relevant for your desired career path.

Career Change Resume Example 

Now that we’ve covered some tips for creating a resume tailored to a career change, let’s explore an example. We crafted this resume for a customer service representative who is applying for a digital marketing specialist position. 

Name and Contact Information 

Abigail Jacobs 

Philadelphia, PA

267-555-0176 | [email protected]

linkedin.com/in/abigail-jacobs-example

Driven and hardworking professional with a proven track record of increasing customer satisfaction levels. Looking to leverage my problem-solving skills and build upon my 3+ years of customer service experience by transitioning into the digital marketing space.

Professional Skills 

Problem Solving

• Developed creative solutions for unsatisfied customers at Platinum Auto Insurance and Accelerate Call Center
• Lead brainstorming sessions with team members to improve customer satisfaction metrics

Communication 

• 3+ years of experience in customer services roles, frequently communicating with customers both on the phone and over email 
• Completed a B.A. in Communications and was an active member of the Public Speaking Club while in college 

Organization 

• Used Excel to organize and track customer service metrics, and compiled these metrics into weekly reports for management 

Technical Skills 

• Microsoft Word
• Google Suite 
• Google Analytics 
• Google Search Console 

Work Experience

Senior Customer Service Advisor

Platinum Auto Insurance | Sept 2019 – Present

• Resolved over 100 customer complaints per week, communicating with customers via phone and email 
• Tracked KPIs for each ticket and delivered weekly customer satisfaction reports for management, consistently exceeding target satisfaction ratings by 5-10%
• Collaborated with team members to identify creative solutions for customers

Customer Service Representative 

Accelerate Call Center | Jul 2018 – Sept 2019 

• Responded to 50+ calls per day, answering questions from customers and redirecting to other departments as needed 
• Demonstrated written communication skills by revamping customer service phone scripts, resulting in a 20% increase in customer satisfaction ratings 

Bachelor of Arts in Communication

University of Pennsylvania | Jun 2018

• Completed courses in advertising and social media

Digital Marketing Certificate 

Wharton Online | Mar 2022

• Completed a six-week program from The Wharton School
• Learned about topics such as marketing analytics, customer relationships, social media, and e-commerce marketing 

Personal Projects

Marketing Assistant for Public Speaking Club 

2017 – 2018

• As a member of the Public Speaking Club at University of Pennsylvania, assisted the club with creating a monthly newsletter
• Managed social media accounts for the club, consistently posting content and engaging with followers 

Marketing Consultant 

2020 – Present 

• Assisted a friend with the creation and management of photography business website
• Used Google Analytics and Google Search Console to measure the performance of website content 

Career Change Resume Template

We’ve adapted this example into three different template formats, with the hope that it can serve as a jumping off point for your own career change resume. Click on the links below to download the template:

• Microsoft Word .DOCX
• Google Docs (click on “File > Make a copy” to save to your own Google Docs folder)

Stand Out From the Crowd With Wharton Online

If you’re looking to switch careers in the near future, an online certificate program can help set you up for success. In addition to gaining valuable insights into a specific industry, you’ll be able to list your certificate on your resume and LinkedIn. This can give you a competitive edge during your job search. 

Wharton Online offers certificate programs in subjects such as leadership and management, asset and portfolio management, and digital marketing. All of our courses are conducted 100% online, giving you the flexibility to complete coursework on your own schedule. Explore our online programs today , or reach out to us with any questions. 

For more tips on how to navigate a career change, download our free guide, “ The Career-Switching Handbook for 30‑Somethings .”

Download our eBook: The Career-Switching Handbook for 30‑Somethings

Job-hopping is a growing trend among young professionals, and for many good reasons. Download our free eBook, “The Career-Switching Handbook for 30‑Somethings,” for the latest career-switching tips, strategies, and data.

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The Wharton School is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and is authorized to issue the IACET CEU.

Career Change Resume: Examples, How to Write, and Other Tips To Support Your Career Transition

When you make the difficult choice to look for a job in a new industry, it’s important to write a career change resume.

Your old resume, tailored to your old career, won’t suit your new field. For your job search to succeed when you make a career change, you have to make sure that your resume is tailored to the right positions and highlights the right skills.

Important steps for writing a career change resume include:

• Picking the right resume format
• Highlighting transferrable skills
• Tailoring your resume to suit your new industry
• Emphasizing your most relevant experience

Anyone can reach a crossroads in their profession and decide that it's time to make a change. Maybe you've developed new skills, run out of opportunities, or realized that your current career doesn't motivate you like it once did. Whatever the reason, if you want to change jobs, you will need to know how to write a resume for a career change.

• What is a Career Change Resume?

A career change resume is a resume specifically designed and written to explain a career transition. From the objective to the mentioned skills, everything highlights the transferability of past experiences and skills to a new job.

Let’s say, you are a marketer who is trying to transition to a project management position. If you send over a generic resume that lists your marketing skills and experience - it would leave the hiring manager confused to see your resume.

If there’s no explanation of why you are even applying for a job, you would be rejected as the hiring manager would assume you are randomly applying for jobs.

• Why Write a Career Change Resume?

A career change resume better connects your professional work experience and skills to a job when you are applying for either a new job or entering a new industry. You stand out as an applicant as it makes it extremely easy to see relevant past experience and skills that you have is relevant to the job you are applying for.

In our example of marketing to project management career transition, without a career transition resume a hiring manager would not understand:

• Why do you want to apply for this role?
• What relevant skills do you bring to this role?
• What past experience do you have that’s relevant to this role?

Now, some assume that the HR or hiring manager is going to read through their resume and extract the right information. But that in 2023 is a big mistake. No one is going to take the time to read through your resume when there’s no explanation to support the questions above.

But let’s say you did the following to show your marketing management skills are relevant to the project management skills:

• Highlighted how you did planning, organizing, and execution of projects along with timeline management and
• Showcase how your collaboration skills for marketing project management required you to foster collaboration with stakeholders and other employees.
• If you practice agile, scrum, etc highlight that and show how you improved project management through tactical changes (e.g. story points to iteratively improve epics).

The career change resume tips alone make a big difference. But, the real difference maker is how you show relevance for the role through each individual section and your resume layout as well. A good starting point would be to understand how to write a career transition resume.

• How to Write a Career Change Resume

To write a career change resume and explain your career transition better, follow these steps:

• Select the right career change resume format. Reverse chronological isn’t the best choice here. We recommend selecting either a functional or a hybrid resume format.
• While writing your resume header, instead of your current job title, write something like “Entry-level {job title}” to show relevance.
• Write an objective instead of a resume summary and mention that you are changing careers in it.
• While listing your work experience, reduce the focus on non-relevant job responsibilities and achievements. Increase focus on relevant responsibilities and achievements. Go as far as removing irrelevant ones. Do this for each job you apply for.
• The skill section of your resume should be changed based on what skills the job actually needs. And, do it for all jobs.
• Highlight relevant education or certifications in your resume.
• At the end, your resume should support your intent to transition in the new role from top to down.

Now that we have looked into how to write a career transition resume, let’s look into each of these in depth.

• The Right Career Change Resume Format

There are three resume formats that you can consider for a career change resume.

• Functional : This format emphasizes skills above work experience, and groups past positions by topic rather than chronologically.
• Combination : This format emphasizes your skills, but still uses a reverse-chronological work history section.

The third resume format is reverse chronological resume format, but we don't advise to use it for you career transition.

We recommend using a combination format for a career change resume. This resume format allows you to showcase your skills while maintaining a clear timeline of your career.

To write a combination resume , create a Skills section near the top of your resume, above your Work Experience section. This is where you can highlight and explain your most impressive and most relevant skills. Your Skills section will be the focus of your resume, as this section is where you can make the case for your skill set, even if your past positions were in a different field.

Your Work Experience section will follow your Skills section. This section can be shorter than in a typical reverse-chronological resume, with less detail than your Skills section, but it should still have a clear timeline. Even if you are changing industries, hiring managers will be interested to see how your career has progressed. A reverse-chronological work experience section allows you to clearly tell that part of your story.

Of course, these aren’t hard and fast rules. You can use a typical reverse-chronological resume format if you prefer. Just make sure you can highlight the right skills and experience for your new industry.

• Selecting the Right Career Transition Resume Template

Any resume for changing careers needs a great template.

Your resume won’t do you any good if it’s difficult to read, no matter how well-targeted your skill set is. Make sure your resume is easy to read, with simple organization and clear headings.

Additionally, ensure that you choose a resume template suited for the industry you want to work in.

If you want to move into a more formal industry, like law or accounting, find a traditional resume template with simple formatting and no colours. If you are moving into a more creative field, like marketing or design, you can look for a more modern template, with pictures or colours.

To find the perfect resume template for your new career, check out these VisualCV resume templates .

• What to Add in Your Career Change Resume Header

Your career change resume should begin with your name and contact information. The hiring manager needs this information to contact you, so you should make it easy to find.

Your resume header should include:

• Prospective job title
• Phone number
• Email address
• City of residence

You can also include hyperlinks to your professional online profiles, such as LinkedIn or Twitter. If you’re applying for a software development position, you can link to your GitHub profile. If you are moving into a creative field, you might have an online portfolio to link to.

You may also want to include a headline or job title in this section. However, if you are changing careers, this could confuse the hiring manager. Avoid using a job title that isn’t supported by your resume.

• Write an Objective instead of Summary for Career Change Resume

A resume summary fails to explain career transition.

For example, consider this resume summary below of a marketer applying for a project management role: Results-driven marketing professional with extensive experience in developing and implementing successful marketing strategies. Demonstrated expertise in brand management, digital marketing, and campaign execution, driving revenue growth and customer engagement.

The candidate would be rejected right away as the hiring manager would find it difficult to understand why this candidate is even apply for a PM job.

Now, let's use an objective instead of summary to better explain career transition.

Career Change Resume Objective Example

Aspiring project management professional with a proven track record of successfully leading and executing complex projects. Skilled in strategic planning, cross-functional collaboration, and delivering results that drive business growth and exceed client expectations.

Notice how this objective better explains career transition here by:

• Clearly stating that the applicant is aspiring to become a project management professional.
• Shifting the focus towards past work experience and achievements relevant to project management.

This would compel a hiring manager to read further dive deeper into your past work experience and skills.

• Highlight your transferrable skills

Your Skills section is the key to your career change resume. Your past roles may not be directly relevant to positions in your new industry, so your Skills section is where you will need to demonstrate that you have what it takes to succeed.

To identify the skills you will need in future roles, study job postings in your new industry, network with professionals in that field, and learn as much as you can before you start applying.

Then, look back on your career and think about the skills you've developed. Some of them will be relevant to the new industry, and will be perfect for your career change resume.

By reading as much as you can about your target profession and brainstorming your existing skills, you should be able to figure out which transferrable skills to highlight. These may be soft skills like leadership, teamwork, creativity, or problem-solving, or hard skills like writing, software expertise, or bookkeeping. Identifying transferrable skills is the key to a successful career change resume.

Once you’ve settled on the right transferrable skills, think about the best way to showcase them. It may be that a simple list will do the trick. If this is the case, create a simple bulleted list for your most relevant and impressive skills.

To really sell your skills, however, you may want place more emphasis on the skills section. Make each skill in the list a heading, and then provide evidence for each skill in bullet points below. The best way to do this is to give concrete, measurable examples of achievements relevant to that skill.

For example, if you count Leadership as a transferrable skill, provide examples of projects you have led, teams you have managed, or decisions you have been responsible for.

Clear, concrete examples are the best way to showcase your skills. When your skills are the focus of your resume, as they will be in a career change resume, it’s important to give your Skills section the attention it deserves.

Career change resume example skills section

• Time Management
• Problem-Solving
• Adaptability
• Communication
• Project Management

How to Support Career Change through Resume Work Experience Section

• Use numbers and measurable successes as much as possible. For example, if you worked in sales in a previous job, give your sales revenue or the number of clients you gained. This approach makes your claims more concrete and impressive.
• Use action words to describe your duties. Terms like accelerated , spearheaded , generated , centralized , and mentored can add some energy to your work experience section and make your roles sound impressive.
• Emphasize any transferrable skills. Your resume should be focused on your next job, including when you describe past ones.
• Make it clear to the hiring manager that you have the skills to succeed in the new industry.

In each job description, be sure to focus on the accomplishments that could be relevant to your new industry. Think about the requirements listed in the job posting, and consider what employers in your new field are seeking. Every job may not be perfectly relevant, but it’s important to show that even though you are changing careers, you have what it takes to be successful in a challenging role.

Career Change Resume Work Experience Example

Researcher ABC Labs, New York Sept 2018 - Present

• Instrumental part of a team that completed government-funded research on Alzheimer’s Disease, resulting in a second phase project funding of $5 million
• Managed and coordinated a 200-person volunteer research program that examined neurological diseases
• Conducted in-depth research to understand the current state of medications and their efficacy for Alzheimer’s Disease
• Collaborated on data analysis and contributed to research paper on progressive neurological disorders
• Presented findings at three annual conferences
• Wrote monthly press releases to update the public about our work and findings

How to List Education on a Career Change Resume

Your education is an important part of your career story. You should list your any degrees, diplomas, and certificates in your resume, even if they aren’t immediately relevant to your desired field. It’s important to show that you can work towards a goal and complete a degree, even if that degree is in an unrelated field.

If your education is completely irrelevant, simply listing your degrees and the institution name is sufficient.

If you would like to give your education more emphasis, however, you can give more details. For example, you may want to give your GPA, list academic awards, or describe relevant projects or areas of study.

Example of a Career Change Resume Education Section

MSc in Mechanical Engineering University of Iowa

• New Product Development
• Advanced CAD
• Advanced Static Analysis

BSc in Mechanical Engineering University of Iowa

• Engineering Concepts
• Systems modelling
• Material analysis
• Customize your Career Change resume for every application

You should customize your resume for every application.

While this is true for any resume, it is especially true for a career change resume. Your resume has to be perfectly targeted to prove that you have the right skills not only for a new job, but for a new career.

To do this, study each job posting and identify the specific keywords that the company is using. They will be looking for specific skills and experience. Then, look at your own background and identify the skills that overlap, and use the same words or phrases to describe your skills. This will ensure that the keywords match, and get your resume to the next round.

• Career change resume example

Experienced accounting professional and recent Bachelor of Education graduate seeking a role in education. Proven ability to communicate clearly to all levels of an organization, including legal, technical, and executive, to ensure objectives are met. Versatile mentor with experience teaching and training new hires. Several years of experience in financial analysis, accounting, and auditing. Excellent financial reporting, budget forecasting and team management skills. Experience closing leads and building and maintaining a client base. Established track record of successfully managing and executing multiple projects under tight deadlines to achieve successful results.

• Team Management
• Financial Analysis and Reporting
• Client Education
• Financial Statement Analysis

Bachelors of Education State University

Master of Business Administration University of Northampton

Work Experience

Financial Accountant Andrew Industries Limited

• Manage and oversee the daily operations of the accounting department.
• Hire, train, and mentor new employees.
• Meet accounting financial objectives by forecasting requirements, preparing an annual budget, scheduling expenditures, analyzing variances and initiating corrective actions.
• Educate department heads regarding important accounting processes.
• Analyze and interpret financial information that corporate executives need in order to make sound business decisions.
• Communicate with other departments by researching and interpreting accounting policy.
• Recommendations courses of action in plain language.
• Monitor and analyze accounting data.
• Produce financial statements and reports.
• Confirm financial status by monitoring revenue and expenses.
• Preparing special reports for Banks, creditors and for investors.
• Maintain accounting controls by establishing a chart of accounts, defining accounting policies and procedures.

Senior Accountant Ambition UK

• Prepared individual and consolidated financial statements and other accounting reports as per defined policies and applicable accounting standard.
• Prepared monthly and quarterly management reports with evaluation of divisional performance.
• Developed and implemented in the effective internal control system to enhance the company financial performance.
• Set policies for transferred pricing and critical success factors for divisions & branches and relevant financial key performance indicators to align the division’s goals with the organization.
• Monitored and controlled the costs of activities under different projects. Monitored revenue growth and margin.
• Monitored the liquidity in banks accounts, management of Daily working capital & liquidity planned.
• Letter of Credit, Bank Guarantee, Performance bound & other banking transactions.
• Ensured the maintenance of day to day financial records & transactions as per Group policies and procedures.
• Ensured the arrangement of funds for timely Processing of payroll.
• Ensured the proper recording of inventories and monthly adjusting entries.
• Finalized financial statements, Trail Balance, & formulated various analyses of general ledgers & other documents for submission to external auditors.
• Participated in various internal audit reviews in the Group as directed by Group Chief Financial officer.

Community Success Manager & CV Writing Expert

Ben is a writer, customer success manager and CV writing expert with over 5 years of experience helping job-seekers create their best careers. He believes in the importance of a great resume summary and the power of coffee.

We live in a world where working as a freelancer is easier than ever. An Internet connection alone makes it possible for an artist to land a gig designing a logo for a company on the other side of the planet or a writer producing marketing copy from a coffee shop.

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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.  

Partner Center

• • Spearheaded a digital transformation project, integrating innovative patient education tools into our services, leading to a 40% increase in patient engagement.
• • Managed a team of 15, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration, which reduced patient wait times by 25%.
• • Oversaw the implementation of a new EHR system, improving data accuracy and accessibility for medical staff.
• • Negotiated with vendors to secure state-of-the-art medical equipment, staying within budget constraints and ensuring high-quality patient care.
• • Led cross-functional teams in the development of healthcare programs that received national accreditation, enhancing the hospital's reputation.
• • Initiated community health outreach programs, increasing healthcare access and preventive care awareness.
• • Directed multiple healthcare projects with budgets over $500K, completing all on time and under budget.
• • Implemented a patient feedback system, analyzing data to drive continuous service improvements.
• • Collaborated with IT and medical staff to enhance patient care technology, resulting in a 15% improvement in treatment outcomes.
• • Managed vendor contracts, ensuring compliance and maximizing investment in healthcare technologies.
• • Facilitated training sessions for medical staff on new protocols, ensuring high standards of patient care.
• • Coordinated patient care plans, improving efficiency and patient satisfaction by 20%.
• • Assisted in the development of an innovative care model, reducing hospital readmission rates by 15%.
• • Led community health workshops, increasing public knowledge on preventative care.
• • Managed scheduling and logistics for patient services, enhancing operational workflows.

5 Career Change Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

Career change focuses on helping individuals transition from one professional path to another. When updating your resume, highlight your previous accomplishments, relevant experiences, and any training or certifications you have acquired. It’s beneficial to incorporate transferable skills such as communication, problem-solving, and adaptability. Additionally, mentioning specific achievements and quantifiable results can effectively demonstrate what you bring to the table.

All resume examples in this guide

Resume Guide

How to format a career change resume

How to write your career change resume experience

How to list your hard and soft skills on your resume, how to list your certifications and education on your resume, how to write your career change resume summary or objective, key takeaways.

Embarking on a career change is an exhilarating journey filled with opportunities for growth and discovery. Whether you're transitioning from healthcare to graphic design, from education to IT, or from hospitality to digital marketing, the process of reinventing your professional self can be both thrilling and challenging. Crafting a resume that captures your unique blend of skills and experiences is a critical step toward securing your dream job in a new field.

As you navigate this transition, it's essential to focus on the transferable skills that bridge your past and future careers. Highlighting your adaptability , problem-solving abilities , and lifelong learning mindset can make your resume shine, even if your direct experience in the new field may seem limited at first glance. It's about painting a picture of a candidate who is not only capable but eager to embrace new challenges and contribute meaningfully from day one.

A recent poll found  that approximately half (52%) of American employees are considering making a career change this year. 44% are already planning to make the switch.

While the task may seem daunting, especially when trying to align your previous experiences with your new career goals, remember that your unique path adds value. Your diverse background brings a fresh perspective that can differentiate you from other candidates. Embrace the narrative of your career change with enthusiasm , focusing on how your journey has equipped you with a rare and valuable combination of skills.

Yes, there may be moments of doubt or hurdles along the way, such as mastering new industry jargon or gaining specific technical skills. Yet, with persistence, a willingness to learn, and a strategic approach to your resume, you're not just changing jobs—you're stepping into a future brimming with possibilities. Let your resume be a testament to your journey, an invitation for employers to be part of your exciting next chapter.  Remember, every skill you've acquired, and every challenge you've navigated, has prepared you for this moment. Now, it's time to leap confidently into the new adventure that awaits.

Making a big life change is pretty scary. But, know what’s even scarier? Regret.

Looking for some more information related to career change? Here are some further links that may be interesting for you:

• Career change Cover Letter Guide
• How to Write a career change Resume Summary
• LinkedIn Headline for career changers
• How to Answer the "Why Do You Want to Change Your Career Path" Interview Question
• Tried and Tested career change Resume Tips
• Which Resume is Considered Most Useful for Changing or Starting Careers

How to format a career change resume

The most effective way to format a career change resume  is by using a combination or hybrid resume format  as opposed to reverse-chronological  or functional formats . This approach allows you to showcase your transferable skills and competencies upfront, followed by a reverse-chronological listing of your employment history.

Here’s why this format works best for career changers:

• Highlights transferable skills:  Start with a strong summary  or objective statement  that articulates your career change goal and value proposition. Follow this with a skills section  that highlights transferable skills  relevant to the new field. This setup ensures that your applicable abilities capture the hiring manager’s attention first.
• Demonstrates relevant experience:  After the skills section, include a "Relevant Experience" section where you can list any direct experience, projects , or roles (including volunteer work ) that relate to your new career path, even if they weren't part of your main job duties previously.
• Includes professional experience: Continue with a reverse chronological order of your professional experience , focusing on achievements and responsibilities that demonstrate skills applicable to the new field. Use bullet points to quantify achievements  and show how your work contributed to organizational goals.
• Education and continuous learning:  Clearly list your educational background  and any additional certifications or courses that are relevant to your new career. This shows your commitment to developing the necessary skills for the transition.
• Custom sections for extra impact:  Depending on your unique situation, you might add sections for projects, certifications , or professional affiliations  related to your new field. These can further demonstrate your interest and engagement with the industry you’re moving into.

Remember, the key is to tailor your resume  for each job application, emphasizing the skills and experiences most relevant to the job description. This targeted approach, combined with a hybrid format, can make your career change seem not just plausible but advantageous to potential employers.

It’s not all smooth sailing though.

The biggest challenges facing individuals making a career change resume

We have gathered several common issues that many career changers come across while creating a resume for a new position in a new field. Have a look before we go on to remedy them:

• Writing a compelling career objective: career changes often necessitate a brand new objective or personal statement at the top of the resume. The challenge is making this compelling and convincing to prospective employers.
• Translating skills and experiences to fit the new industry:  Many skills learned in one profession may be transferable to another. The challenge is translating these applicable skills on paper in a way that the hiring manager from the new industry can appreciate and value.
• Understanding industry jargon:  Different professions have different vocabularies. Making a career change may mean encountering unfamiliar terms, tools, or protocols. Without a good understanding, it can be a challenge to create a resume that speaks to the specific needs of the industry.
• Using relevant job posting websites: Every industry has its specific job boards . If switching from tech to finance, for example, platforms like Dice or TechCrunch might not be as relevant as eFinancialCareers or Wall Street Oasis.
• Identification of relevant further training or certification programs:  Depending on the industry you're moving into, you may need to highlight in your resume relevant qualifications or certifications that demonstrate your dedication and eligibility.

Here are the most important sections you’ll be focusing on while crafting your next resume.

The top sections on a career change resume

• Objective or professional summary : It helps recruiters understand your career intent and how it aligns with the role.
• Skills:  This section helps showcase your capabilities and proficiencies, as they relate to your new career path.
• Relevant training and certifications:  Detail any training you've taken or certifications earned to show you're acquiring the necessary skills for the new job.
• Transferable experience:  Highlight your past experiences that apply to the new role, showing you have a relevant background.
• List of references:  It adds credibility and allows recruiters to verify your skills and capabilities.

It’s not all about format, it’s about content, too. Throughout your resume aim to communicate and demonstrate the following elements.

What recruiters want to see on your resume

• Relevant skills:  These are prioritized to see if you possess the necessary capabilities for the role you're transitioning to.
• Transferable skills: Recruiters look for these to gauge if previous experiences can benefit the current role.
• Willingness to learn: Emphasizing this shows your initiative and drive, crucial for someone changing careers.
• Networking connections:  If you have connections in the new field, it may indicate a smoother transition.
• Career change rationale:  Your reasons for changing careers are crucial; they can demonstrate your commitment to the new path.

This can be the trickiest section for anyone changing careers. When writing the work experience section on a career change resume, focus on transferable skills that align with the new role.

Unlike a regular resume, you need to:

• Emphasize how your past experiences, though in different industries, have equipped you with skills relevant to the new job.
• Highlight achievements and tasks that demonstrate universal competencies like leadership, problem-solving, and communication.
• Use action verbs and quantify achievements to show impact.
• Tailor each entry to reflect how your background is an asset to the new field, making connections between your past roles and your future career goals clear and compelling.

Let’s take a look at one possible experience entry and how to direct it towards a career change.

• • Spearheaded a team of 10, enhancing team productivity by 25% through strategic leadership and effective communication skills.
• • Implemented a customer feedback system that reduced response times by 30%, demonstrating keen problem-solving abilities and a focus on efficiency.
• • Led cross-functional training programs that improved team adaptability and technical knowledge, showcasing an ability to educate and empower others.
• • Negotiated with suppliers to reduce costs by 15%, highlighting strong negotiation and financial management skills.

So although the actual position may not be related the skills are. They highlight transferable skills like leadership, efficiency, problem-solving, and financial savvy, making the candidate's experience

How to quantify impact on your resume

On a career change resume, quantifying impact, once again, involves highlighting accomplishments that demonstrate transferable skills and relevance to the new field, similar to a regular resume but with a focus on universality and adaptability .

Here’s how:

• Use numbers and percentages : Just like on any resume, include data and metrics to quantify your achievements. For example, "Increased sales by 20%" or "Reduced customer complaints by 30%."
• Emphasize transferable outcomes:  Choose metrics that showcase results relevant to your desired field. For instance, if moving to project management, highlight achievements in organization, leadership, and efficiency, like "Managed a team of 5" or "Completed projects 10% under budget."
• Highlight efficiency improvements:  Demonstrate how you made processes more efficient or saved time/money, as these are universally appreciated skills. For example, "Streamlined inventory management, saving 5 hours weekly."
• Focus on problem-solving:  Quantify your impact by showing how you addressed and solved problems, "Resolved a recurring issue, improving customer satisfaction by 25%."

The key difference is ensuring that the way you quantify your achievements not only reflects success in your past roles but also aligns with the priorities and values of your new industry, demonstrating your potential for impact even without direct experience.

In the skills section of your resume  prioritize transferable ones. List hard skills relevant to the new field first, followed by soft skills demonstrating adaptability and potential. Unlike a regular resume, emphasize how each skill applies to the new industry, even if acquired in a different context.

Hard skills  are technical abilities or knowledge learned through education or training, specific to a job (e.g., software proficiency).  

Examples of transferable hard skills for a career change resume

• Technical proficiency:  Skills in software and applications relevant across industries, such as Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, or programming languages.
• Data analysis:  The ability to collect, analyze, and interpret data, using tools like Excel, SPSS, or Google Analytics.
• Project management:  Experience with project management methodologies and tools, such as Agile, Scrum, or project management software like Trello or Asana.
• Foreign languages:  Proficiency in additional languages can be a significant asset in many fields.
• Financial literacy:  Skills in budgeting, financial forecasting, and using financial software.
• Digital marketing:  Knowledge of SEO, content marketing, social media marketing, and using platforms like Google Ads or Facebook Business Manager.
• Technical writing:  The ability to produce clear, concise, and useful documentation and reports.

Soft skills  are interpersonal attributes and traits that affect how well you can work or interact with others (e.g., communication, teamwork).

Examples of transferable soft skills for a career change resume

• Communication:  Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Problem-solving:  The ability to identify problems and find effective solutions.
• Adaptability:  Being able to adjust to new environments and challenges.
• Teamwork:  Working well with others towards a common goal.
• Team leadership:  The ability to lead and motivate others.
• Time management:  Efficiently managing your time to meet deadlines.
• Emotional intelligence:  Understanding and managing your emotions and those of others.
• Critical thinking:  Analyzing information and making reasoned decisions.
• Creative thinking:  Generating innovative ideas and solutions.
• Interpersonal skills:  Building and maintaining strong work relationships.

Properly listing certifications and education on your resume is crucial for career changers for several reasons.

On a regular resume, education, and certifications complement your work experience directly related to the job. For career changers, these sections are critical to highlight transferable skills and new knowledge that align with the career shift.

By strategically presenting your certifications and education, you can bridge the gap between your past career and your desired new path, making it easier for employers to see how your background equips you for a successful transition.

Here’s what you should consider while you list them:

• Prioritize relevance:  List the most relevant education and certifications near the top of your resume. If you've taken courses or earned certifications specifically for your new career, highlight these first.
• Include details:  For each certification or course, include the name of the certification/course, the issuing organization, and the date of completion or expiration. For education, include your degree, field of study, and the institution.
• Explain relevance:  Briefly mention how specific certifications or aspects of your education are relevant to the new field, especially if it’s not immediately obvious. This can be done in a short bullet point or parenthetical note.

It’s time to explore perhaps the most essential element of your career-changer resume— the resume profile .

The resume summary or objective statement is crucial on a career change resume as it immediately clarifies your intent to shift fields and highlights your transferable skills and motivation.

A resume summary  highlights your top achievements, skills, and experience relevant to the job, aimed at experienced professionals. An objective statement  outlines your career goals and what you aim to achieve in the role, often used by new graduates or those changing careers, focusing on how they can benefit the employer.

For a career change, focus on crafting a compelling objective statement that outlines your career goals, why you’re transitioning, and how your existing skills and experiences align with the new field.

Include specifics about your professional background, emphasize your eagerness to learn, and mention any relevant skills or training you have undertaken to prepare for the change. This approach personalizes your application and demonstrates your commitment to the new career path.

Below you can see an example of an effectively written objective statement doing just that.

This is what’s done right:

• Clear transition:  It explicitly states the shift from healthcare to tech, guiding the employer through the career change narrative.
• Highlights transferable skills:  The statement emphasizes skills like project management and communication that are valuable in both sectors.
• Demonstrates enthusiasm:  Shows eagerness to contribute to the new field, which can be compelling to potential employers.
• Focuses on contribution : It's oriented towards how the candidate can benefit the new industry, not just what they wish to gain.

Tailor your objective statement to the specific job and industry you’re targeting by incorporating keywords from the job description. This customization not only shows your genuine interest in the role but also helps your resume pass through Applicant Tracking Systems  (ATS), making it more likely to reach the hiring manager.

Crafting a career change resume is a strategic endeavor that highlights your transferable skills, showcases your adaptability, and demonstrates your passion for a new field. With careful tailoring and a focus on your unique journey, your resume can open doors to exciting opportunities and mark the beginning of a fulfilling new chapter.

Here are some key takeaways from our article:

• Focusing on transferable skills is crucial for a career change resume.
• A combination or hybrid resume format is most effective for career changers, allowing them to showcase transferable skills and relevant experience up front.
• Including a clear objective statement helps articulate career change intentions and how past experiences align with new roles.
• Translating skills to fit the new industry, understanding jargon, using industry-specific job boards, and identifying relevant training are common challenges.
• Demonstrating suitable skills, related experiences, willingness to learn, and networking connections are key.
• Hard skills like technical proficiency and soft skills such as communication are equally valuable in new careers.
• Education and certifications should be listed with relevance to the new field in mind, showing commitment to transitioning successfully.

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The ultimate guide to writing a career change resume.

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Changing careers doesn’t have to be difficult. It all starts with a resume crafted to highlight your ... [+] transferrable skills.

Your resume is one of the most critical tools during a career transition. Crafted thoughtfully, a career change resume can effectively highlight transferable skills and experiences from your old career to the new one, showcasing you as a prime candidate for your dream job .

Career change resumes offer a different narrative of a person’s experience versus someone looking to advance in their current industry. Transferrable skills are the most important to highlight.

What Success Looks Like In A Career Change

A successful career change doesn’t necessarily mean starting over. It can involve leveraging existing skills in a new context or applying knowledge from one industry to another. Success is about finding a role where you can make a meaningful contribution, and it often requires a blend of determination and strategic planning. The story you tell so far in your career that paints you as the right person for the job is vital to your resume being seen by the hiring manager.

Step-By-Step Guide To Writing Your Career Change Resume

It’s a fine line between highlighting what makes you unique and ensuring your document aligns with industry expectations. Here’s how to do it right.

Identify Your Transferrable Skills

Before opening a Word document or choosing a resume template, the first step is to take stock of your skills. Begin by closely examining your previous roles and jotting down the skills they entailed. Try categorizing them into hard skills—like technical skills and software proficiencies—and soft skills—such as communication and leadership abilities.

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Best 5% interest savings accounts of 2024, brainstorm your narrative.

What is your career change story? Who’s the audience that will be listening to it? These are the overarching questions that will guide your resume writing process. You’ll want to combine your reasons for changing careers with your past experiences and future aspirations.

When crafting your career change narrative, consider these critical questions to create a cohesive and compelling story:

• What motivated your career change? Reflect on the reasons behind your decision to shift careers. Was it a pursuit of passion, a need for a new challenge or an inevitable industry change affecting your previous role?
• How do your past experiences contribute to your new direction? Evaluate how your previous roles have equipped you with unique skills and perspectives that will benefit your target industry or role.
• What accomplishments in your career thus far can illustrate your suitability for this new path? Identify specific achievements that demonstrate your capability and readiness for the change.
• How have you prepared for the transition? Consider any additional training, courses or self-led learning you’ve undertaken to bridge any skill gaps.
• What are your long-term goals in this new career? Define what success looks like for you in this new field and how you plan to achieve it.

Choosing The Right Resume Format

The format of your resume is dependent on your career trajectory. A functional resume may be the best way to draw attention to your skills if you’re making a big career leap. A hybrid resume, which combines elements of both the chronological and functional formats, can also work well for career changers, as it allows you to detail your skills while still providing a job history.

Elements Of A Stand-Out Career Change Resume

The typical resume sections are still relevant: Skills, competencies, accolades, experience, volunteer work, education and training. For career changers, add a snapshot of who you are and what you bring to the table. Think of a snapshot as your elevator pitch. Instead of explaining what you are looking for, you highlight your top accolades, position and projects you’re currently working on; it shouldn’t be any longer than three sentences.

For example, “I’m Jane Doe, a marketing professional who brought the newest Target campaign to 100 million Instagram accounts. I’ve excelled in connecting influencers with top brands and have hosted over 150 brand activations.”

Make sure to include all the important elements on your resume to make you stand out. Having a short ... [+] story or narrative of who you are also helps.

Words and Phrases To Include In Resume

When it comes to the actual writing, it’s essential to use language that speaks to both your old and your new career. Choose words and phrases relevant to the job you’re applying for, but also aim to include industry-specific terms from your previous career to highlight the breadth of your experience.

• Cross-functional expertise: Demonstrates the ability to work across various departments, enhancing team synergy and project outcomes.
• Quick Learner: Indicates your capacity to rapidly acquire new knowledge and skills, reducing the learning curve in a new role.
• Innovative Thinker: Shows your capability to think creatively and bring new ideas to the table, driving progress.
• Versatile Professional: Indicates a broad skillset and flexibility, positioning you as a candidate capable of handling various responsibilities

Do’s And Don’ts Of Resume Etiquette

• Do focus on your achievements and how they demonstrate your capabilities, not just the tasks you’ve performed.
• Do quantify your accomplishments with numbers or percentages whenever possible to add weight to your claims.
• Don’t include unrelated job experiences that don’t align with the position you’re targeting.
• Don’t gloss over any employment gaps resulting from your career change. Instead, use these gaps to explain how you spent that time productively, such as through continuing education or volunteer work.

Your career change resume aims to get your foot in the door for an interview. Invest time in perfecting your career change resume, and you’ll find that employers will be more than willing to listen to the rest of your story.

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How To Write A Resume Title (Plus Headline Examples)

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A resume title may be what your resume needs to stand out from the crowd. Including an attention-grabbing snippet that highlights what you bring to the table can help overwhelmed hiring managers notice and remember your resume, which only improves your chances of getting hired.

If you’re a job seeker looking for ways to make your application stand out, keep reading: We’ll go over why a resume title is important, how to write a snappy resume title, and examples of resume titles.

Key Takeaways:

A resume title is a concise statement that declares your top skills and qualifications.

Resume titles help readers immediately know what you have to offer.

Place your most valuable skills related to the job position in the resume title.

Resume titles are different than resume profiles, which are sections that give a breakdown of your skills.

What is a resume title?

Why resume titles are important

How to write a title for a resume, example resume titles, tips for writing a resume headline, resume headlines vs. resume profiles, examples of resume titles with resume summaries, resume titles faq.

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A resume title (also called a resume headline) is one or two sentences that serve as an introduction of your resume and, by extension, who you are as a candidate.

This is different from your job title — a job title is the name of the role you are currently in or are targeting.

A resume title is also different from your resume summary statement . While both are located at the top of your resume, the headline is an eye-catching line that sums up your experience, while a summary statement is a paragraph that provides specific details of your skillset.

Resume titles are important because they quickly communicate your qualifications, help you pass ATSs, and make you more memorable to hiring managers.

Resume titles quickly communicate your qualifications. As one of the first pieces of information a recruiter sees, a title immediately describes why you are an ideal fit for the position.

This encourages the hiring manager to take a second look at your resume, since they can see that you meet the initial qualifications. This is especially important if you have with limited experience , as you can use the headline to showcase your top skills or accomplishments related to the desired job.

Resume titles help you pass applicant tracking systems (ATS). With the right keywords, your headline can increase the likelihood of your resume passing through applicant tracking systems that do automatic parsing.

These programs sort resumes based on keywords found throughout the job description, so including some of these at the top of your resume boosts your chances of making it through to a human reader .

Resume titles help make you more memorable to hiring managers. A resume headline clearly conveys your biggest strengths and most relevant experience , which will stick in the hiring manager’s mind better than if they had to dig through your whole resume to find them.

In addition, if you have years of work history, the headline creates focus and quickly tells hiring managers why you are ideal for this role.

To write a resume title, research the position you’re applying for, then identify your top relevant qualifications. Once you have those, craft them into a short snippet.

Here is a step-by-step checklist on how to write your resume title:

Understand the position. The best place to begin with writing your headline does not involve writing at all. You should instead start by researching the job title that you are applying for.

Identify your relevant top selling points. Once you understand what the job is looking for, identify which two or three skills, accomplishments, or experiences are the perfect match for the role’s requirements.

For example, if the job description prioritizes a specific certification that you have, mention that in your resume title. If it mentions the word “experienced,” over and over, include your eight years of experience.

Write and rewrite. Set a timer for two minutes and brainstorm as many resume titles as you can in that time. Then go back and rework your favorites until you have the perfect one.

If you need help starting, ask yourself how you would describe your professional self to a hiring manager in two sentences, then slowly cut that down to one phrase.

Put it at the top of your resume. Your headline will go right below your name and basic contact details, before diving into the bulk of your resume. This makes it easy for hiring managers to find both the first time they read your resumeand when they’re trying to remember who you are later.

Use title case. Your resume title is just that — a title. So, capitalize the first and last words, as well as all nouns, adjectives, and verbs. Words over four letters long should also be capitalized, no matter what part of speech they are.

Writing your resume title in bold will also help it stand out.

Check it for keywords and cliches. Make sure you’re using verbiage similar to the job description, and leave out overused phrases like, “Highly skilled” that don’t mean anything. The hiring manager can read your resume to decide if you’re highly skilled or not — use your resume title to show them what your skills are.

Here are a few resume headline examples for you to look at as you write your own resume title. Remember that these are just meant to help guide you, as you will want your resume title to be 100% original.

Experienced resume title examples

Innovative Software Developer with 3+ Years Experience in Java Product Development Coordinator with Proven Revenue Growth in Cloud-Enabled Applications Human Resources Manager with 15+ Years of Recruiting Experience in Fortune 500 Companies Business Procurement Specialist with Experience Growing and Scaling Private Sector Teams Marketing Specialist with Experience Growing eCommerce Stores from 1K to 500K Visits/Month Mechanical and Aerospace Engineer with 8 Years Experience in Private Sector Jet Engines Social Media Manager Who Improved Engagement by 25% in 6 Months

Entry-level and career-change resume title examples

Proactive Professional Open to New Managerial Opportunities Customer Service Agent Skilled in Data-Entry and Transcription Recent College Graduate and Recipient of A.B. Langston Leadership Award Bilingual Graduate with 95 WPM Typing Speed and Tutoring Experience Analytical Professional with Advanced Proficiency in Excel Hard-Working Licensed RN and Outstanding Nursing Student Award Recipient Licensed Teacher with 20 Years Laboratory Research Experience

Seasoned Retail Associate with Key Holder and Training Experience Sales Representative with 5 years of Experience, Specializing in Health Care Regional Manager who Increased Territory Revenues by 58% Personable Daycare Provider with Accreditation and Special Education Experience Veteran Marketing Professional who Scaled Startup Growth by 82% Award-Winning Author with 7 Years Experience in Self-Publishing and Marketing Eager College Graduate with Teaching Assistant Experience Focused in Meteorology Graphic Designer with 10 Years Experience at Ad-Tech Companies Freelance Writer with SEO Certification

Here are some tips for writing your resume titles:

Declare your skillset, not your intent. Your resume headline is an opener to who you are, versus a resume objective statement that states what type of employment you are seeking.

Keep it relevant. If you are applying for an engineering position, you would not want your headline to focus on your years of customer service experience.

Don’t reuse titles. Just as we strongly advise against submitting the same exact cover letter to each potential employer, the same goes for your resume headline.

Keep length in mind. Your resume title should be less than one sentence long.

Remember keywords. Keywords help in several ways, and one is by serving as flags to recruiters. When employers look at resumes, they are automatically looking for specific skills mentioned throughout the job description.

Highlight what’s most valuable first. Since recruiters scan resumes quickly, structure your headline with the most important details first.

Make it unique. Try to avoid clichés at all costs. Saying that you are “highly organized” will not differentiate your resume from a pool of others, and it does not tell the employer how you have proven to be organized.

While the headline is short and just one sentence, your resume profile (or summary) is a section that gives a breakdown of your skills. Job seekers can make this a bulleted list or a paragraph highlighting relevant qualifications .

If you include both a headline and profile, the latter will come after and will not be capitalized. You also do not need to bold this section as you would your resume title.

If you’re curious as to how to add both a headline and summary to your resume, here are examples across several industries:

Resume title and summary HR example

Director of HR with 10 Years Experience in Technology Sector Highly productive in developing and executing training protocols across all company verticals. Global human resources certificates with international team experience. Certified in Oracle and led implementation of technology audits for 500+ employees. Masterful in selecting and retaining top talent, with a 98% employee retention rate over the last 24 months.

Resume title and summary social media example

Social Media Consultant Assisting Startups Grow Online Presence and Drive More Sales Over 5 years of experience transforming the social media reach of small businesses. Responsible for creating social media strategies that increase lead generation with various SEO optimization techniques. Amassed more than 3M followers across Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for clients across health, fashion, and food industries.

Resume title and summary retail manager example

Confident Retail Manager with 6 Years of High-Volume Store Experience Results-driven manager producing the highest-grossing store in the district. Responsible for talent management, resource allocation, and merchandising efforts. Analysis of annual budget resulted in implementing an action plan to improve loss prevention efforts and reduce shrinkage.

A resume title is a short statement at the beginning of your resume that declares your skills and qualifications. A resume title needs to entice the reader, so it is important that you keep your resume title unique, concise, and relevant. It is helpful if your title relates to the job you’re applying to. A great way to do this is to use keywords found in the job description.

Are resume titles necessary?

Strictly speaking, no, resume titles are not necessary, but they are very helpful. A resume title acts as a teaser to the rest of your resume. A resume title done well will make it clear right away to the reader that you are a candidate who deserves further attention. This helps you stand out among other applicants.

What’s the difference between a resume headline and a resume title?

A resume headline is the same thing as a resume title. A resume headline is just another way to describe a heading at the start of your resume that concisely states your qualifications. Just remember to keep it unique and relevant.

How do you write a good title for a resume?

You write a good title for a resume by understanding the position you’re applying for and highlighting your relevant qualifications. Incorporating keywords from the job description will also help you write an effective resume title.

Columbia University Center for Career Education – How to Write a Resume Profile or Summary Statement

Harvard University – Resumes and Cover Letters

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Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

Don Pippin is an executive and HR leader for Fortune 50 and 500 companies and startups. In 2008, Don launched area|Talent with a focus on helping clients identify their brand. As a Certified Professional Resume Writer, Certified Digital Career Strategist, and Certified Personal Branding Strategist, Don guides clients through career transitions.

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How To Update Your Resume for a Career Change in 2024

A guide to writing and updating your resume for a career change in 2024, with a Google Docs template and actionable advice from experienced hiring managers who hire career changers.

3 years ago   •   12 min read

If you’re looking to make a major career change, you might have all kinds of questions about how to pull it off. What if you’re a law enforcement officer looking to pursue an IT career or a high school teacher dreaming of becoming a pastry chef?

One of the biggest mistakes career changers make is they reuse their old resume for new job applications. The problem with this is that your old resume is tailored to the very career you want to get out of! It highlights different skills and accomplishments, most of which aren't relevant to the job you're moving into. The result? Hiring managers think you're not a good fit for the new career, role or industry.

Recruiters are going to have questions if your experience doesn't align with the traditional career path they're used to. Does this applicant have relevant experience? Do they have the right skills? Can they do the job? It's your job to answer these questions.

In this guide, we will talk you through how to optimize your resume for a career change, highlight transferable skills, and tailor your resume to your new industry to give you the best chance at success in your new career.

How to write a career change resume

Writing a career change resume isn't exactly the same as writing a regular resume. There are a few extra steps you'll need to consider when revamping your resume to prepare for a career change:

• Add a job title at the start of your resume. This signals to recruiters that you're specifically targeting their industry and can also help get your resume past automated resume scanners (ATS).
• Highlight transferable skills that are relevant to the industry you're changing to.
• Tailor your resume to the new position by including relevant hard skills and keywords.
• Optimize your work experience to highlight relevant accomplishments.
• Use numbers and metrics to show that you can make an impact with your work, regardless of industry.
• Emphasize promotion and career growth.
• Tailor every section of your resume to your new industry. This might mean tweaking your education section to list relevant courses or qualifications, or including any projects or volunteer work adjacent to the industry.
• Address the career change in your cover letter .

Let's take a look at what a career change resume looks like in action.

A resume example for career changers

Before we dive into exactly what recruiters want to see in your resume, here's a sample template for your career change resume that you can use as a foundation to get started:

You can download this career change resume template in Google Docs or as a PDF from our resume templates page.

Pro tip: Include a resume summary

Although we don’t always recommend including a summary on your resume, it can be a smart strategy for career changers. A well-written resume summary will help explain your career change by providing more context and background information about your history and goals, and will help recruiters connect the dots between your prior work experience and the new type of work you want to do.

What should your summary include?

So how do you write a summary if you are changing careers ? Your goal is to provide an overall picture of your background and experience in two to six lines of text. Use a tailored job title and mention one or two of your most notable achievements, especially if they’re relevant to the job you’re seeking. Browse our list of resume summary examples for inspiration.

Resume summary template

If you’re new to writing a resume summary, you can model yours after the following template or use our resume summary generator . Just remember to personalize the blank fields with your information:

Former [Current Job Title] transitioning into a [Desired Job Title] position after [earning relevant degree or certification]. Proven track record of doing [X, Y, and Z transferable skills]. [Summarize a major achievement in the format of Action Verb + Accomplishment + Metric].

Here’s an example of how this summary template would look on a real resume:

If you want to find out if your career change resume highlights your transferable skills and relevant accomplishments, upload it to the tool below — it’ll let you know if you’ve shown enough transferable skills and achievements.

Read More: How to write a resume summary if you're changing careers

How to optimize your work experience section for a career change

Your work experience is one of the most crucial parts of your resume - and the first section recruiters oftusuallyen want to read. Here are a few ways you can maximize your work experience section as a prospective career changer :

• Decide what previous experience to include on your resume
• List quantifiable accomplishments in bullet point format
• Use keywords to tailor your resume
• Focus on accomplishments that are relevant to your new career

1: Decide which past work experience to include

When you're navigating a career change, figuring out which past work experiences to include on your resume can be challenging. Should you include everything or just the experience that is relevant to your new career path?

The answer lies in the transferability of your skills. If you've had past experiences where you developed skills directly applicable to your new career, you definitely want to include them. For instance, if you're moving from marketing to sales and you've had a past job where you worked closely with a sales team, it's relevant and should be included.

However, showing progression and continuity in your career is also important. So, even roles that are less relevant to your new job can still be included. You can condense these into an "Other Experience" section, focusing less on the role duties and more on the transferable skills you developed.

2: Use bullet points to explain your experience

On any resume, when writing about your previous work experiences, you should always include brief bullet points that illustrate your accomplishments. Provide specific examples of what you achieved in your past roles, and quantify those examples with specific numbers, as in the examples below:

• Implemented new training initiatives for retail associates that increased quarterly sales by 35%
• Wrote and published 10 articles on the company blog, boosting company website traffic by 50% over 6 months

Bullet points make it easy for recruiters to scan your resume and find the information they’re looking for. For maximum impact, they should include details and data to support your claims about your abilities.

Read more: How to write resume bullets that get interviews

3: Tailor your experience with keywords

A brilliant way to target your resume to each specific job application is to include relevant keywords and skills that recruiters in that field are looking for. But how do you find the right keywords for a brand-new job?

• Read the job posting thoroughly and note the skills they mention. Aim to address each skill with a separate bullet point on your resume.
• Use our skills and keywords finde r to browse the industry you're interested in, or type a specific job title into the search bar to get a targeted list of keywords for your resume.
• Upload your resume to our Targeted Resume Tool. This will analyze your resume and the job description you're applying to and tell you what your resume is missing.

Once you have a list of essential keywords, list those skills in your skills section (if they're hard skills like a specific software or programming language), and show how you've used those skills in your work experience through quantified examples and results-orientated phrases.

Read more: How to tailor your resume to a job

4: Emphasize accomplishments that relate to your desired position

One mistake career changers make frequently is to highlight achievements or skills that aren't relevant to the industry they're trying to break into.

Always spin your bullet points to highlight skillsets that your new role or industry is looking for, e.g. if you're breaking into marketing from a customer support role, highlight your experience creating marketing materials or communicating with customers to improve sales.

Here are some examples of how to "spin" your resume accomplishments for different industries:

The field you want to break into : Business analysis

Skills to highlight : Business strategy and data analysis

Old accomplishment : Identified steps to decrease rates of returns and frauds, resulting in 75k in cost savings.

New accomplishment : Implemented new procedures that resulted in annual cost savings of $75k by developing an analysis of current business processes and identifying areas for improvement.

Here's another example:

The field you want to break into : Digital marketing and social media

Skills to highlight : Advertising and customer outreach

Old accomplishment : Sold over 65 company credit cards as part of promotions by answering questions and directing customers to the website, increasing sales by 8%.

New accomplishment : Promoted the company’s marketing programs and digital advertising, resulting in 8% increase in sales and 15% increase in web traffic.

Read more: How to list your work experience on your resume

How to optimize your skills section for a career change

When you're changing careers, it's not just about having skills; it's about showcasing the right skills and demonstrating quantifiable achievements tied to those skills in a way that the hiring manager can't ignore. Your skills section is vital to any resume, but especially for career changers, to show a recruiter that you understand the skills required for the new position and ensure your resume gets past ATS. Here are some tips on creating a competitive skills section:

1: Identify competitive skills

Start by listing your skills, but don't limit yourself to the ones you've used in your old job. Think about your personal qualities, hobbies, or even skills you've developed during your free time or through additional education.

2: Match your skills to the job description

Once you've got your list, pull up the job posting and identify the skills they specifically mention in the job description. Match your skills and their related achievements with those listed in the job description. Remember, even if your experience is in a totally different field, there is always a transferable skill hidden somewhere.

3: Focus on hard skills, not soft

While soft skills are always important, hard skills take center stage in your skills section when you're making a career change. These are the tangible, technical skills that directly relate to the job you're applying for.

Your soft skills , like ' good communicator ' or 'team player ', should not be listed in your skills section. Instead, use your work experience section to demonstrate these skills through concrete examples, metrics, and quantifiable achievements.

4: List your skills by industry

As your skills will likely cover a range of industries, it is best to organize your skills section by industry or category, so a recruiter can easily pick out your relevant skills. Here is an example of how to list your skills by industry:

5: If you’re missing an essential skill

If you find you're lacking a crucial skill, consider enrolling in an online course or professional development program to bridge the gap. Demonstrating your initiative to learn and adapt will make a positive impression on potential employers, and you can always include an ‘in-progress’ qualification on your resume to show your continued education.

How to tailor your resume to your new industry

Diving into a new field can be daunting. But fear not! By strategically emphasizing transferable skills and relevant qualifications, you can make a strong impression on potential employers and show dedication to your new field.

1: Emphasize transferable skills

Transferrable skills are not specific to one industry and can be 'transferred' to another. Unlike the hard skills mentioned earlier, transferable skills aren't generally keywords you want to list at the end of your resume, but instead, should be illustrated through specific bullet point examples.

Transferable skills will form the backbone of your career change resume. Unlike technical skills, which you might not have mastered yet, or industry-specific experience, transferable skills are always relevant.

Here are some examples of bullet points that demonstrate commonly required soft skills:

• Leadership : Led the transition to a paperless practice by implementing an electronic booking system, resulting in cost savings of labor by 30% and office overhead by 10%.
• Teamwork : Collaborated with community outreach team to organize monthly fundraising events, raising over $50,000 in donations within three months.
• Communication : Collaborated with a team of 10+ remote developers and senior leadership team to assess project outcomes and prioritize future features.
• Initiative : Overhauled service delivery processes, leading to a 70% increase in customer satisfaction.‌‌

2: List relevant courses and qualifications

It’s wise for career changers to list relevant education or certifications on their resumes. You may not need to go back to school, unless you’re trying to enter a specialized field (such as law or medicine), but it might be beneficial to take a quick class or two to give you a jump start in your new career.

Certain fields, such as project management, IT, or finance, might require a specific certificate. If you complete these qualifications before applying for jobs, potential employers can see that you’re serious about your new choice of career and that you’ve already taken steps to make it happen.

Here is an example of how to list certificates and qualifications on your resume:

Example of how to list your certificates and qualifications on a career change resume.

Read more: How to list certifications on a resume

3: Include projects and volunteer work

If your work history is more sparse than you’d like, or if your job experiences don’t adequately reflect your relevant skills, you can also showcase other projects and volunteer work . Projects are an excellent way for career changers to show hiring managers that they have practical skills for the new role and allow you to include keywords for the new job on your resume.

Let’s imagine you are seeking a job as a software developer, and you spent one month last summer developing a phone app. Here’s how you might showcase this project on your resume:

InstaGrub Developer - Technologies used: Python, Redux, PostgreSQL, Express.js - Designed architecture and user interface of mobile app for grocery delivery - Enabled users to purchase food from 15+ grocery store chains

The same can be said for volunteer positions. Volunteering may not always be financially realistic, but you can build experience and get your foot in the door in a new area of interest. It also shows recruiters that you are committed to your new chosen field.

Read more: How to list projects on a resume

Pro tip: Address a career change in your cover letter

A cover letter is a great way to make a strong first impression on a hiring manager and provide background on your career transition.

When addressing a career change in your cover letter , start by openly discussing your transition and connecting it to the desired new role. Then, highlight your transferable skills, express your passion for the new field, and reassure the employer of your commitment to this career path.

Read more: Sample cover letters

The best format for a career change resume

Reverse chronological order is the most common format for your resume, where you detail your most recent work experience first. Recruiters prefer this format as it shows clear career progression and makes your most recent experience easy to find.

However, for a career change, you may want to rearrange your work experience into two sections, titled "Relevant Experience" and "Other Experience", to better highlight your transferable skills without leaving gaps in your resume.

Functional resumes, which focus on skills over chronological experience, are typically not recommended due to their lack of clarity and potential to appear vague.

Do employers care about previous unrelated experience?

Yes and no. If you have some experience (including volunteer work, projects, or education) related to your new field, it's okay to leave off older work experience that is no longer relevant. Remember that your resume doesn’t have to provide a complete picture of your work history, just your most recent accomplishments.

If you lack any relevant experience or qualifications, then yes, it's a good idea to include all of your work history on your resume to show your career progression and focus on the more relevant parts by splitting your work history into "Relevant Experience" and "Other Experience".

What if my skills aren’t directly relevant to the new career?

If your previous skills don’t directly apply to your new career, don't panic! First, look beyond the obvious. It's easy to underestimate the transferability of your skills. For instance, you might not think that your time management skills as a project manager would matter much in a sales rep career, but managing multiple leads, follow-ups, and deals at once requires good time management. Most jobs will have at least one transferable skill you can highlight on your resume.

If you genuinely feel you lack any relevant skills, consider taking additional training (like online courses), starting a side project, or participating in an internship.

How do I make myself stand out amongst candidates who have direct experience?

To stand out, focus on your transferable skills, major achievements, and willingness to adapt. Show how your unique experiences bring a fresh perspective. Include instances where you've excelled or driven results in past roles, even in different industries, and remember to mention any relevant training or certifications that equip you for the new position.

What other information should I include?

We’ve covered the essential sections that your resume needs: your summary, work experience, relevant education and hard skills. Some job seekers like to include other sections, such as language proficiency ; feel free to include this information as long as it relates to the job and enhances your application. If it’s not relevant, it’s best to leave it out.

I'm struggling to get started – do you have any other tips for career changers?

In a word: Networking! Take time to reach out to people you know in your new field. Find events and ways to meet new people, connect with them on LinkedIn, or set up informational interviews . The more people you know, the easier and faster it will be to launch your new career.

• Career Changers

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• The Ultimate Guide to a Career Change Resume (with examples)

People tend to constantly develop themselves, looking for better opportunities in personal and social life. That is why it’s not surprising when they suddenly find out they are doing the things that don’t bring them the satisfaction or money they expected and decide to start something new. There may be thousands of different reasons why people decide to change their career, however, it’s never that easy. When you decide to change the profession, you have to compete with other candidates, most of which have necessary skills proved by real experience. Thus you will have to prove that you will be the better fit, despite you have not previously worked on the similar position. Preparing good application package, and writing a great resume can be of a great help to win the interview. Professional resume writing service can prepare a strong resume for you. 

Let’s look at the main principles of a successful resume for you can evaluate its quality and use these tips if you decide to make a resume by yourself.

Career change resume format

There are different resume types exist. You decide, which to use, based on your unique situation. The most popular and effective resume type of a resume for career change is a combination resume format , a mixed type of experience-based (chronological) and skill-based (functional) resume.

If you ever had any work experience, you might develop the skills that would be useful in your future position, even if you make a career change. You can transfer your precious experience from one career to another, states Forbes . So you should focus on your skill set and achievements proving them by your previous work experience and additional activities. You should also include your education (training, courses or certificates) that are closely connected to the field you want to work at. Make sure you use the best resume fonts and professional layouts.

Resume summary

Obviously, it is one of the most important parts of career change resume. Resume summary for career change is 5-10 lines you use to identify yourself as a professional, state your career objectives and express your interest in the job opening. When switching careers, it would be rather useful to use a resume objective instead of a simple resume summary. They may look similar, however, there’s a slight difference in the focus of those several lines. Let’s look at these career change resume objective statement examples. First is resume summary used for an experienced worker. Another one is career change resume objective.

Resume summary sample

Accomplished and result-oriented professional with 5+ years of experience managing network protocols, server maintenance and designing network configuration. As a leading network engineer demonstrated significant results in troubleshooting & preventing network faults, extreme server loads and data leak. Looking forward to tailor new network design solutions and take system reliability and data network services maintenance to the next level.      

Resume objective sample 

Highly motivated and result-oriented military trained leader with 30+ years of experience in military and state organizations is willing to discuss a challenging position in executive-level government where there’s a scope to achieve optimal levels of professional and personal performance by utilizing knowledge while enhancing skills as a valuable member of a team. Therefore, would like to express special interest in [Job Title] position. Despite vast experience in contracting, acquisition and purchase, willing to obtain new knowledge and keep in touch with the latest industry changes. Able to communicate well with all levels of management and accept and learn from criticism. Driven by new challenges and desire to excel in all endeavors. This knowledge and experience will make me an asset to your organization and will allow to function effectively as a [Job title].

As you may see from the second example, it’s quite obvious that despite the midlife career change, the candidate has the necessary skills and expertise, enthusiasm and his reasons and motives are clear.

Skills and experience

First of all, you should thoroughly read the description of the position you’re applying to and highlight the main requirements from it. Make sure, you fulfill them and have obtained the necessary skills. Go through your work experience and pick up the achievements that demonstrate you correspond to the desired position. If you feel that you don’t have necessary competencies, there’re a few ways to obtain them via a short time period:

• Paid and unpaid internships
• Volunteer work
• Freelance projects
• Online and offline courses

All of the above would be a precious complement to your resume with no experience and would prove your reliability and serious attitude to the recruiter.

Career change resume sample

How to write a cover letter for a job with no experience in that field

A cover letter is an important document to support your resume. It is vital to include a cover letter for career change to the application package in the case of a career switch. When writing a cover letter or even using cover letter generator , be creative and honest to express your passion and enthusiasm for the chosen profession, explain your reasons of finding a new career and demonstrate your hard work to gain the relevant experience.

Career change cover letter sample

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to express my interest in the Policeman position, and I hope to be considered for an interview. Currently, I am looking for a challenging job and I find this opening very desirable. I am looking forward to get a deep insight into the industry because it will expand my professional opportunities and grow my career to the next level. 

Although I have obtained BS in Physical Education and Sports Science at University of Lincoln in 2014 and I have been working primarily as a P. E. Teacher, I now have strong desire to expand my career opportunities and become a highly professional Policeman because I realize the importance of this demanding profession. 

I am a young, motivated, energetic, enthusiastic and resourceful person who strives to provide the best service possible and to help other people uncover the truth. I believe the key skills that I possess to succeed in this position include my physical strength developed for many years of sports training, attention to details and good problem-solving, which are necessary for educating children, along with analytical skills, ability to make a quick decision based on information given. All these skills will help me grow as a professional. There are some core competencies acquired during the course of my career such as great communication and strong interpersonal skills that will enable me to interact effectively with people. In addition, I have an outstanding computer, Internet and photography proficiency needed to perform effectively my duties. I can bring all these important job skills to your service if hired. But most importantly, I am willing to learn new things and get additional knowledge in order to grow as a professional in this field.

I believe that with my dedication and hard work I can achieve outstanding results on this position and my excellent problem-solving, organizational, interpersonal and communication skills will help me function effectively as a Policeman and make a positive contribution to our society. 

Please see the accompanying resume for details of my previous experience and education. I am available for an interview at a mutually convenient time. Please fill free to contact me via phone: 000-000-0000. Thank you for your time and consideration — I look forward to learning more about this job offer!

Name Surname

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30 Strong Resume Headline Examples to Use in 2023

What makes you click an article when you’re scrolling on your phone? If you think about it, it’s usually the headline. Out of the hundreds of stories we scan in a day, we're most likely to click and read something when the headline feels urgent, relevant, or clever. 

The same principles apply when it comes to your resume: A strong headline will draw recruiters into the story of you— and entice them to keep reading.

As a certified professional resume writer who has written hundreds (and I mean hundreds ) of resumes, I strongly recommend using a headline. Whether you’re fresh out of college and looking for your first “real” job, or you're 20+ years into your career and eyeing the C-suite, a brilliant headline can make all the difference in landing a job interview.

Here’s everything you need to know about what resume headlines are, why they work, and how to add one to the resume you’ll use to land your next job.

What is a resume headline or resume title?

A resume headline is a concise description of your work experience, placed right at the top of your resume. It goes below your name and contact information, and above your summary or opening resume section . Your resume headline usually pairs a job title with a brief phrase or two that relates to the job you’re pursuing. It’s where you tell a decision maker—who is most likely skimming dozens of applications at a time—that you’re a great fit for the job.

Why should I use a resume headline?

Resume headlines work because they allow you to frame who you are and your core value proposition  to the recruiter or hiring manager right away. This is your chance to say that you’re exactly what they’re looking for and prompt them to keep reading. 

A headline also gives you a better shot at getting noticed because you can weave relevant keywords into this part of your resume. Keywords (job titles, skills, educational credentials, etc.) that align with the job description can increase the odds of your resume passing through an applicant tracking system (ATS) and landing in front of human reviewers who will ultimately make the hiring decisions.

Best resume headline templates for 2023

So, what does a resume headline look like? Here are three different templates you can use to write your own.

When writing resumes for my clients, I typically use this formula:

1-3 Commonly Used Job Titles That Describe You (In Plain English)

Keyword-Rich Supporting Statement Showcasing Something That Makes You a Standout for That Role

You might also consider a single-line headline that combines your title with an attention-grabbing phrase, something like this:

Job Title with X Years’ Experience Doing This Directly Relevant Thing

Job Title Who Achieved This Very Impressive Result

Certainly, you could go with one to three titles without the descriptive subhead or phrase. This is sometimes called a resume title, and it’s better than having no headline at all. But I’d argue it’s a missed opportunity to share something specific that ties your capabilities to the requirements of a job.

Whether you choose to use a resume title in your headline or keep it to just one line is really a matter of personal preference. What’s important is that you have one in the first place—and use it to your advantage.

6 ways to write a great resume headline

A compelling headline will be both keyword-rich and provide a short and snappy elevator pitch—something that summarizes what you’re all about in relation to the job or jobs you’re pursuing. Here’s what I recommend:

1. Position yourself for the job you want (but don’t lie)

Again, your goal is to set the stage with recruiters and hiring managers that you’re exactly what they’re looking for. Given this, the more closely you can align your resume to the job or jobs you want next—without making stuff up, of course—the better. 

For instance, if you’re a marketing manager who’s built a successful e-commerce platform for your current employer and you’re applying for jobs at companies looking for a marketing leader with e-commerce experience, you’d be wise to announce that you’re a marketing leader with that specific experience in your headline.

2. Tailor your headline for each role you pursue

Building on tip number one, keep in mind that your resume headline is not a tattoo. You can, and should, modify your headline as needed if you’re applying for jobs with varying requirements.

So if you’re that same marketing manager and you’re applying for another job that emphasizes social media marketing—and you also have experience doing that—you shouldn’t hesitate to swap out the e-commerce mention for something more specific to social media.

RELATED: 

https://www.themuse.com/advice/what-it-really-means-to-tailor-your-resume

3. Keep it concise

Brevity and strategy are key with your headline. If you’re using a job title and a phrase on the next line—like my team typically does—your whole headline should take up two lines max.

Otherwise, your headline should be a succinct one-liner combining title(s) with a powerful phrase about your fitness for this job. 

4. Avoid clichés

Don’t waste valuable real estate with vague terms like “results oriented” or clichés such as "thinks outside the box.” Recruiters see these lines so often that their eyes will likely skip over ’em, and that’s the opposite of your goal here. Instead, show your impact with a data point: X Job Title Who Increased Revenue by 150%, or similar. 

5. Use common job titles

If you’re looking for a job as a chief of staff and are basically working as one now, but have an oddball title that doesn’t immediately or clearly convey what you do, introduce yourself as a chief of staff in your headline. It all comes back to the keywords both the ATS and the people reading your resume are looking for. You don’t want to miss the chance to be considered for a full-stack engineering role because your current company uses the title “full-stack magician,” or be overlooked for a customer support role because your last company insisted on the title “weekend happiness concierge” (btw, those are real examples ).

6. Highlight accomplishments

Again, if you’re a top performer with impressive, quantifiable results to share, this is a great opportunity for you to show off. Take a look at the examples below to see what this could look like in action.

Best resume headline examples for 2023

What does a resume headline actually look like? Let’s run through a few examples.

A general resume headline, and why it works

Say you’re a project and program manager who just earned your Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. You’ve selected a few project and program management jobs that you want to apply for and notice that this certification is consistently listed as a preferred qualification. (Hooray, you have it!) You’re also seeing a common theme among the job descriptions that got you excited: They all call for someone who has worked with SaaS (or software as a service) companies. Hooray again, you have.

Your headline, then, may look like this:

PMP-Certified Project Manager | Senior Program Manager

Delivering Complex Projects—On Time & Within Budget—for Global SaaS Providers

This keyword-rich title immediately tells the reviewer that you’re a project manager and a program manager and that you have the valuable PMP certification. The rest of the headline makes it clear that you have experience in a SaaS environment and know how to successfully deliver projects on deadline and within budget. You’ll also notice that every word in the headline and subhead earns its spot on the page. There is no fluff. There are no clichés.

Everything works together to bring the reader into your story and make them eager to continue into your summary section.

A recent graduate resume headline, and why it works

Next up, how about a mechanical engineering graduate who is looking for engineering jobs in the robotics industry? This time, we’ll go with a headline that combines title and power phrase in a single line:

Purdue University BSME Honors Graduate With Robot Programming Experience

This one capitalizes on the prestige of a Purdue University engineering degree and showcases the candidate’s experience with a specific requirement of many robotics engineering jobs: the ability to program a robot.

One- and two-line resume headline examples

Here are a few more headline examples, for a variety of industries and roles:

Nonprofit Leader | Executive Director | Director of Development

Driving Transformative Performance on Behalf of Global Humanitarian Agencies

Supply Chain Manager | Logistics Team Lead

Optimizing Operational Performance in Global Manufacturing Environments

Executive Assistant | Office Manager

Enabling Business Leaders to Thrive by Delivering World-Class Administrative Support

Technical Writer | Trainer & Instructor

Transforming Complex Technical Information Into Compelling and Actionable Content, Lessons, & Documentation

We could take those same four people and create one-line headlines for them:

Nonprofit Director Who Has Successfully Raised $5M for Children’s Charities

Supply Chain Leader With 15 Years’ Experience Managing End-to-End Global Supply Chains

Executive Assistant—an Indispensable Partner to Senior Business Leaders

Technical Writer Specializing in Transforming Complex Information Into Compelling & Actionable Content

Lastly, some bonus resume headline examples

If you want even more ideas, consider these:

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) With 8 Years Auditing Experience
• SaaS Account Executive Who’s Closed Over $10 Million in Sales
• Content Writer and Editor Who Has Increased SEO Traffic by Over 200%
• Award Winning UX-Designer Specializing in Accessibility
• Account Manager Responsible for Upsells Totalling $500K+ in 6 Months
• Back-End Developer Fluent in JavaScript, SQL, Ruby, and Python
• Advertising Executive Responsible for the GEICO Gecko
• Social Media Marketing Specialist who Launched and Grew 100K Follower TikTok Account
• Recruiter Who’s Sourced, Interviewed, and Overseen Hiring Process for 200+ Hired Candidates
• Very Good Dog Who Doesn’t Bark at UPS Guy
• Comp Sci Grad with Past Internships at Google and Facebook
• Project Manager Specializing in Completing Over-Budget Initiatives Cheap
• HR Professional with 18 Years in Benefits Management
• Certified Special Education Teacher With 5 Years Experience in Multi-Grade Classroom
• Data Analyst With 4 Years Experience in Financial Modeling
• Data Scientist Specializing in Machine Learning
• IT Professional Who Set Up Hillary Clinton’s Server—Which Is Still Unhacked
• Engineer Who Actually Founded Tesla

Bottom line: No one—not even the ATS—can see and feel and touch your years of experience and understand why you should be hired. It’s on you to frame the “you on paper” as the very best candidate to the decision makers, whether they’re a technology or a group of humans. And it all starts with your headline.

Regina Borsellino also contributed writing, reporting, and/or advice to this article.

45 Strong Career Change Statement Examples

By Status.net Editorial Team on February 7, 2024 — 13 minutes to read

Crafting a strong career change statement is important because it serves as your introduction to potential employers. The statement conveys your motivations, relevant strengths, and commitment to transitioning into a new field. Given the competitiveness of job markets, clearly expressing your intent can set you apart.

• Clarity: Your statement illuminates the purpose behind your career shift, offering a clear narrative that explains the ‘why’ behind the change. It guides employers through your journey, linking past experiences to future aspirations.
• First Impression: As the opening of your resume or cover letter, it gives employers a first glimpse of who you are beyond a list of skills and job titles, creating a compelling and relatable image of your professional self.
• Transitioning Skills: Here, you highlight transferable skills. You may not have direct experience in the new field, but your statement can draw attention to how your existing skills apply to the new role.

Related: How To Change Careers (Steps and Examples)

Crafting Your Career Change Statement

Preparing to present your career change to prospective employers means reflecting on your past experiences, pinpointing your strong suits, and conveying your new career direction clearly.

Self-Assessment and Reflection

To start, ask yourself why you want to make this change and what you hope to achieve. Are you seeking greater job fulfillment, a new challenge, or alignment with personal values? For example, you might realize that your extensive experience in project management has sparked a passion for organizational development, signaling a change from IT to human resources.

Identify Your Transferable Skills

Your next step is to list the skills you’ve acquired that are relevant to your new field. You might be surprised to find how many skills are transferable. For instance, if you’re moving from education to corporate training, your curriculum development skills and public speaking experience could be your ticket in.

Articulating Your Value Proposition

Finally, you’re ready to articulate your value proposition. What unique combination of skills, experiences, and personal attributes will you bring to your new career field? You’ll want to be specific. Say you’re moving from sales to marketing; you can highlight your deep understanding of customer needs and experience in persuasion to show you’re well equipped for crafting compelling marketing strategies.

When you’re ready to leap into a new career, your statement should reflect a clear commitment to the new path and the skills you bring to the table. Here’s how you might articulate your transition:

• “After a decade of honing my project management skills in the construction industry, I’m excited to apply my expertise in a tech startup environment. I believe my background in leading diverse teams and managing budgets makes me a unique fit for this dynamic sector.”
• “As a former educator, I’m passionate about making a tangible difference in the world of health and wellness. My experience in curriculum design and mastery of communication will enable me to effectively promote health education.”
• “My extensive background in sales has equipped me with the negotiation, customer service, and strategic thinking skills necessary to thrive in a nonprofit fundraising role.”
• If you’re coming from a creative field: “I’ve spent the past five years as a graphic designer, where I’ve developed a keen eye for aesthetics and user experience. I’m eager to transfer these skills to the world of web development, where I can create visually appealing and user-friendly websites.”
• “Drawing on my previous career in hospitality, where I excelled at customer satisfaction and operations management, I am transitioning to a career in real estate to combine my people skills with my passion for the property market.”

Your career change statement should show your enthusiasm for your new path and how your previous experiences have prepared you for this transition. Be authentic, demonstrate your transferable skills, and you’ll make a compelling case for why you’re the perfect candidate for a career change.

Examples of Strong Career Change Statements

• 1. Skilled carpenter seeking to leverage my attention to detail and craftsmanship in a new role as a building inspector.
• 2. Accomplished educator transitioning to corporate training, bringing a wealth of experience in curriculum development and instructional design.
• 3. As a seasoned journalist, I am now seeking to apply my strong research and storytelling skills in a public relations role.
• 4. Transitioning from a career in law enforcement to private security, offering a strong background in risk assessment and crisis management.
• 5. After years as a professional chef, I am ready to apply my expertise in time management and creative problem-solving to the event planning industry.
• 6. Former military officer now pursuing a career in project management, bringing leadership, discipline, and a proven track record of managing complex operations.
• 7. IT professional transitioning to a career in cybersecurity, armed with a solid foundation in network infrastructure and a commitment to data protection.
• 8. As a bank manager moving into financial consulting, I bring extensive experience in client relationship management and strategic planning.
• 9. Dedicated teacher looking to shift into educational technology, offering a unique perspective on integrating digital tools into traditional learning environments.
• 10. Seasoned sales professional pivoting to a career in marketing, eager to apply my persuasive communication skills and customer insight to brand strategy.
• 11. Licensed nurse transitioning to healthcare administration, armed with hands-on patient care experience and a strong understanding of healthcare systems.
• 12. Eager to leverage my decade of experience in customer service to thrive in the human resources field, bringing exceptional interpersonal skills and a passion for employee development.
• 13. With a background in retail management, I am now targeting a career in supply chain logistics, bringing a keen understanding of inventory control and distribution.
• 14. Accomplished graphic designer transitioning to user experience design, offering a strong aesthetic sense and a user-centered approach to product development.
• 15. As an experienced accountant, I am seeking to apply my analytical skills and financial expertise in the field of financial planning.
• 16. Transitioning from a successful career in advertising to digital marketing, bringing a blend of creative thinking and data-driven strategy.
• 17. Former professional athlete looking to bring my dedication, teamwork, and leadership skills to a coaching or athletic administration role.
• 18. Skilled mechanic transitioning to automotive sales, where I can combine my technical knowledge with my passion for customer service.
• 19. As a biologist transitioning to environmental policy, I bring a scientific background and a commitment to sustainable development.
• 20. Moving from the hospitality industry to real estate, ready to provide exceptional client service and apply my expertise in property management.
• 21. Transitioning from the performing arts to arts administration, bringing a deep understanding of the creative process and organizational skills.
• 22. As a seasoned event planner, I am pursuing a career in non-profit program coordination, offering expertise in logistics and community engagement.
• 23. With a background in aerospace engineering, I am now targeting opportunities in renewable energy, bringing a passion for innovation and sustainability.
• 24. Transitioning from veterinary medicine to animal welfare advocacy, ready to leverage my medical knowledge and compassion for animals in a new way.
• 25. Experienced in the world of publishing, I am now seeking to apply my editorial skills and content management experience in the digital media space.
• 26. Skilled in commercial diving, I am seeking to transition into marine conservation, offering a unique skill set and a dedication to environmental stewardship.
• 27. Moving from the finance sector to non-profit fundraising, ready to apply my analytical abilities and relationship-building skills to support meaningful causes.
• 28. As a professional translator, I am now aiming to utilize my language skills and cultural competency in the field of international relations.
• 29. Former police detective transitioning to corporate security, offering investigative skills and a keen eye for detail.
• 30. With a background in pharmacy, I am now seeking to contribute my expertise in medication management and patient counseling to a clinical research coordinator role.
• 31. Transitioning from a career as a pilot to aerospace engineering, bringing a practical understanding of aircraft operation and a passion for technological advancement.
• 32. Professional musician seeking to apply my creativity and performance experience in the field of music therapy.
• 33. As a seasoned entrepreneur, I am now looking to leverage my experience in business development and strategic planning in a corporate innovation role.
• 34. Transitioning from a career in mining to environmental engineering, bringing a strong foundation in geology and a commitment to sustainable resource management.
• 35. Former professional dancer moving into dance education, eager to inspire the next generation with my passion and knowledge of the art form.
• 36. With a background in film production, I am now targeting a career in digital content creation, bringing storytelling expertise and technical skills.
• 37. As an experienced sommelier, I am transitioning to a career in wine sales, offering in-depth knowledge of wine and a proven ability to connect with clients.
• 38. Moving from the legal field to compliance, ready to apply my understanding of regulations and ethical standards to help organizations navigate complex legal landscapes.
• 39. Transitioning from the world of professional gaming to software development, bringing a user’s perspective and a passion for technology.
• 40. Experienced in the travel industry, I am now seeking to apply my planning and customer service skills in the field of corporate event coordination.
• 41. As a commercial pilot transitioning to aviation safety, I bring a commitment to excellence and a deep understanding of industry regulations.
• 42. Skilled electrician seeking to transition into electrical engineering, offering practical experience and a drive to expand my technical knowledge.
• 43. Transitioning from the fitness industry to physical therapy, eager to apply my knowledge of human anatomy and my passion for helping others achieve their wellness goals.
• 44. With a background in professional sports management, I am now aiming to leverage my negotiation skills and strategic thinking in a career in talent representation.
• 45. Experienced in the world of fine arts, I am now seeking to apply my curatorial skills and artistic insight to a career in art therapy.

Tailoring Your Statement to Different Industries

When changing careers, your statement should resonate with the specific industry you’re targeting. Experts emphasize the importance of customizing your career change statement to reflect an understanding of industry requirements and how your unique set of skills will benefit potential employers. For example:

Tech Sector Focus

In the tech industry, you need to demonstrate an aptitude for continuous learning and adaptability. For instance, if you’re coming from a non-tech background, highlight your problem-solving skills and any coding or software development experience you’ve gained, even if it’s through self-guided learning or courses. You should also emphasize your ability to work in agile environments and your passion for tech trends.

Healthcare Industry Adaptation

Transitioning into healthcare, you should convey a deep respect for patient care and medical ethics. If your previous work wasn’t healthcare-related, discuss your experiences with regulatory compliance or handling sensitive information. Your statement could mention volunteer work that illustrates your commitment to helping others and teamwork within a high-stakes setting.

Educational Transition Strategies

If education is your goal, focus on your skills in mentorship, knowledge dissemination, and curriculum development, even if your experience in these areas comes from outside a traditional classroom setting. An example might be managing a team and training new employees, which shows leadership and the ability to educate.

Finance and Banking Nuances

Entering the finance sector requires you to speak to your analytical skills and attention to detail. If you’ve managed budgets in previous roles or have experience with forecasting and reporting, these are vital to mention.

Dos and Don’ts in Career Change Statements

• You should focus on the strengths and skills you can bring to the new field. For example, if you’ve been in retail but are moving to sales, emphasize your customer communication and relationship-building expertise.
• Avoid drawing attention to experience you lack. Instead, you want to ensure your statement remains positive and forward-looking.
• Convey genuine interest and excitement about the industry you’re entering. You could say, “I’m eager to apply my problem-solving skills within the innovative tech sector.”
• It might be tempting to use industry-specific terms to fit in, but if you’re not comfortable with the lingo, it can come off as inauthentic. Stick to language you understand well.
• Your career change statement should include a brief explanation of why you’re making the shift. This could be a desire for new challenges, alignment with personal values, or interest in personal growth within the new field.
• It’s important to keep your statement positive. Any negativity about previous workplaces can be seen as unprofessional.

Overcoming Common Challenges

When you’re navigating a career change, you might face a few hurdles along the way. Understanding these challenges can help you tackle them head-on.

• Skills translation can be tricky. You have valuable skills from your previous experience, but it’s important to show how they apply to your new field. For example, if you’re moving from teaching to corporate training, highlight your communication skills and your ability to engage an audience.
• Another common issue is networking. You need to build a new professional network that aligns with your chosen industry. Start by attending industry events and connecting with professionals on LinkedIn to gradually foster relationships in your new field.
• Experience gaps can seem daunting. If you lack direct experience, consider volunteering or internships. These opportunities offer hands-on experience and sometimes lead to full-time positions.
• Lastly, dealing with resume gaps can be a concern. Use a functional resume format to focus on your skills rather than chronological work history, ensuring that you’re seen as a capable candidate despite any breaks in employment. Related: Confidently Explain Employment Gaps on Your Resume (Examples)

Measuring the Effectiveness of Your Statement

To establish how well your career change statement resonates, begin by assessing feedback from your network. If peers, mentors, or professionals in your desired industry understand your motivations and support your direction after reading your statement, that is a positive indicator.

Following are some measures to consider:

• Clarity: Your statement should make it obvious why you’re shifting careers. Use concrete examples like increased enthusiasm for the new field or sharper skills that align with the new role.
• Goals Alignment: Verify that your statement aligns with your long-term professional objectives. For instance, if you’re moving into marketing, highlight your passion for creative communication and strategy development.
• Persuasiveness: Does your statement convince readers that the change is a sound, well-thought-out decision? You could mention any preparatory steps you’ve taken, such as courses or volunteer work, that bolster your commitment.
• Authentic Voice: Ensure your statement sounds like you . This means reflecting your personality and values in the text.
• Brevity: Keep your statement concise but impactful. Aim for a brief overview that encapsulates your drive without wandering off-topic.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you craft a compelling personal statement when shifting careers.

Creating a compelling personal statement for a career change means focusing on your enthusiasm for the new field, your readiness to learn, and how your previous experiences have equipped you with a unique perspective. Illustrate this with specific examples from your past that align with the skills and capabilities valued in the new industry.

What should be included in a resume summary for those transitioning to a new industry?

Your resume summary should include your years of relevant experience, key skills, major achievements, and your career objective. It might read, “Experienced marketing strategist with over 10 years in the business sector looking to apply strategic analysis and communication skills in the non-profit space.”

How can I effectively highlight my transferable skills in a career change resume objective?

You should weave your transferable skills into your resume objective by connecting them directly to the requirements of the job. For example, “Customer service expert eager to leverage extensive conflict resolution and communication skills in a human resources role.”

What are the elements of a strong resume for individuals with no experience in their new field?

Your resume should spotlight your transferable skills, any relevant volunteer or project work, and your adaptability and eagerness to learn. Emphasize your capacity to quickly assimilate new information and environments.

What strategies can be used to feature transitional experience in a career change resume?

When showcasing transitional experience, focus on achievements and projects that demonstrate applicable skills and a capacity to take on new challenges. For example, if you’ve led a team, highlight your leadership and collaboration skills, tailored to the new role you’re pursuing.

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