How to Write a CV For a Career Change
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2025 10:30 am
It is necessary for most of us at some stage in our career to apply for a role that is different from what we have done before. Maybe your next role will be in a related or complementary field (e.g. from market research to marketing consultancy). Maybe it will be a change of environment (from accountancy practice to in-house accountant) or to a different sector (from engineering in the car industry to engineering in renewable energy). Sometimes though, it is necessary to change in a way that marks an entirely new direction. Maybe you have realised that you are much better suited to something else, or you will be happier doing something else, or maybe circumstances require it.
For any of these situations, a level of adaptation is required in the way you present yourself. Some of the existing ways of communicating who you are and what you offer will need to change. This is never easy but here is how to tackle the challenge:
Targeting
If you don’t have direct experience that matches your new role exactly, then this rules argentina phone number resource out some advertised positions. You generally won’t win over the lazy recruiters with their ‘must have three years in a similar role’ mantra. Don’t let this get you down though. There are many better-managed businesses and better recruiters who are willing to set out the skills and qualities they are looking for and then consider the extent to which you can demonstrate them.
So rule out the ones that you are never going to win over and keep looking for the more open minded recruiters. Here is how to do that:
(By the way – you may want to target the employers directly through speculative approaches or use networking in addition to these things).
Analysis is key
You have to know two things:
What the employer is looking for – this is easy because they tend to tell you. What is needed however is a thoughtful analysis of what underlies the waffle and clichéd terms on the job adverts, descriptions and person specifications.
What you have that is valuable to them. There will be skills and qualities that you possess that are transferable, bearing in mind what you know about your target role. Through self-awareness, you will be able to select these things after careful consideration of your career so far.
For any of these situations, a level of adaptation is required in the way you present yourself. Some of the existing ways of communicating who you are and what you offer will need to change. This is never easy but here is how to tackle the challenge:
Targeting
If you don’t have direct experience that matches your new role exactly, then this rules argentina phone number resource out some advertised positions. You generally won’t win over the lazy recruiters with their ‘must have three years in a similar role’ mantra. Don’t let this get you down though. There are many better-managed businesses and better recruiters who are willing to set out the skills and qualities they are looking for and then consider the extent to which you can demonstrate them.
So rule out the ones that you are never going to win over and keep looking for the more open minded recruiters. Here is how to do that:
(By the way – you may want to target the employers directly through speculative approaches or use networking in addition to these things).
Analysis is key
You have to know two things:
What the employer is looking for – this is easy because they tend to tell you. What is needed however is a thoughtful analysis of what underlies the waffle and clichéd terms on the job adverts, descriptions and person specifications.
What you have that is valuable to them. There will be skills and qualities that you possess that are transferable, bearing in mind what you know about your target role. Through self-awareness, you will be able to select these things after careful consideration of your career so far.