Resume Writing for a Career Transition
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If you have been working in one industry for most of your adult life, a career transition can be frightening. While you may be excited at the prospect of changing jobs, it is understandable and expected that a tiny bit of apprehension will sit in a corner of your mind. It isn’t uncommon for those of us that change careers to sit, staring at our resume, and wonder, “Am I doing the right thing? Is this job for me? Am I crazy?”



Part of this fear stems from re-vamping our resumes. It is possible to have written a great resume only to discover it reflects just your knowledge of your previous career. This can be turned into a strength for a new resume by recycling skills already developed. Believe it or not, your previous career and hobbies have a treasure trove of qualifications that transfer to your new career.



Take a moment (or few) to consider job duties you have performed in the past. No one begins a career as an expert. Even college graduates have knowledge – not experience. As you spend time engrossed in your resume writing, consider how each experience can be listed as a qualification for your new career. For example, someone that worked in childcare may have the skills needed to work in human resources. This may sound strange until you realize that working with children requires a vast amount of patience. Problem solving skills used with children can carry over to resolving co-worker issues because children lack the same reasoning skills as adults.



Every learning experience you have had can be translated into a meaningful entry on your new resume. All it takes is a little insight, along with understanding of the career you plan to transition into. Remember that life experience can also be work experience. Don’t discount the industries you have worked in part-time. Even so-called “lowly jobs” can teach us all something useful for later positions. Don’t forget that social networking can now be considered a skill set, and as you consider how to re-write your resume, brush up on your social networking skills. You’ll make new friends, learn social media marketing, and make contacts for your career transition.