Resumes for Career Change Professionals

Your main selling point to employers during a job search is your education and those key transferable skills gained through previous employment. Information about these specific skills and the knowledge you will contribute is featured prominently on your resume—most relevant items toward the top of the resume. Evidence of your most significant accomplishments is also important to mention. Your goal is to communicate your skills, experience, and knowledge in a way that will attract the employer’s attention enough to invite you for an interview. You want to speak the employer’s “language” as much as you can to develop a rapport with the employer.

Important Information to Include

• Clear introduction to your career goal through a title, either on its own or within the "summary of you"
• Concise "summary of you" that includes strongest skills and abilities - what is most marketable to the employer
• Keywords that describe your skills, abilities, and education
• Accomplishments to demonstrate past successes in the workplace
• Education and related training information
• Computer Skills

Other Important Points

• Be sure to list information in an easy-to-read format
• One or Two Pages? If you have enough relevant information to fill two pages, write two pages. If not, write one page. Keep in mind that resumes are skimmed, not read. You want your most important information to shine!
• It's not necessary to list every job you have held throughout your life—however, you want to establish a clear timeline. The number of years covered in an employment history will be different for everyone. See Resume Consultation.
• If you are seeking an internship position, make sure to state that clearly in the "summary of you" at the top. You would like to gain experience through the internship.
• Completed internship experiences count as years of experience in a career field—refer to Sample #1

Resume Consultation is available at any time to help you to write your resume.