How to Craft a Winning Career Change Resume

It's never too late to embark on a different career path, and no matter what anyone says, you're never too old for it. If Grandma Moses could go from being a farm labourer to a prolific painter at the ripe old age of 78, we're betting your transition will be much less daunting in comparison.

You will however need a killer resume to address the typical concerns recruiters have with candidates from unrelated fields. Here are five essential boxes you need to tick, in order to craft a winning career change resume.

1. Get your story straight

The very first thing you have to do, even before you start working on your resume, is to have a clear and cohesive story as to why you're changing career. This will be the first question on a recruiter's mind, and it is absolutely imperative that you answer it clearly (albeit indirectly) in your resume and cover letter (more on this later).

Just saying that you're looking for a change won't be compelling enough. The recruiter needs assurance that you'll stick around for the foreseeable future if you're hired, and that you'll be committed to this new career path you've chosen. So before you do anything else, ask yourself why you're doing this, and be honest with yourself.

2. Do a complete overhaul of your old resume

Knowing that you'll be up against other professionals with direct industry experience, you'll have to work twice as hard to create a compelling resume. You will still need to include your complete work history, as employment gaps tend to raise questions, but the focus should be on your transferable skills and experience that apply to the new job.

For example, if you come from an accounting background but want to pursue a career in graphic design, you should highlight transferable skills such as communications and client management, as well as proof of your creative skills, either by putting together a creatively designed resume, or an online portfolio with examples of your work.

3. Include a summary paragraph at the top of your resume

This will be the key selling point for your whole application — your "why" statement. It should also shed some light on your personality — e.g. what drives you, the causes you support and how you contribute to those causes.

Even if the recruiter doesn't make it past the first page of your resume, this key paragraph should tell them what you'll bring to the table and why you're interesting enough to add to the shortlist.

4. Quantify your achievements with numbers

Industry jargon should be avoided as much as possible, as they won't mean much to someone from a different field. Numbers, on the other hand, are universal. For example, saying that youachieved 80% client retention would be as relevant for a Marketing Consultancy as it is for an Automotive Retailer.

While it's helpful to use terms that are as relevant and widely understood as possible, statistics and sales figures are always a winner.

5. Highlight extracurricular activities

As someone changing career direction, extracurricular activities that directly relate to your new role will carry more weight than your previous experience. Activities such as volunteering, internships, part-time consulting or completion of training courses will be key to demonstrating your aptitude and passion for your new profession.

Are you currently contemplating a major career change? Take a look at our latest job vacancies to get started!