The Top 4 Ways to Position Your Job Change

Are you thinking of making a job change? Have you started pursuing a new field and wonder if you’re presenting your background and skills in the best way? Undergoing a career transition can be stressful and difficult to navigate. Many professionals aren’t sure how to start the process or begin to explain their reasoning for making a shift. Then, you must be able to create a compelling presentation to a prospective employer about why you are a good fit for a job that may be new to you.

It’s natural that just thinking about all of the necessary steps, might be a little overwhelming. If you decide to pursue a new job, there will probably be challenges along the way, so it’s important to surround yourself with a support network made of positive family members, friends, and colleagues. Negative people can easily discourage you and make you doubt your choice. Think about speaking with a mentor or coach, if you are uncertain about your plans. Here are the four, best ways to address your job change!

1. Within Your Cover Letter

When applying for a job, the cover letter is usually your first chance to make a good impression on a recruiter or hiring manager. In the past, we’ve covered how to write a memorable and effective cover letter. As you are writing your cover letter, you want to take every chance to spotlight the transferable skills from your past positions. In addition to skills, you can include experience or knowledge that would be helpful to you in that new job. Specifically mentioning how you have a passion for the industry, company, or product the company produces is also a welcome and nice touch.

2. Within Your Resume Summary

Many resumes include a professional or executive summary at the top of the document that is designed to highlight the most important information about the candidate. This is also a great place to add a customized sentence about your desired job change. You could mention how you’ve always been fascinated by the new field or industry, and how you’re ready to be a contributor right away. However, you don’t need to spend a lot of time on this in your summary; one sentence is enough.

3. Throughout Your Resume Body

Instead of providing basic details about what you did in your past positions, that sound like common job descriptions, take it a step further. What roles, responsibilities, accomplishments, and/or special projects have you done that align with your desired job? How could you strategically add those facts into your resume content? There are ways to focus on your transferable skills within your resume when you are new to an industry. It’s also important to include the appropriate keywords within your resume that are relevant to the positions you’re targeting, so that when your document goes through ATS technology filters, it ranks highly.

4. During Your Interview

Landing an interview can be an amazing accomplishment, especially for a position that you’ve never held before! That means that the possible employer sees enough potential in you to discuss the opportunity directly. Even though you can feel successful by simply securing an interview, it’s critical to remember that you haven’t landed the job yet. You’re still on a short list of possible candidates. We’ve discussed different ways to sell yourself during an interview, when you are new to a field. You want to be prepared to talk about your reasoning for making the job change in a succinct and compelling way.

Deciding to make a job change is a bold and brave effort. Unfortunately, many professionals don’t understand all that is involved in making a seamless career transition, so it can take them many months or years to complete. A lot of professionals even chose to give up on making a career shift because of the complexities involved. Addressing your job change in your cover letter, resume summary, and throughout the resume body can help a recruiter or hiring manager envision you as a fit for their open position. Finally, being able to confidently discuss your desired job change during an interview is essential. What is one area you could improve, if you’re thinking of making a career transition?

Fly High Coaching can help you soar to your full potential and find your dream job. We offer career coaching services, interview preparation and resume makeovers to support your success. Contact us today to get started with our expert career coaches.  Check out our Land Your Dream Job 101 course for more information on how you can secure your desired job change.