As a job seeker, your resume is always your sales pitch, highlighting qualifications, experiences, skills and passion to your potential employer. Seizing the chance to stand out from the competition, especially in the midst of making a career change is an important decision and one that you should not take lightly. You have to have plans and goals while developing your resume to insure that you will be able to not only work in your dream job, but that you will excel.
Key areas of each resume can predict if your resume will make it into the hands of a hiring manager. It's imperative to customize your resume for the job that you want by paying close attention to your resume style, career objective, and personal profile.
The layout and the style of your resume are as important as the information you include describing your experience and qualifications. As your probably know, the most common resume styles are chronological (listing your professional expertise in order) and functional(showcasing your experience by the type of qualifications you have.) The latter is typically used by those changing careers, and it's important to create a powerful overview of your skills and how they will transfer to your new career.
Career Objectives in a Functional Resume
Career objective is very important to your resume. Your career objective should contain both a long term goal and a long term goal. (For example, a short-term goal would be to find a job as a junior copywriter - while the long-term goal would be to advance your skills and develop a comprehensive portfolio within a professional, high-profile marketing company.) Including a goal statement shows that you have given your professional growth some serious thought and your career objective aligns with your potential employer.
Your career objective goals and resume strategies to can lead your career towards employers who are in line with your skills and abilities. Employers are interested in people who are constantly looking to improve not only themselves, but their job skills as well. That's why you will want to keep career development first and foremost in your mind at all times when writing your resume.
Professional Profile in a Functional Resume
A professional profile sells your expertise to a potential employer, explaining why you are the best, and only, candidate for the job. This section explicitly gives you the chance to differentiate yourself, and give your employer an insight into you as a job seeker and a professional. Don't overlook the power of good writing - and don't make the mistake of including personal information. Only include information on your qualifications and information on your affiliations as a business professional.
Your expertise, highlighted with both your educational background, work history, and your skills will give a good first impression to your employer. Make sure to proofread the whole resume, with emphasis to this section, as it appears at the start of your resume. An effective professional statement leaves potential employers with an impression that you are confident and credible, which also makes you up to the challenges ahead.
Remember that Changing Careers is a Process
Career changing is really career development - it is an ongoing process as it also includes educating yourself on job requirements, sometimes getting additional training, and always working at making yourself the best you can be in your new career path. Because industries change, and technologies change, you may want to add some new classes by taking continuing education credits or attending a few seminars in your new career field to show your interest and dedication to the changes you want to make. Gaining new skills will only work in your favor, and once you land an interview, you'll still want to be enthusiastic about getting the right training for the career you've chosen, letting your new employer know you've set both long and short-term goals for your career.
About the Author:Melissa Brewer is the author of the Little White Ebook of Homeshoring Jobs, the complete guide to work from home call center employment available at LittleWhiteEbook.com. She has worked as a freelance writer for the past 9 years and currently resides in Washington, DC, three miles from the Obama White House.
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