You?re Ready for a Career Change - Is Your Resume?

You finally did it. You made the decision to leave a career that makes you dread every Monday morning and pursue one that you feel is your true calling. Congratulations! Making the decision was the hard part, right? Unfortunately, no. You've convinced yourself that this is the right move?how do you convince everyone else? It's time to work on your resume.

Resume writing for this situation can be challenging, to say the least. Why? Think about it for a moment ? how do you go from a retail manager to a purchasing agent in a corporate environment? Or from an accountant to a salesperson? Not all career changes are that drastic, but you get the picture. Once you look at it from this point of view though, it makes you wonder how in the world you'll get a job in a new field.

There are a number of things your resume has to portray to the reader:

? The skills that you learned and honed in your past jobs transfer to the one for which you are applying.

? Your strengths and accomplishments compliment the field and position (or type) of position you are seeking.

? You can do something other than what you are currently doing.

So how exactly do you do this? How do you convince a potential employer that you have what it takes to meet and exceed the expectations for the job ? no matter what previous jobs you've held in the past? One way is by writing a functional resume.

A functional resume is one that you don't see nearly as often as the tradition chronological and combination ones. That's because they are used when the situation for the job seeker is not ideal. Other instances may be returning to the workforce after a long period of time or job hopping. A functional resume is used when it wouldn't be as effective as if you had a solid work history, no gaps in employment and are looking for a job similar to the one you are currently in, if not a step-up.

Your resume may start out with an executive profile or summary of what you have done in the past and what you are looking to do in the future. This is the time to really "talk yourself up". You do not want to modest.

An example might be:
Accomplished and experienced professional with a 10-year proven record of developing accurate sales plans based on intensive analysis and communication with integral departments. Combines astute strategic and business skills with an impeccable work ethic and drive for success. Self-starter that is enthusiastic, forward-thinking and recognized as a peak performer. How do you begin to write the body of your resume? Take all your achievements, strengths, education and/or training and write them down. Which ones can you group together under one heading? Headings could include:

? Leadership
? Financial Management
? Account Management
? Goal Setting & Achievement

Of course, these headings are just examples to get your own wheels turning. They will differ depending on your own experience and achievements.

As you are compiling your lists, keep in mind that you are writing for you new career, not your present or past ones. Present this valuable information in a compelling manner that shows how you can be a benefit to a company in your desired career. Use strong adjectives, verbs and keywords to really get your point across.

Now that you have the difficult part done, the next steps are easy. Include your work history, education and any other special training and/or skills that you deem important at the end of your resume. Even though the focus is on the main body of your resume, the other information needs to be on there for reference sake.

And that's it! You're done writing your resume. Hard work ? yes, but well worth it when you consider what you are now able to tackle ? a new job, a new career?a new life!

Are you guilty of sabotaging your own job search along with the opportunity to earn more money? Don't underestimate the value of your resume. Take control of your career today.

Heather Eagar, owner of ResumeLines.com, provides unbiased reviews of resume writing services that can put you back in the driver's seat of your career.

==> Sign-up for your free Job Search E-Course

Related News

Springboards for life in careers elsewhere - Financial Times Springboards for life in careers elsewhere Financial Times, UK -4 hours ago Although the small state offers only restricted employment choices for graduates the average expected wage in the oil-rich country is the second highest in ... New committee working on five-year plan to improve job prospects - Kawartha Media Group New committee working on five-year plan to improve job prospects Kawartha Media Group, Canada -Oct 14, 2008 Employment Ontario is part of the $1.5 billion Skills to Jobs Action Plan to train Ontarians for new careers and build on the province’s competitive edge in ... The Grades recruitment event: White men in braces need not apply... - Independent The Grades recruitment event: White men in braces need not apply... Independent, UK -5 hours ago The title is an acronym, its aim being to promote graduate careers to all, irrespective of Gender, Religion, Age, Disability, Ethnicity or Sexuality. ... City Expands Job Training For Public Housing Residents - NY1 NY1 City Expands Job Training For Public Housing Residents NY1, NY -12 hours ago Building careers, that's what the city says it's trying to do by helping public housing residents land jobs and training opportunities. Something employment... Green Jobs Transition Must Accelerate - Policy Innovations Green Jobs Transition Must Accelerate Policy Innovations, NY -7 hours ago The report forecasts that millions of cleaner careers could be generated by 2030, with as many as 20 million new jobs in the energy alternatives sector ... Bye-bye to career employment for Baby Boomer men - Examiner.com Examiner.com Bye-bye to career employment for Baby Boomer men Examiner.com -Oct 1, 2008 "Career employment – meaning employment with a single employer from middle age to retirement – is no longer the norm. So if workers are to remain in the ... Shifting Careers In Hard Times, Lawyers Advise Cautious Steps - New York Times Shifting Careers In Hard Times, Lawyers Advise Cautious Steps New York Times, United States -Oct 11, 2008 By MARCI ALBOHER AS the turmoil on Wall Street continued, I sat down with two employment lawyers — Zachary Hummel, who represents employers, and Mark Risk, ... Arbitrability of USERRA Claims: Battle on the Home Front - Law.com (subscription) Arbitrability of USERRA Claims: Battle on the Home Front Law.com (subscription), CA -Oct 14, 2008 For those who do not seek a lifelong military career, the costs include the forgone opportunity for advancement in civilian employment. ... Apprentices start building a career - Bradford Telegraph Argus Apprentices start building a career Bradford Telegraph Argus, UK -9 hours ago Mohammed, 18, and Shaun, 19, were both recruited by Lovell from Accent Community Partnerships, which delivers construction-based training and employment... Health Care Marketing Industry Day to offer employment opportunities - Hattiesburg American Health Care Marketing Industry Day to offer employment opportunities Hattiesburg American, MS -7 hours ago ... Sanofi Aventis and others will have booths to meet and recruit students and local residents interested in pharmaceutical and health care sales careers. ...