The
Top 3 Resume Mistakes of Career Changers
and How to Avoid Them!
Copyright, By Rita Fisher, Certified Professional Resume
Writer
1, Lack of focus in the resume
Are you
going from a Production Manager position to Pharmaceutical
Sales?
So…why
does your resume start with this objective: “To obtain
a challenging position that will provide continued growth,
learning and advancement”
HUH?
What does
THAT mean?
I mean,
if you are trying to change careers, you should probably
be more specific about it.
Something
like this:
“Award-winning,
top-producing and dynamic Production Manager interested
in applying proven revenue generation and rapport building
skills in a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative position”
Now, that
is specific.
2, Creating
a chronological resume
Do you
really think a chronological resume will be beneficial when
you are trying to change careers?
I don’t
think so.
Let me
explain.
A chronological
resume starts with your current position.
So, if
you are currently a Data Security Administrator but you
are really interested in becoming a Paralegal, do you really
want to start your resume describing what you do on a daily
basis as a Data Security Administrator? I didn’t think
so. Employers looking for a Paralegal don’t really
care to read all that.
Instead,
look at your work history as a whole and try to slice it
into different categories. These categories, or skill-groups
will have to be the ones that you can transfer to the new
industry, in this case: a paralegal job. These will be your
transferable skills and your new – functional –
resume will be built around them.
For example,
what kind of skills did you use as a Data Security Administrator?
Research
skills
Communication skills
Client services skills
Now, build
your resume around these skills.
This is
called a functional resume because these skills represent
a function that you have performed in the past and will
be performing again.
So, center
your resume on the above 3 main skill headings and include
RELEVANT information under each heading that you have pulled
from your TOTAL COMBINED work history.
Call me
at 812-375-6190, if you have any questions about the functional
resume. I will be happy to answer your questions. Or e-mail
me at resumes@reliable-net.net. (Finding transferable skills
and transferring them for the new job is what I do best).
3, Listing
only your duties and responsibilities
Nobody
cares what you do on the job. I mean, if you are a Receptionist
or a Sales Broker, you have the same duties every Receptionist
or Sales Broker has, right?
But before
you sock me in the head for being rude, let me tell you
this.
Even though
companies don’t care about WHAT you do on a daily
basis they do care about the RESULTS of what you do?
What results,
you ask?
Like:
saving money for the company, earning money, otherwise called
bottom-line results.
So, do
you have results like that? Of course, you do!
Just answer
these questions:
How did
you contribute to the company’s bottom line?
How did
you do your job better and / or more efficiently than someone
else might have done it?
Consider
the following 2 “job descriptions.” You tell
me which one sounds better:
“Kept
files, maintained up to date records.”
Or
“Saved
company $10,000 / year by developing and implementing a
new and efficient filing system for all sales transactions.”
See what
I mean?
Happy
writing! And remember, a new career IS within your reach!
Don’t forget, my team and me are here to help you
create an awesome resume! You can reach us by calling toll-free
at 866-645-6350 or visiting our site at http://www.CareerChangeResumes.com
or by e-mailing us at resumes@reliable-net.net.
We are looking forward to hearing from you!
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