I recently spent some time picking the brains of two hiring managers.
We got to talking about jobseekers, resumes, approaches to resumes, what they looked for in a resume, and job descriptions.
Something they both mentioned as a common frustration is when the candidate’s resume doesn’t match the position they are interviewing for. The job is for a VP of Product Development, but you have spent your career in procurement.
They understood that sometimes people want to transition out of what they are doing. They want to change industries, change positions, want to do something different, or just do something theyโve always been interested in.
But if thatโs what you want to do, you need to make a case for yourself.
Prove to the hiring manager why you are the right fit even if your experience has been slightly different. Donโt make them search for it–because they wonโt.
Do you have what they need?๐ค
Many of my clients and the jobseekers I talk to struggle with what should be on their resume. Do they add ALL of their information? Older info as well, if it was relevant to the role? Less? More? Help!!!
Here are some things to consider when drafting your resume:
โ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ก๐๐. First, do you really have the experience the position asks for? Be honest with yourself. You donโt want to waste your time or the hiring managerโs time if you really donโt have experience (or transferable skills) in that role. If yes, add examples of what you’ve done. If not, don’t fake it. Leave it off and lead with other experiences.
โ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ช๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ฆ. Examine the description and notice the words they use over and over. This tells you that those words will most likely be keywords ATS will look for. Does your resume have those keywords? You can sprinkle them throughout your resume, but keep your focus on โabove the foldโ. This is the area that when someone is reading a document on a computer screen, the words above the bottom of the screen are what stand out first. Many times, if what is above the fold doesnโt interest/pertain to them and what they need, theyโll move on.
โ ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ง. What skills do you offer the role? Each of us has a unique skill set we bring to the job. Great at relationship building? Expertise in vendor negotiations? Specialize in cybersecurity? Again, refer to the position description. What skills of yours do you see in that description? You may have more than you realize. There may be things you do every day that pertain to that new role. Make sure to add these things to your resume, as well.
โ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ๐. What value do you offer? How can you help the company? In what ways have you achieved success? Use quantitative examples where possible. What awards have you received? What results have you produced?
Offer proof by adding numbers $ or percentages % wherever possible.
Itโs not impossible to switch careers mid-career. When you have the skills that the role calls for, make sure they are easy to find on your resume. That will make the decision to call you in for an interview that much easier.