by Maureen Crawford Hentz
The most effective technique career changers can use in their resumes and
cover letters is TRANSFERABLE SKILLS, TRANSFERABLE SKILLS,
TRANSFERABLE SKILLS. I recently gave a workshop specifically on this topic
for career changers at the National Environmental Careers Conference.
I was shocked at the number of competent, successful
individuals who kept referring to themselves as "totally unqualified
for a job in the environment." These were adults with four to 12 years
of experience as managers, editors and engineers.
I recommend that career changers (and only career changers)
have an objective on their resume. With my clients, I refer to these objectives
as TRANSITIVE OBJECTIVES. Transitive objectives are those that
help a potential employer understand which skills/experience the
applicant thinks are transferable. Transitive objectives usually follow
a format similar to these:
To use my ____ years of experience as a _______, ______ and_________ in an environmentally responsible research non-profit .
Seeking a ________ position that will effectively maximize my experience in ________________________.
For example, an accountant applying for a research position, could say:
“Seeking a biology research position that will effectively maximize my 10
years of experience as a manager with budget and supervisory responsibility.”
OR:
“Seeking a biology research position that will effectively maximize my
experience in program and personnel management.”
The second strategy I recommend to career changers is to use a competency-based
resume [Editor's note: Also called a functional resume]. I recommend that
career changers try to categorize prior jobs and volunteer positions as
competencies so that the resume reviewer or potential employer can clearly
see the transferable skills and experience.
Similarly, I recommend that job seekers address the career-change issue
directly in the cover letter. It's not necessary to self-disclose your long struggle
with a job you hate, but rather briefly describe:
- what compels you toward the new field and
- what skills you can offer that are transferable.
I've seen very effective resumes in which candidates say directly in the
cover letter: “While at first glance I may not seem to fit your typical candidate
profile, I confident that my skills in ________, _______ and ________, as
well as my knowledge of _________ would indeed be an excellent match for this position.
See also these articles:
Be sure to use all of our Job &
Career Resources for Career Changers.
Questions about some of the terminology used in this article? Get more information (definitions and links) on key college, career, and job-search
terms by going to our Job-Seeker's Glossary of Job-Hunting Terms.
QuintZine regular contributor Maureen Crawford Hentz, an independent career and HR consultant,
has been working with career seekers for nine years, and has master's degree in college student personnel
from Bowling Green State University. A popular conference lecturer, she specializes in large and small
specially designed workshops for professional organizations, students and environmental groups.
Her most popular career workshops address topics including: Non-Verbal Techniques To Use During
an Interview; Powerful Resumes; and Interviewing Etiquette You've Never Even Thought About. She
has a particular interest in job searching techniques for differently-abled candidates, new grads and
career changers. Proving that you never have to settle for just one career, in addition to her consulting
work, Maureen is also the director of volunteer programs and Internships at the New England Aquarium,
Boston and an instructor of American culture at Showa Boston Institute for Language and Culture.
