How to Write a Career Change CV (*With Examples*)

Summary

In this video, career consultant Raj shares valuable tips for writing an expert-level career change CV. Using the example of a friend who transitioned from police work to baking cakes, Raj highlights the importance of focusing on transferable skills, such as communication, adaptability, and attention to detail. The key advice includes framing past experiences in terms of these skills and tailoring your CV to the job you're aiming for, without dwelling on your past career. Raj emphasizes that a clear, skill-focused CV is the best way to showcase your qualifications for a new career path.

Takeaways

• 😀 Focus on transferable skills when writing a career change CV. These skills show how your past career will add value to your new one.
• 😀 Avoid focusing on your past job too much. Employers want to know if you can do the new job, not dwell on your past work.
• 😀 Tailor your CV by directly linking top skills from the job description to your past experiences.
• 😀 Keep descriptions of past work concise and relevant to the new career, focusing on examples that demonstrate transferable skills.
• 😀 Use color coding to ensure your CV aligns well with the skills required in the job description.
• 😀 Don't add a profile section at the top of your CV explaining why you changed careers. Let your skills speak for themselves.
• 😀 Emphasize your ability to adapt to new environments and show how you’ve applied similar skills in different roles.
• 😀 To demonstrate how you meet job requirements, use real-life examples that link your previous career experience to the new role.
• 😀 Don't get hung up on explaining the details of your career change. Most recruiters are focused on what you can do in the future.
• 😀 Test the effectiveness of your career change CV by reviewing how well the job description's key skills are reflected in your experience.
• 😀 Making your career change CV about the skills and potential you bring to the table will help you stand out in the eyes of employers.

Q & A

What are the two key rules for writing a career change CV?

The two key rules are: 1) Emphasize transferable skills when describing your previous work. 2) Focus on showing that you can do the job in your new career, rather than explaining why you changed careers.

How does Claire's story about moving from police work to baking cakes illustrate the concept of transferable skills?

Claire's story shows that skills from her police work, like asking open questions, understanding context, and managing expectations, can be transferred to her new baking business. She realized that her ability to communicate and manage stress in the police force applied to her new role in baking cakes.

Why is it important to only mention transferable skills on a career change CV?

Mentioning only transferable skills allows you to demonstrate how your past experience adds value to your new career. It helps potential employers see the relevance of your previous work and how it benefits the role you're applying for.

What does the advice about not explaining your career change in the CV suggest?

The advice suggests that employers are more interested in your ability to do the job, not the reasons behind your career change. Therefore, focusing on skills and what you can do in the new role is more effective than explaining your past.

How should you tailor your CV based on a job description?

To tailor your CV, copy the top three skills listed in the job description and align them with your previous work experience. For each skill, provide an example of how you used it in your past job, demonstrating its relevance to the new role.

What is the benefit of color coding the skills in your CV?

Color coding helps you visually check if your CV aligns with the job description. By highlighting where the key skills appear, you can easily see if you've focused enough on the skills that matter most for the role.

Why should you avoid including a profile section at the top of your CV?

A profile section can lead to the Primacy bias, where the first information the employer sees influences their judgment of you. Instead of explaining your career change, it's better to let your skills speak for themselves.

What is the recommended approach for saving your career change CV?

The recommended approach is to open your most recent CV, save it as a new document, and then modify it by removing any irrelevant details. Focus on re-framing your past experience to highlight transferable skills that match the new role.

What is the psychological concept of Primacy bias, and how does it relate to CV writing?

Primacy bias refers to the tendency for people to place more weight on the first piece of information they receive. In CV writing, this means that the first impression a recruiter gets can shape how they perceive you, so it’s best to start with the skills that matter rather than a profile explaining your career change.

How can you ensure your career change CV is perfectly tailored to a new role?

To ensure your CV is well-tailored, focus on the skills required in the job description. Use specific examples from your previous work that align with those skills, and test the alignment by color coding the job description skills and checking for matches in your CV.