Career Change Resume - How to Pivot to a New Industry Successfully

Making a career change takes courage. You’re willing to step outside your comfort zone to find work that’s more fulfilling, better aligned with your values, or simply more interesting. But there’s one major obstacle standing between you and that new career: your resume.

Your resume tells the story of your professional past, but you need it to sell your professional future. This guide will show you exactly how to write a career change resume that positions your experience as an advantage and gets you interviews in your target industry.

The Career Change Resume Challenge

Why Career Changes Are Difficult

Let’s be honest about the obstacles you’re facing. Understanding these challenges helps you address them strategically.

Hiring managers prefer the safe bet. When they have candidates with direct industry experience and candidates making a career change, the experienced candidates feel like less risk. Your resume needs to make you feel equally safe to hire.

ATS systems scan for specific keywords. Applicant Tracking Systems filter resumes based on keywords from the job description. If you’re coming from education but applying to corporate training roles, you might have “curriculum development” experience but the job posting asks for “learning and development.” Same skill, different language.

Your job titles don’t match. A recruiter spends six seconds scanning your resume. If your previous job titles don’t connect to the role you’re applying for, you might get filtered out before anyone reads your actual accomplishments.

You’re competing against industry veterans. Someone applying for their fifth project management role has a clear track record. You’re applying for your first PM role while coming from an operations background. Your resume needs to work harder to demonstrate capability.

Gaps in industry-specific knowledge show. You might not know all the terminology, tools, or certifications that are standard in your target field. This becomes obvious if you’re not careful with how you present yourself.

Why Career Changes Are Worth the Effort

Despite these challenges, career changes offer significant rewards that make the resume work worthwhile.

Career satisfaction directly impacts quality of life. Research consistently shows that people who find their work meaningful report higher overall life satisfaction. If you’re dreading Monday mornings, a career change could transform not just your work life but your entire outlook.

Some industries offer better work-life balance. Maybe you’re leaving the restaurant industry’s nights and weekends for a Monday-to-Friday marketing role. Or you’re moving from consulting travel to a remote-friendly tech position. The right career change can give you back your evenings and weekends.

Earning potential can increase significantly. Some career changers discover their skills are more valued in different industries. A teacher with data analysis skills might double their salary by moving into business intelligence. A retail manager’s people skills could command higher compensation in corporate training.

New challenges prevent professional stagnation. After years in the same field, you might feel like you’re on autopilot. A career change forces growth, learning, and development that reignites professional passion.

Alignment with values becomes possible. Maybe you want work that makes a social impact, offers creative expression, or matches your ethical standards. A strategic career change lets you find that alignment.

Understanding Your Transferable Skills

The foundation of every successful career change resume is a clear understanding of your transferable skills. These are the abilities that travel with you from one industry to another, maintaining their value even as the context changes.

What Are Transferable Skills?

Transferable skills are capabilities that apply across different roles, industries, and contexts. They’re not limited to one job or one field. Think of them as your portable professional toolkit.

These skills fall into two main categories:

Hard skills are technical abilities you can measure and teach. Data analysis, project management software, budgeting, writing, public speaking, and software development all count as hard skills. If you can take a course or get certified in it, it’s probably a hard skill.

Soft skills are interpersonal and cognitive abilities that shape how you work. Leadership, communication, problem-solving, adaptability, and emotional intelligence are soft skills. They’re harder to measure but equally valuable.

The most powerful career change resumes highlight both types because they work together. Your ability to analyze data (hard skill) becomes more valuable when combined with your ability to present findings persuasively to stakeholders (soft skill).

Categories of Transferable Skills

Let’s break down the major categories and how they transfer across industries.

Leadership and Management

These skills prove you can guide teams and projects to successful outcomes, regardless of industry.

Team leadership and development: Whether you managed nurses, retail associates, or software engineers, the ability to motivate people, provide feedback, and build high-performing teams transfers directly.

Project management: Managing a school fundraiser uses the same core skills as managing a product launch. You set goals, create timelines, allocate resources, track progress, and adjust when plans change.

Strategic planning: The ability to set long-term goals and create actionable plans applies everywhere. A marketing strategist and a nonprofit program director both need to think strategically about resource allocation and desired outcomes.

Budget management: Managing a department budget in retail gives you the same financial responsibility skills needed for budget management in healthcare, tech, or manufacturing.

Change management: If you’ve successfully led teams through organizational changes, new systems, or process improvements, you have a skill that every industry values.

Stakeholder communication: Keeping multiple stakeholders informed, managing expectations, and navigating competing priorities works the same whether your stakeholders are parents, clients, executives, or board members.

Communication and Interpersonal

Communication skills are among the most universally valued transferable skills.

Written communication: Clear, persuasive writing matters in nearly every professional role. Grant writing for nonprofits develops the same skills needed for business proposals. Customer email communication builds expertise for internal business communication.

Presentation and public speaking: Teaching a classroom of 30 students requires the same presentation skills as presenting to a boardroom of 30 executives. Both need clear messaging, audience awareness, and confidence.

Negotiation: Salary negotiations, vendor contracts, partnership agreements, and conflict resolution all require similar negotiation fundamentals regardless of industry.

Customer service: Understanding customer needs, managing difficult conversations, and creating positive experiences applies whether you’re serving retail customers, restaurant diners, or corporate clients.

Conflict resolution: Mediating disputes between team members, resolving customer complaints, or navigating organizational politics all draw on the same core conflict resolution skills.

Cross-functional collaboration: Working effectively with people from different departments, backgrounds, or specialties is essential in most modern workplaces.

Analytical and Problem-Solving

These skills demonstrate your ability to think critically and solve complex challenges.

Data analysis: Analyzing student performance data in education uses similar skills to analyzing customer behavior data in marketing. Both require understanding metrics, identifying patterns, and drawing actionable conclusions.

Critical thinking: Evaluating information, questioning assumptions, and making logical decisions matters everywhere from healthcare to finance to technology.

Research: Whether you’re researching academic literature, market trends, or competitor analysis, the fundamental research skills transfer.

Process improvement: Identifying inefficiencies and implementing better workflows works the same in manufacturing, healthcare, customer service, or software development.

Decision-making: Making informed decisions under pressure, with incomplete information, or in ambiguous situations is a universal business skill.

Troubleshooting: Diagnosing problems and developing solutions applies whether you’re troubleshooting IT issues, operational bottlenecks, or customer service problems.

Technical and Tools

Technical skills might seem industry-specific, but many transfer more easily than you think.

Software proficiency: Microsoft Excel expertise applies in countless fields. If you’ve mastered complex formulas, pivot tables, and data visualization in retail, those exact skills transfer to finance, operations, or analytics roles.

Technical writing: Creating standard operating procedures, user documentation, or training materials requires similar skills across industries.

Data visualization: The ability to present data clearly through charts, dashboards, or infographics is valued in marketing, finance, operations, and executive leadership.

Research methodologies: Quantitative and qualitative research skills transfer across academic, market research, user research, and business intelligence roles.

Digital literacy: Comfort with technology, ability to learn new software quickly, and understanding of digital tools applies everywhere in modern workplaces.

Platform-specific skills: Experience with widely-used platforms like Salesforce, HubSpot, Monday.com, or Google Analytics can be the bridge that helps you move between industries.

Resume Formats for Career Changers

The format you choose for your career change resume matters. Different formats highlight different strengths, and choosing the right one depends on how significant your career change is and what kind of experience you’re bringing. (Wondering about resume length? Check out our complete guide to resume length to understand when one vs. two pages makes sense.)

Functional Resume

A functional resume organizes content by skill categories rather than chronological work history.

When to Use a Functional Resume

Choose this format when you’re making a significant career leap and your skills matter much more than where you learned them.

Significant career change: Moving from bartender to software developer, or from military service to corporate finance, requires emphasizing capabilities over job titles.

Limited relevant experience: If you have strong skills but developed them through volunteer work, side projects, or brief roles, a functional format lets you showcase those skills prominently.

Skills matter more than chronology: Some roles care more about what you can do than where you’ve done it. A functional resume leads with capabilities.

Large employment gaps: If you took time off for caregiving, health, or other reasons, a functional format minimizes the visibility of gaps.

Structure of a Functional Resume

1. Contact information: Standard header with name, phone, email, LinkedIn, and location
2. Professional summary: Strong 3-4 sentence statement positioning your career change
3. Skills categories: 3-5 themed sections highlighting relevant capabilities with supporting achievements
4. Brief employment history: Company names, job titles, and dates without detailed bullets
5. Education: Degrees, certifications, and relevant training

Example Functional Resume Skills Section

Project Management & Organization

• Managed 15+ concurrent projects with budgets up to $500K, delivering 95% on time and under budget
• Coordinated cross-functional teams of 5-20 people across multiple departments
• Developed project tracking systems that improved deadline adherence by 40%

Data Analysis & Reporting

• Analyzed performance metrics for 200+ individuals, identifying trends and improvement opportunities
• Created monthly dashboards and reports for executive stakeholders
• Used statistical analysis to inform strategic decision-making, resulting in 25% efficiency gains

Pros and Cons of Functional Resumes

Pros:

• Highlights relevant skills front and center
• Downplays job titles that don’t match target role
• Demonstrates capability regardless of where it was developed
• Helps recruiters see you in the new role immediately

Cons:

• Some recruiters and hiring managers dislike this format and may assume you’re hiding something
• May not parse as well in Applicant Tracking Systems
• Can raise questions about employment gaps or job-hopping
• Requires exceptional writing to pull off effectively

Bottom line: Use functional resumes sparingly and only when your career change is dramatic enough that chronological formats don’t serve you.

Combination (Hybrid) Resume

A combination resume merges the best elements of functional and chronological formats, leading with skills but maintaining clear work history.

When to Use a Combination Resume

This is the sweet spot for most career changers.

Moderate career change: You’re pivoting to a related field or leveraging some existing experience in a new context.

Some transferable experience: You have relevant accomplishments in your work history, but they might not be obvious from job titles alone.

Want to show skills and history: You want to highlight capabilities while still demonstrating stable employment and career progression.

Best of both worlds: You need the skills emphasis of a functional resume with the credibility of a chronological format.

Structure of a Combination Resume

1. Professional summary: Career change statement with key qualifications
2. Core competencies or skills: Bulleted list or short section highlighting relevant capabilities
3. Work experience: Reverse chronological with strategic bullet points emphasizing transferable achievements
4. Education: Degrees, certifications, bootcamps, relevant coursework
5. Additional sections: Projects, volunteer work, publications, or professional development

Example Combination Resume Flow

Professional Summary Operations manager with 8 years of process optimization and team leadership experience transitioning to project management. Proven track record managing cross-functional initiatives, implementing efficiency improvements, and leading teams of up to 15. PMP certified with hands-on experience in Agile methodologies.

Core Competencies Project Planning & Execution • Stakeholder Management • Agile/Scrum Methodologies • Risk Management • Budget Administration • Cross-Functional Team Leadership • Process Improvement • Data-Driven Decision Making

Professional Experience

Operations Manager

Manufacturing Company

2018-2024

• Led 12 process improvement projects averaging $200K in annual savings through systematic analysis and implementation
• Managed cross-functional teams of 8-15 members across operations, quality, and maintenance departments
• Developed project plans, timelines, and budgets for facility upgrades totaling $2M in capital expenditure
• Implemented Agile sprint planning for operations team, reducing project delivery time by 30%

Pros and Cons of Combination Resumes

Pros:

• Balances skills showcase with work history credibility
• Generally ATS-friendly when formatted properly
• Shows career progression while highlighting transferability
• Gives you flexibility to emphasize what matters most
• Familiar enough to recruiters while strategic for career changes

Cons:

• Can run longer, often reaching two pages
• Requires careful organization to avoid feeling cluttered
• Still may need cover letter explanation for dramatic changes
• Takes more effort to write effectively than standard chronological

Bottom line: This is the recommended format for most career changers. It gives you the best shot at passing ATS while strategically positioning your experience.

Modified Chronological Resume

A modified chronological resume uses the traditional reverse-chronological format but strategically emphasizes transferable elements throughout.

When to Use a Modified Chronological Resume

This works when your career change is more of a pivot than a complete reinvention.

Slight career pivot: You’re moving to a closely related field where your experience clearly applies.

Relevant volunteer or project work: You have legitimate experience in the target field, even if it wasn’t your primary job.

Strong employment history: Your career progression is impressive and helps establish credibility even in a new field.

Transferable skills are obvious: The connection between your old role and new target is clear to most readers.

Structure of a Modified Chronological Resume

1. Professional summary: Opens with career change focus and target role
2. Work experience: Reverse chronological with bullets emphasizing relevant duties and achievements
3. Skills section: Heavily targeted to new industry requirements
4. Education and certifications: Including new training relevant to career change
5. Additional relevant experience: Volunteer work, projects, or side work in target field

How to Modify a Chronological Resume for Career Change

The key is in the bullet points. Each achievement should be framed to highlight its relevance to your target role.

Standard bullet (sales role):

• Exceeded sales quota by 130% in 2023 through relationship building and consultative selling

Modified bullet (sales to customer success):

• Built strong client relationships resulting in 130% account growth, demonstrating ability to understand customer needs and drive long-term value

See the difference? Same achievement, but the modified version emphasizes relationship building and customer value rather than sales performance.

Pros and Cons of Modified Chronological Resumes

Pros:

• Most familiar and preferred format for recruiters
• Excellent ATS compatibility
• Shows stable work history and career growth
• Easier to write than functional or combination formats

Cons:

• Irrelevant experience and job titles remain visible
• Requires strategic bullet point writing to emphasize relevance
• May need heavy customization for each application
• Harder to use for dramatic career changes

Bottom line: If your career change is relatively minor or your previous experience clearly relates to your target role, this format works well and is most recruiter-friendly.

Crafting Your Professional Summary

Your professional summary is prime real estate. It’s the first thing hiring managers read, and it sets the tone for how they interpret everything that follows. For career changers, the summary is where you control the narrative.

Elements of a Powerful Career Change Summary

A strong summary for career changers includes these five elements:

1. Your current expertise (emphasizing transferability): Don’t hide what you’ve been doing. Instead, frame it in terms that matter to your target role.

2. Your target role or industry: Be explicit about where you’re headed. This removes ambiguity and helps hiring managers see you in the role.

3. Why you’re making the change (briefly): You don’t need a full explanation, but a hint at motivation shows intentionality rather than desperation.

4. What you bring to the new field: This is your value proposition. What unique perspective or skills do you offer because of your background?

5. Key qualifications or achievements: Lead with numbers, certifications, or concrete evidence that you’re serious and capable.

Examples by Career Change Type

Let’s look at real examples across different types of career changes.

From Teaching to Corporate Training

Weak summary:

Experienced teacher looking to transition into corporate training. Have worked with students for many years and am good at explaining things.

Strong summary:

Educator with 8 years of curriculum development and adult learning experience transitioning to corporate training and development. Proven ability to design engaging learning programs, assess training needs, and measure knowledge retention across diverse learner populations. Successfully trained 200+ students annually with 95% satisfaction scores and measurable skill improvement. Seeking to leverage instructional design expertise and data-driven approach to learning outcomes in corporate L&D environment.

Why it works: Specific years of experience, quantified achievements, relevant skills (curriculum development, learning assessment), and clear target role. The summary translates teaching skills into corporate training language.

From Marketing to UX Design

Weak summary:

Marketing professional who recently completed a UX bootcamp. Passionate about design and excited to start a new career in UX.

Strong summary:

Marketing professional with 6 years of consumer research and data-driven campaign experience pivoting to UX design. Completed intensive UX bootcamp (General Assembly) and built portfolio of 5 client projects demonstrating user research, wireframing, and prototyping skills. Combines marketing analytics background with user-centered design thinking to create digital experiences that drive measurable engagement. Proficient in Figma, Adobe XD, and user testing methodologies.

Why it works: Shows how previous experience (consumer research, data-driven work) directly supports new role. Provides evidence of commitment (bootcamp, portfolio). Lists specific tools and methodologies relevant to UX.

From Finance to Data Science

Weak summary:

Financial analyst interested in data science. Completed online courses in Python and machine learning.

Strong summary:

Financial analyst with 10 years of quantitative analysis experience transitioning to data science. Completed Master’s in Data Science from Northwestern while working full-time, maintaining 3.9 GPA. Proficient in Python, R, SQL, and machine learning frameworks with hands-on project experience in predictive modeling and natural language processing. Brings strong business acumen, stakeholder communication skills, and statistical foundation to data-driven problem solving. Published research on financial forecasting using neural networks.

Why it works: Demonstrates serious commitment (Master’s degree while working). Shows existing quantitative foundation. Combines technical skills with business skills. Includes concrete evidence (published research).

From Retail Management to Human Resources

Weak summary:

Retail manager with people skills looking to move into HR.

Strong summary:

Retail operations manager with 7 years of talent development, performance management, and employee relations experience transitioning to human resources. Successfully recruited, trained, and developed teams of 20-30 employees with 85% retention rate in high-turnover industry. SHRM-CP certified with expertise in conflict resolution, coaching, and creating positive workplace culture. Managed complex employee relations issues, compensation planning, and performance improvement plans for multi-location retail operation.

Why it works: Highlights HR-relevant aspects of retail management. Includes industry certification (SHRM-CP). Quantifies success (retention rate). Uses HR terminology (performance management, employee relations).

From Military to Cybersecurity

Weak summary:

Military veteran with 6 years of service seeking cybersecurity position.

Strong summary:

Military intelligence analyst with 6 years of classified network security and threat assessment experience transitioning to civilian cybersecurity. Security+ and CEH certified with hands-on experience in vulnerability assessment, incident response, and security protocol implementation. Led team of 5 analysts monitoring network traffic and identifying security threats across enterprise infrastructure. Brings disciplined approach to security frameworks, risk assessment, and clearance-required government contracting opportunities.

Why it works: Translates military experience into civilian terms. Emphasizes relevant certifications. Quantifies leadership experience. Mentions security clearance (valuable asset).

Tailoring Your Summary to Each Application

Don’t use the same summary for every application. Small tweaks based on the job description significantly increase your chances.

Study the job posting carefully. If the role emphasizes “cross-functional collaboration,” work that phrase into your summary. If it highlights “data-driven decision making,” make sure your summary demonstrates that capability.

Mirror the company’s language. If the company talks about “customer obsession,” use similar phrasing. If they emphasize “innovation” or “agile thinking,” reflect those values.

Adjust your emphasis. You might have three strong skill areas, but only two matter for a specific role. Lead with what matters most to that employer.

Writing Achievement Bullets for Career Change

Your bullet points are where you prove your capability. They need to do double duty: showcase real accomplishments while framing them in language that resonates with your target industry. (For a deep dive on crafting compelling achievements, see our guide on how to write resume achievements that get you hired).

The Translation Strategy

Think of this as translation work. You’re taking achievements from one context and translating them into another context’s language.

Step 1: Identify Your Core Achievement

Start with what you actually accomplished. Use numbers whenever possible.

Examples:

• “Increased social media engagement by 200%”
• “Reduced customer wait times from 15 minutes to 5 minutes”
• “Managed budget of $800K for school district programs”
• “Trained 45 new employees in six-month period”

Step 2: Identify the Transferable Elements

Break down what skills or capabilities the achievement demonstrates.

Example: “Increased social media engagement by 200%”

Transferable elements:

• Data analysis (tracking engagement metrics)
• Strategy development (figuring out what would work)
• Content creation (making engaging posts)
• A/B testing (trying different approaches)
• ROI measurement (proving the value)
• Audience understanding (knowing what resonates)
• Platform expertise (understanding social media mechanics)

Step 3: Reframe for Your Target Industry

Now translate the achievement using the language and priorities of your target field.

Original (Social Media Manager): “Increased Instagram engagement by 200% over 6 months through strategic content calendar and data-driven optimization”

Translated for Product Management: “Analyzed user engagement data to identify content preferences, leading to 200% increase in platform interaction through iterative testing and optimization based on behavioral metrics”

Translated for Marketing Analytics: “Conducted quantitative analysis of social media metrics to identify high-performing content patterns, driving 200% engagement increase through data-driven content strategy”

Translated for Customer Success: “Built engaged customer community with 200% growth in participation by understanding user preferences and creating valuable content that addressed customer needs”

See how the same achievement can be positioned differently depending on your target role?

Industry Translation Examples

Let’s walk through specific examples across common career change paths.

Sales to Customer Success

Sales and customer success both involve client relationships, but the focus shifts from acquisition to retention.

Original Sales Bullet: “Exceeded sales quota by 125% for three consecutive years, closing average deal size of $50K”

Customer Success Translation: “Built strong client relationships resulting in 125% account growth over three years, demonstrating ability to understand customer needs, drive value realization, and expand engagement with average account value of $50K”

What changed: Language shifted from “quota” and “closing” to “relationships,” “value realization,” and “engagement.” Same numbers, different frame.

Second Example:

Original Sales Bullet: “Conducted 30+ product demonstrations monthly, resulting in 40% conversion rate”

Customer Success Translation: “Delivered 30+ client training sessions monthly on product capabilities and best practices, achieving 40% adoption of advanced features through consultative education approach”

What changed: “Demonstrations” became “training,” “conversion” became “adoption,” and the focus shifted to education rather than selling.

Nurse to Healthcare IT

Healthcare professionals moving into health IT have deep domain expertise that tech companies need.

Original Nursing Bullet: “Coordinated care for 30+ patients daily across emergency, surgical, and ICU departments”

Healthcare IT Translation: “Collaborated with cross-functional clinical teams to coordinate complex workflows, managing multiple information systems and ensuring accurate data for 30+ simultaneous cases across emergency, surgical, and ICU environments”

What changed: “Care coordination” became “workflow management,” emphasis added on information systems and data accuracy.

Second Example:

Original Nursing Bullet: “Implemented new electronic health record system, training 25 nurses on documentation protocols”

Healthcare IT Translation: “Led EHR system implementation as clinical subject matter expert, developing training materials and conducting end-user training for 25 clinicians to ensure workflow optimization and documentation compliance”

What changed: Positioned as implementation leadership with focus on clinical expertise guiding technical decisions.

Teacher to Project Manager

Teaching involves managing multiple complex projects simultaneously, even if they’re called lesson plans.

Original Teaching Bullet: “Developed and implemented curriculum for 5 different courses, including AP Biology and General Science”

Project Management Translation: “Managed 5 concurrent projects with varying stakeholder needs, creating detailed plans, timelines, and deliverables while adapting to changing requirements and resource constraints”

What changed: “Curriculum” became “projects,” “courses” became “stakeholder needs,” emphasis on planning and adaptability.

Second Example:

Original Teaching Bullet: “Collaborated with department team to implement new lab safety protocols across 12 science classrooms”

Project Management Translation: “Led cross-functional team to develop and implement new safety protocols across 12 locations, managing stakeholder communication, timeline coordination, and compliance verification”

What changed: Added project management terminology while keeping the scope and scale clear.

Restaurant Manager to Operations Manager

Restaurant management is operations management in one of the most demanding environments.

Original Restaurant Bullet: “Managed daily operations of 60-seat restaurant with team of 15 staff members”

Operations Management Translation: “Directed daily operations of high-volume service environment, leading team of 15 across multiple functional areas including logistics, quality control, and customer experience”

What changed: “Restaurant” became “service environment,” emphasis on operational elements rather than food service specifics.

Second Example:

Original Restaurant Bullet: “Reduced food waste by 30% through inventory management system and staff training”

Operations Management Translation: “Implemented inventory management system and process training that reduced waste by 30%, demonstrating ability to identify operational inefficiencies and execute improvement initiatives with measurable ROI”

What changed: Same achievement but framed as process improvement and efficiency optimization.

Event Planner to Program Manager

Event planning and program management both require juggling multiple complex timelines and stakeholders.

Original Event Planning Bullet: “Planned and executed 15 corporate events annually with budgets ranging from $50K-$200K”

Program Management Translation: “Managed portfolio of 15 annual programs with budgets ranging from $50K-$200K, coordinating cross-functional teams, vendor relationships, and stakeholder expectations to deliver on-time, on-budget results”

What changed: “Events” became “programs,” added project management terminology around coordination and stakeholder management.

The Formula for Strong Career Change Bullets

Use this formula to write bullets that work for career changers:

[Action Verb] + [What You Did] + [How You Did It] + [Measurable Result] + [Skill Demonstrated]

Example: “Analyzed customer feedback data from 500+ responses using sentiment analysis to identify service gaps, leading to process improvements that increased satisfaction scores by 25% (demonstrates data analysis and customer focus for UX role)”

You don’t always need every element, but this structure ensures you’re showing capability, not just listing duties.

Common Weak Bullets vs. Strong Bullets

Weak: “Responsible for managing team” Strong: “Led cross-functional team of 8 through organizational restructuring, maintaining productivity and morale while transitioning to new operating model”

Weak: “Used data to make decisions” Strong: “Analyzed sales trend data to identify underperforming product lines, recommending portfolio changes that improved profit margins by 18%”

Weak: “Communicated with stakeholders” Strong: “Managed stakeholder expectations across 12 concurrent projects through weekly status updates and monthly executive briefings, maintaining 95% stakeholder satisfaction”

Weak: “Handled customer complaints” Strong: “Resolved escalated customer issues with 90% first-contact resolution rate by implementing structured problem-solving approach and expanding service team authority”

The strong versions show what you did, how you did it, and what happened as a result. They demonstrate transferable capabilities through concrete examples.

Highlighting Relevant Experience

Sometimes your most relevant experience didn’t happen in a traditional job. Career changers need to get strategic about what experience to highlight and how.

Reorder Your Bullet Points

Within each job listing, you typically have 3-5 bullet points. The order matters.

Lead with transferable achievements. Put your most relevant accomplishments first. Many recruiters only read the first 1-2 bullets per job.

Bury or eliminate irrelevant duties. If you have bullets that don’t support your career change, push them to the end or remove them entirely.

Expand on relevant skills. Give more detail to the accomplishments that demonstrate your target role capabilities.

Use target industry language. Frame achievements in terms your new industry understands.

Example: Retail Manager to HR Coordinator

Before reordering: - Managed store inventory and product merchandising across 3,000 sq ft retail space - Hired, trained, and developed team of 12 sales associates - Implemented new scheduling system that reduced labor costs by 15% - Achieved 110% of sales targets for 8 consecutive quarters - Handled employee relations issues including performance management and conflict resolution

After reordering for HR role: - Hired, trained, and developed team of 12 employees, conducting interviews, facilitating onboarding, and creating development plans that improved retention by 25% - Handled complex employee relations issues including performance management, conflict resolution, and progressive discipline in compliance with company policies - Implemented scheduling system that optimized labor allocation while maintaining employee satisfaction, reducing costs by 15% - Conducted quarterly performance reviews and provided coaching to drive individual and team goal achievement

Notice what changed: HR-relevant bullets moved to the top, sales achievements removed, and remaining bullets reframed to emphasize people management over sales.

Create a “Relevant Experience” Section

If you have experience in your target field but it came from non-traditional sources, create a dedicated section.

Example structure:

Relevant Digital Marketing Experience

Freelance Social Media Consultant | Self-Employed | 2022-2024 - Managed social media strategy for 3 small business clients, growing combined following by 400% - Created content calendars, designed graphics, and analyzed performance metrics to optimize engagement - Developed paid advertising campaigns with average ROI of 250%

Volunteer Marketing Coordinator | Local Nonprofit | 2021-2022 - Launched email marketing program from scratch, building list to 2,000+ subscribers - Designed marketing materials using Adobe Creative Suite for annual fundraising campaign - Coordinated social media presence across Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn platforms

UX Design Certificate Program | General Assembly | 2023 - Completed 10-week intensive program in user experience design - Built portfolio of 4 client projects including user research, wireframing, and prototyping - Learned Figma, Sketch, InVision, and user testing methodologies

This section appears before or after your primary work experience, depending on how relevant it is. If it’s highly relevant, put it first. If it’s supplementary to strong transferable experience in your main jobs, put it after.

Leverage Non-Traditional Experience

Don’t discount experience just because you weren’t paid for it.

Volunteer leadership roles demonstrate the same capabilities as paid leadership. Leading a nonprofit board committee shows strategic planning, stakeholder management, and organizational skills.

Professional association involvement shows you’re serious about the field. If you’re transitioning to project management and you’ve been attending PMI chapter meetings and volunteering to help organize events, that’s relevant experience.

Side projects and freelance work prove you have hands-on skills. A teacher transitioning to web development can point to websites built for friends, open-source contributions, or freelance projects.

Relevant hobbies or passion projects can demonstrate skills when presented professionally. Running a popular blog shows content creation and audience building. Managing a community Discord server demonstrates community management and moderation skills.

How to present non-traditional experience professionally:

Weak: “I run a blog in my free time”

Strong: Content Creator | Personal Finance Blog | 2020-Present - Publish weekly blog posts on financial literacy topics, growing readership to 5,000 monthly visitors - Developed SEO strategy that improved organic search traffic by 300% - Create data visualizations and infographics to explain complex financial concepts - Monetized through affiliate partnerships and sponsorships, generating $15K annually

The strong version treats the blog like any professional experience, with measurable results and specific skills demonstrated.

The Skills Section Strategy

Your skills section is critical for career changers because it’s where you show you have the technical requirements for your target role, even if you haven’t held the exact job title before.

Two-Tier Skills Approach

Organize your skills to emphasize what matters most for your target role.

Tier 1: Target Industry Must-Haves

These are the skills from job descriptions in your target field. They should appear first and most prominently.

For a teacher transitioning to instructional designer:

Technical Skills: Articulate Storyline 360 | Adobe Captivate | Camtasia | SCORM/xAPI | Learning Management Systems (Canvas, Moodle, Blackboard) | HTML/CSS Basics | Video Editing

Why these: These are the specific tools instructional designers use. Even if you learned them through self-study or a certificate program, listing them prominently shows you can do the job.

Tier 2: Transferable Professional Skills

These support your candidacy by showing broader capabilities.

Professional Skills: Curriculum Development | Learning Assessment & Evaluation | Adult Learning Theory | Project Management | Stakeholder Communication | Data-Driven Instruction | Accessibility Standards (WCAG) | Agile Methodologies

Why these: These skills show you understand the broader context of instructional design, not just the tools.

Skills Section Formats

Simple list format (works for most ATS):

Technical Skills: Python, R, SQL, Tableau, Excel (Advanced), Power BI, Statistical Analysis, Machine Learning, Data Visualization

Professional Skills: Project Management, Stakeholder Communication, Business Analysis, Process Improvement, Strategic Planning

Categorized format (better for humans, still ATS-friendly):

Data & Analytics: Python (Pandas, NumPy, Scikit-learn), R, SQL, Excel (Advanced Functions, Pivot Tables, VBA), Tableau, Power BI

Project & Process Management: Agile/Scrum, Waterfall, Microsoft Project, Asana, Process Mapping, Lean Six Sigma

Communication & Leadership: Executive Presentation, Technical Writing, Stakeholder Management, Team Leadership, Training & Development

Table format (least ATS-friendly, use only for PDF submissions):

Technical Skills	Proficiency
Python (Pandas, NumPy)	Advanced
SQL	Advanced
Tableau	Intermediate
R	Intermediate

Best practice: Use simple or categorized formats. Avoid tables unless you’re certain the resume won’t go through ATS.

How to List Skills You’re Still Learning

Be honest but strategic.

Don’t list skills you can’t actually use. If you took one online course in Python but can’t write functional code, don’t list it.

Do list skills you’re actively developing. If you’re halfway through a certification program or bootcamp and can demonstrate the skill, include it.

Consider adding proficiency levels for clarity:

Data Analysis: Python (Advanced), R (Intermediate), SAS (Basic)

This shows you have Python expertise while being transparent that you’re still building R and SAS capabilities.

Highlight what you’re learning in your summary or education: “Currently completing Google Data Analytics Certificate (expected completion March 2025)”

This shows initiative and explains why certain skills might be newer additions.

Skills Section Red Flags to Avoid

Listing too many skills: A list of 40 skills suggests you’re not actually proficient in any of them. Aim for 12-20 most relevant skills.

Listing outdated skills: If you’re targeting modern roles, “MS-DOS” and “WordPerfect” don’t belong on your resume.

Listing obvious skills: Don’t waste space on “Microsoft Word” or “Email” unless the job specifically asks for it.

Listing skills that contradict your career change: If you’re leaving finance for UX design, don’t lead your skills section with “Financial Modeling” and “Derivatives Trading.”

Keyword stuffing: Don’t list “Project Management, Program Management, Project Coordinator, Project Lead, Project Manager” thinking it helps ATS. It looks desperate and wastes space.

Addressing the Career Change Head-On

Don’t make recruiters guess why someone with your background is applying to their role. Address the career change proactively.

In Your Resume

Professional summary states your transition clearly: Don’t: “Marketing professional with 6 years of experience” Do: “Marketing professional with 6 years of experience transitioning to UX design”

Show relevant education and training: If you completed a bootcamp, certificate program, or relevant coursework, make sure it’s visible. This shows your career change is intentional, not impulsive.

Highlight transferable skills prominently: Use your skills section and bullet points to show capabilities that directly apply to your target role.

Include relevant volunteer or project work: If you’ve been building experience in your target field through side projects or volunteer work, dedicate a section to it.

In Your Cover Letter

Your cover letter gives you space to tell the story your resume can’t fully convey.

Address the change directly in the opening: “As a teacher with eight years of curriculum development experience, I’m excited to transition into corporate instructional design, where I can apply my expertise in learning theory and adult education to create impactful training programs.”

Explain your motivation briefly: You don’t need three paragraphs, but one sentence helps: “After designing learning experiences for diverse student populations and seeing the direct impact of effective instruction, I’m ready to apply these skills in the corporate learning environment.”

Connect past experience to future goals: Show how your background prepares you for this new role: “My experience developing differentiated curriculum for 150+ students has taught me to assess learner needs, design engaging content, and measure learning outcomes—skills that translate directly to corporate L&D.”

Show you’ve done your homework: Mention something specific about the company or role that attracted you: “I’m particularly drawn to your company’s focus on microlearning and mobile-first training design, approaches I’ve successfully used in my classroom.”

Demonstrate commitment: Point to concrete actions you’ve taken: “To prepare for this transition, I completed the ATD Instructional Design Certificate and built a portfolio of e-learning modules using Articulate Storyline.”

Cover Letter Template for Career Changers

Use this structure and customize it for your specific situation:

Opening paragraph:

As a [current profession] with [X years] of experience in [transferable skills/areas], I’m excited to transition into [target role] at [Company]. My background in [relevant area] has prepared me to excel in [target responsibility], and I’m eager to bring my [unique perspective/skills] to your team.

Second paragraph:

In my current role, I’ve developed expertise in [transferable skill #1], [transferable skill #2], and [transferable skill #3]. For example, [specific achievement that demonstrates relevant capability]. This experience has given me [insight or capability that applies to new role].

Third paragraph:

To ensure I’m prepared for this career transition, I’ve [completed certification/built portfolio/gained experience through]. Through [bootcamp/courses/projects], I’ve developed proficiency in [target industry skills]. My portfolio demonstrates [specific capability], including [concrete example].

Fourth paragraph:

I’m particularly drawn to [Company] because [specific reason related to company mission, values, or approach]. [Something you noticed about their work that resonates]. I’m confident my combination of [transferable experience] and [new skills] would allow me to contribute to [specific team goal or company initiative].

Closing:

I’d welcome the opportunity to discuss how my background in [previous field] and passion for [new field] can add value to your team. Thank you for considering my application.

Building Credibility for Your Career Change

Actions speak louder than words. The most successful career changers back up their resumes with concrete evidence of commitment and capability.

Education and Certifications

Formal education shows you’re serious about the transition. If you took time off to pursue education or experienced employment gaps during your transition, our guide on explaining employment gaps on your resume provides specific strategies for addressing these periods positively.

Relevant degrees or bootcamps:

• Full degree programs (Bachelor’s, Master’s in target field)
• Intensive bootcamps (coding bootcamps, UX design bootcamps, data science programs)
• Certificate programs from respected institutions

Industry certifications:

• PMP (Project Management Professional) for project management roles
• SHRM-CP or PHR for human resources
• CPA for accounting roles
• CompTIA Security+, CISSP for cybersecurity
• Google Analytics, HubSpot certifications for marketing
• AWS or Azure certifications for cloud roles

Online courses (when substantial):

• Coursera specializations or professional certificates
• edX MicroMasters programs
• Udacity nanodegrees
• LinkedIn Learning paths (when comprehensive)

Professional development workshops:

• Industry conference workshops
• Professional association training
• Employer-sponsored development programs

How to list education for career changers:

If it’s recent and highly relevant, feature it prominently:

Education

UX Design Immersive Program

General Assembly

2023

• 480-hour intensive program in user experience design, user research, and prototyping
• Completed 4 client projects from user research through high-fidelity prototypes
• Skills: User Research, Wireframing, Prototyping, Usability Testing, Figma, Sketch, InVision

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

University of State

2015

If it’s supplementary, list it under education or professional development:

Professional Development

• Google Project Management Professional Certificate, Coursera (2024)
• Agile Scrum Master Certification, Scrum Alliance (2023)
• Leadership Development Program, Current Employer (2022)

Portfolio and Projects

For many career changers, a portfolio is what gets you the interview.

GitHub repositories (for tech roles): If you’re moving into software development, data science, or technical roles, GitHub shows you can actually code.

Create repositories that demonstrate:

• Clean, documented code
• Real-world problem-solving
• Progression of skill over time
• Contribution to meaningful projects

Design portfolio (for creative roles): UX designers, graphic designers, and product designers need visual portfolios showing:

• Case studies with your process (research, ideation, iterations, final product)
• Before-and-after examples
• Variety of project types
• Clear explanations of your role and decisions

Writing samples (for content roles): Writers, content marketers, and technical writers need samples demonstrating:

• Range of formats (blog posts, white papers, case studies, technical documentation)
• Quality of writing and thinking
• Understanding of audience and purpose
• Results when possible (traffic, engagement, conversions)

Case studies (for strategy and business roles): Business analysts, consultants, and strategy roles benefit from case studies showing:

• Problem identification
• Analysis approach
• Recommendations
• Implementation and results
• Your specific contribution

How to reference your portfolio on your resume:

In your header: Portfolio: www.yourname.com/portfolio | GitHub: github.com/yourname

In a projects section:

Selected Projects

E-Commerce Redesign

Personal Project

2024

• Conducted user research with 15 participants to identify pain points in checkout flow
• Created wireframes and high-fidelity prototypes addressing identified issues
• Usability testing showed 40% improvement in task completion rate
• View case study: www.yourname.com/ecommerce-redesign

In your summary: “…with portfolio of 5 client projects demonstrating user research, wireframing, and prototyping capabilities”

Networking and Association Memberships

Who you know still matters, maybe more for career changers who lack traditional credentials.

Join target industry associations:

• Project Management Institute (PMI) for project managers
• Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) for HR
• American Marketing Association (AMA) for marketers
• UX Professional Association (UXPA) for UX designers
• Women in Technology (WIT) or similar for tech roles

List memberships on your resume:

Professional Affiliations

• Project Management Institute (PMI), Member since 2023
• Agile Alliance, Member since 2024

Attend industry conferences and events: Conferences show you’re learning and networking. If you attend major industry events, consider mentioning them in your cover letter or LinkedIn.

Participate in online communities: Active participation in Slack groups, Discord servers, Reddit communities, or professional forums shows engagement with your target field.

Conduct informational interviews: While you can’t list “informational interviews” on your resume, the knowledge and connections you gain improve your application materials and might lead to referrals.

Find a mentor in your target field: Mentorship demonstrates commitment and gives you someone who can advise on your transition strategy.

Volunteer and Freelance Work

Hands-on experience in your target field, even unpaid, carries significant weight.

Pro bono projects in target field: Offer your emerging skills to nonprofits or small businesses. A teacher learning web development can build websites for local charities. This creates portfolio pieces and real experience.

Freelance gigs for experience: Take small freelance projects, even at lower rates, to build your portfolio and client list. Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer can provide early opportunities.

Volunteer for nonprofits: Many nonprofits need help with marketing, project management, data analysis, or other professional skills. Volunteering gives you legitimate experience to list on your resume.

Contribute to open source: For technical roles, contributing to open-source projects demonstrates skill and commitment to the developer community.

How to list volunteer experience:

If it’s highly relevant, create a “Relevant Experience” section:

Relevant Digital Marketing Experience

Marketing Volunteer

Local Animal Shelter

2023-Present

• Manage social media presence across Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, growing following by 300%
• Design promotional materials for adoption events using Adobe Creative Suite
• Analyze engagement metrics to optimize content strategy, increasing adoption inquiries by 45%

If it’s supplementary, create a “Volunteer Experience” section after your work history:

Volunteer Experience

Web Developer

Nonprofit Website Project

2024

• Built responsive website using React and Node.js for local environmental nonprofit
• Collaborated with stakeholders to gather requirements and deliver user-friendly design
• Implemented content management system to enable non-technical staff to update site

Common Career Change Resume Mistakes

Learn from others’ mistakes. Here are the most common pitfalls and how to avoid them.

Mistake 1: Not Explaining the Career Change

The mistake: Sending a resume with no context about why someone with a teaching background is applying for project management roles.

Why it’s a problem: Hiring managers see disconnects and make assumptions. Maybe you’re just applying everywhere. Maybe you don’t understand what the job involves. Maybe you’ll leave as soon as something in education opens up.

How to fix it: Address the change explicitly in your professional summary and cover letter. Make it clear this is an intentional, well-planned transition.

Example fix: Add to summary: “Elementary teacher with 7 years of experience transitioning to project management, bringing expertise in stakeholder communication, timeline management, and coordinating complex multi-phase projects.”

Mistake 2: Apologizing for Your Background

The mistake: Using language that suggests your previous experience is inadequate or irrelevant.

Examples:

• “Although I don’t have direct experience in marketing…”
• “While my background is in teaching…”
• “Despite coming from a different industry…”

Why it’s a problem: If you’re apologetic about your background, you’re giving hiring managers permission to discount it. You’re also undermining your confidence.

How to fix it: Frame your background as an asset that brings fresh perspective or unique skills.

Instead of: “Although I don’t have direct corporate experience, I’m a fast learner and willing to work hard.”

Say: “My nonprofit program management experience brings a unique perspective on stakeholder engagement and mission-driven project execution that directly applies to corporate social responsibility initiatives.”

Mistake 3: Including Too Much Irrelevant Detail

The mistake: Keeping every bullet point from your previous roles, even when they don’t support your career change.

Why it’s a problem: Irrelevant details dilute your relevant experience and make it harder for hiring managers to see you in the new role. They also make your resume longer than necessary.

How to fix it: Be ruthless. If a bullet point doesn’t demonstrate a transferable skill or relevant accomplishment, cut it or minimize it.

Before (restaurant manager transitioning to operations):

• Managed daily operations of 60-seat restaurant with $2M annual revenue
• Created seasonal menus featuring locally-sourced ingredients
• Coordinated wine pairings for special events and private parties
• Trained staff on food safety and customer service protocols
• Implemented inventory management system reducing waste by 30%
• Handled vendor relationships and negotiated favorable contract terms

After:

• Directed daily operations of high-volume service environment, managing $2M P&L and team of 15 across multiple functional areas
• Implemented inventory management system and staff training that reduced operational waste by 30%, demonstrating data-driven process improvement capabilities
• Managed vendor relationships and contract negotiations, securing 15% cost savings while maintaining quality standards

Notice we cut the menu and wine pairing bullets entirely (not relevant to operations) and consolidated others to emphasize operational management.

Mistake 4: Using Old Industry Jargon

The mistake: Filling your resume with terminology from your previous industry that your target industry doesn’t use or understand.

Why it’s a problem: Industry jargon creates barriers to understanding and makes it harder for hiring managers to see the transferable skills. It also makes you sound like you’re still in your old industry mentally.

How to fix it: Learn the language of your target industry and translate your experience into those terms.

Before (teacher to corporate trainer):

• Developed differentiated instruction strategies for diverse learners
• Created formative and summative assessments aligned with state standards
• Implemented classroom management techniques to optimize learning environment
• Collaborated with IEP team to support students with accommodations

After:

• Designed customized learning programs addressing varied skill levels and learning styles across diverse participant groups
• Created assessment tools to measure knowledge retention and training effectiveness
• Implemented engagement strategies that optimized learning outcomes in group settings
• Collaborated with stakeholders to develop individualized development plans and accommodations

The second version conveys the same skills but in language corporate trainers use.

Mistake 5: Neglecting to Show Preparation

The mistake: Applying for a career change with nothing but your existing work experience—no courses, no certifications, no projects, no relevant volunteer work.

Why it’s a problem: It suggests your career change is impulsive or that you’re not serious about it. Hiring managers wonder if you’ll actually stick with it or if this is just a whim.

How to fix it: Before applying heavily, take tangible steps toward your new career and showcase them on your resume.

Minimum preparation for credibility:

• At least one relevant certification or course completion
• At least one project or portfolio piece (paid, volunteer, or personal)
• Active learning in the field (reading industry blogs, joining communities, attending events)

Strong preparation:

• Formal education (bootcamp, certificate program, or degree)
• Portfolio with multiple examples
• Freelance or volunteer experience
• Industry networking and association membership
• Mentorship or informational interviews completed

Mistake 6: Making It All About You

The mistake: Focusing your resume and cover letter entirely on what you want from the career change rather than what you offer.

Why it’s a problem: Employers care about solving their problems, not about your personal career journey.

Before: “I’m looking to transition into UX design because I’m passionate about creating beautiful digital experiences and I’ve always been a creative person who loves problem-solving.”

After: “My background in marketing analytics and consumer research has prepared me to approach UX design with a data-driven, user-centered methodology that delivers measurable improvements in user engagement and conversion.”

The first is about you. The second is about what you bring to the employer.

Mistake 7: Ignoring ATS Optimization

The mistake: Writing a beautiful resume that’s completely formatted for human readers while ignoring that it needs to get through ATS first.

Why it’s a problem: Your carefully crafted career change narrative doesn’t matter if your resume gets filtered out before a human sees it.

How to fix it: See the ATS section below for detailed strategies.

ATS Optimization for Career Changers

Applicant Tracking Systems present a special challenge for career changers. You need to include the right keywords even though your job titles and experience might not naturally contain them. (For comprehensive ATS strategies, see our complete guide to ATS-friendly resumes.)

Understanding How ATS Works

ATS software scans resumes for keywords, skills, job titles, and other criteria from the job description. Resumes that match well get higher scores and move forward. Resumes that don’t match get filtered out.

The challenge for career changers: Your previous job titles, company names, and experience might not contain the exact keywords the ATS is looking for.

Example: A job posting for “Product Manager” might scan for:

• Product management
• Product development
• Roadmap planning
• Stakeholder management
• Agile/Scrum
• User stories
• A/B testing
• Cross-functional collaboration

If you’re coming from a project management background, you might have many of these skills but your resume says “project management” everywhere instead of “product management.”

Keyword Strategy for Career Changers

Step 1: Study target job descriptions thoroughly

Don’t just read one job posting. Read 10-15 in your target role and identify patterns.

Make a list of:

• Required skills that appear in most postings
• Preferred qualifications mentioned frequently
• Tools and technologies mentioned
• Specific terminology and phrases
• Certifications or education requirements

Step 2: Identify must-have keywords

From your analysis, identify the 10-15 keywords that appear most frequently and seem most important.

For a data analyst role, these might be:

• Data analysis
• SQL
• Python or R
• Tableau or Power BI
• Statistical analysis
• Data visualization
• Business intelligence
• Excel (advanced)
• Dashboard development
• Cross-functional collaboration

Step 3: Incorporate keywords naturally throughout your resume

Place keywords strategically in:

• Professional summary
• Skills section
• Bullet points in work experience
• Project descriptions
• Education and certifications

Bad (keyword stuffing): “Experienced data analyst with SQL, Python, R, Tableau, Power BI, Excel, data visualization, statistical analysis, business intelligence, and dashboard development skills.”

Good (natural incorporation): “Analyst with 5 years of experience using SQL and Python to perform statistical analysis and create data visualizations. Built 15+ interactive dashboards in Tableau to support business intelligence and cross-functional decision-making.”

Step 4: Use both acronyms and full terms

ATS might search for either version, so include both when it makes sense.

• “Project Management Professional (PMP)” not just “PMP”
• “Search Engine Optimization (SEO)” not just “SEO”
• “Customer Relationship Management (CRM)” not just “CRM”

Step 5: Don’t keyword stuff

Resist the temptation to just list every keyword from the job description. ATS algorithms are getting smarter and can detect keyword stuffing. More importantly, humans will read your resume eventually, and keyword stuffing looks desperate.

Skills Section Importance for ATS

Your skills section is one of the most important parts of your resume for ATS purposes.

Why: Many ATS systems parse the skills section specifically and give it heavy weight in matching.

Strategy:

Put target industry skills first and most prominently:

Technical Skills: Salesforce, HubSpot, Google Analytics, SQL, Excel (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP, Macros), Marketing Automation, A/B Testing

Professional Skills: Cross-Functional Collaboration, Stakeholder Management, Project Management, Data-Driven Decision Making, Strategic Planning

Match language from job postings exactly:

If the job posting says “stakeholder management,” use “stakeholder management” not “stakeholder communication” or “stakeholder relations.”

If it says “cross-functional collaboration,” use those exact words.

Include both technical and soft skills:

ATS often searches for both. Don’t assume soft skills don’t matter just because they’re harder to measure.

Prioritize relevance over experience level:

If you’re newer to SQL but it’s a must-have for the role, include it. You can indicate proficiency levels if needed: “SQL (Intermediate)” or describe your experience level in a bullet point.

Format Considerations for ATS

Use a simple, clean format:

• Standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Georgia, Times New Roman)
• Clear section headings
• Standard section names (Work Experience, not “My Professional Journey”)
• No headers or footers containing important information
• No text boxes or graphics containing text
• No tables (they often confuse ATS)

Use standard section headings:

• Professional Summary (not “About Me”)
• Work Experience (not “Career History”)
• Education (not “Academic Background”)
• Skills (not “Core Competencies,” though this is usually acceptable)

File format matters:

• .docx is usually safest for ATS
• PDF works with most modern ATS but not all
• When in doubt, submit both if the application allows

Include a standard chronological section:

Even if you use a combination or functional format, include a clear work history section with:

• Job titles
• Company names
• Dates of employment
• Location

ATS looks for these data points specifically.

Make Your Career Change with Resume Refiner

Career changes require more than just updating your resume. You need to translate your experience into a new industry’s language, identify and highlight transferable skills, and optimize for both ATS and human readers who might be skeptical of non-traditional candidates.

Resume Refiner is built specifically for this challenge. Upload your current resume and a job description from your target field, and our tool will:

• Identify which of your current skills transfer to your target role
• Suggest how to reframe your achievements in target industry language
• Highlight keywords you’re missing from the job description
• Provide specific recommendations for strengthening your career change positioning
• Score your resume against ATS requirements

Whether you’re making a slight pivot or a complete career reinvention, Resume Refiner gives you the tailored feedback you need to position yourself as a strong candidate despite not having the traditional background.

Your previous experience isn’t a liability. With the right positioning, it becomes your unique advantage.