The Unemployed Life

Writing a Résumé for Your Next Career

This year, the news has been dominated by job loss news and unemployment statistics. (Well, that and Susan Boyle.) But an interesting trend and bright spot is emerging amidst all of this turmoil: Some workers are taking the time between jobs to re-evaluate their lives in terms of purpose and direction. Many have been stuck in careers that gave them little to no internal satisfaction or reward; instead of standing around clutching their pink slips, they are using this opportunity to reinvent themselves. (Read our recent story Exquisite Reinvention.)

Building a new career identity isn’t a quick and easy process; it takes some critical thinking and research. Career coaches can help you uncover what excites you, and reveal strengths and transferable skill sets. Books such as What Color is Your Parachute and StrengthsFinder provide similar support.

And once you figure out what you want to do? It’s time to officially launch “You, Version 2.0.” Many people dread overhauling their  résumés, but it’s especially important to do so thoughtfully if you’re trying to leap into a new field. You need to successfully convey the experience, abilities and expertise that you bring from your old line of work to your new. Here are some guidelines to follow:

1. Ditch the objective statement. Objective statements are passive, ineffective and redundant. Of course you are a dynamic person looking for a challenging position in a growing company—that’s why you are applying!  Instead, use this opportunity to brand yourself. Develop a job title headline instead, a title at the top of the résumé that either is a position title you’ve held, or in the case of reinventing yourself, a fair and accurate summary of your background.

Want more? Read how our Gigonomics columnist, John Riha, spun his cover letter for a zookeeper’s job.

2. Provide a summary paragraph. Put it right under your job title headline. Think of this as a short version of your 30-second commercial. It can be an effective way to marry your work history with your passion, position yourself into a new direction, and convey your value.

3. Embrace a functional (or skills-based) résumé. The natural progression of the eye on a résumé is to immediately look for employer, title, company and employment length on a chronological résumé. If you position your skill sets first, you are doing the same thing but focusing their attention on your abilities. This can totally open up new career possibilities.

4. Use your résumé as your guiding document to a new career. Your formal work history can get you most of the way to a new career direction, but it will also show you the gaps you need to fill. Decide on classes you need to take. Want to gain additional skills/experience? Try volunteering at an organization in your target career area. You’ll not only gain that desired background, but also become a known quantity and feel good at the same time.  You can also become a member of key industry groups, which will bolster your professional credentials and standing.

Dawn Rasmussen is president of Pathfinder Writing and Career Services in Portland, Ore. Read more of her job search advice at http://pathfindercareers.blogspot.com/.