The coronavirus pandemic has certainly taken a toll on the economy and the job market. Industries that were previously thriving and had weathered other downturns are now struggling to stay afloat. Some businesses have shifted their service or product offerings to appeal to current needs and continue operating. And unfortunately, some companies have been forced to close.
All of this turmoil has left job seekers in a tough situation. Many people are looking to transition out of their current industry and into one that is more stable for now and has more job opportunities. But then the question becomes, how do you adjust your resume accordingly to show that you’re a good fit and can make the switch?
Explore your options. Look through available job openings and find what interests you. While you may be willing to take virtually any job, that could actually hurt your job search more than help it. Rather than taking the “spray and pray” approach where you apply for everything and hope for anything, focus your efforts on a few specific types of jobs or companies. This way, you can better target your resume to appeal to what hiring managers are looking for.
Look for similarities. A lot of positions require the same types of skills, just applied in different ways. For example, if you’re switching from teaching to sales, both require you to be able to present information in an easily understood manner and gain buy-in. If you’re going from hospitality to an office environment, you may be able to lean on your exceptional customer service, scheduling, or organizational skills. Find areas where there is overlap.
Adjust the terminology. While you may not have to change what some of your bullet points say, you may need to change how they say it. Look for jargon that is specific to your current industry that others may not be incredibly familiar with, and adjust it to include more layman’s terms. Incorporate key terms from the industry you want to shift into as well. For instance, in manufacturing, CPU could mean ‘cost per unit’ where as in technology, it often refers to a ‘central processing unit.’ And CMS could stand for ‘content management system’ in marketing, but ‘Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ in healthcare. Keep your audience in mind, and put information in terms that are clear and concise.
Emphasize soft skills. You may not have some of the technical or industry-specific skills an employer is looking for, but you can still show your strong leadership, management, or organizational skills. Demonstrate that you’re able to lead teams, resolve problems, and improve processes, and that is something you can do regardless of industry.
Fill in gaps. If there are areas where you are lacking in the field you want to move into, be proactive in getting the training you need. Sign up for online courses or trainings. Include on your resume that certain certifications are in progress, or you anticipate completing them by a given date. You want a future employer to see that you are open to learning new things and making the effort to become more familiar with the industry and what you need to be successful.
A lot of people have been forced to look at other industries and roles outside of what they’ve always done in order to adjust. Making that change can be challenging, but chances are, you already have a lot of valuable information on your resume, and you just need to tweak how it’s presented. The team at Grammar Chic can help you polish up your resume for whatever job you’re seeking so you can feel more confident in your job search. Contact us today at (803) 831-7444 or resumewriting@grammarchic.net to schedule a consultation and get started!
