I often hear about people making a career transition after many years of doing something that paid well. Finances are solid – money in your 401K or there is a pension for retirement. You finally think it is time to focus on what you really want to do. Only problem – what is that and how do you let other employers know you can do something different?

There are three steps that will help you craft the resume that will get you in the door.

Figure Out What You Want to Do

While this may seem simple to do, in fact it will take more time that you think. Getting clarity on exactly what role, industry and how you want to work is important. This is not the time to be hazy or general about what you could do. Be realistic about what it might take to carry out your career transition.

Research Others Doing What You Want to Do

Once you identify what you want to do, investigate if you really want to do it. Will a career transition involve…

  • More education
  • Specialized training
  • Industry experience
  • Salary cut
  • Change in place
  • Change in working hours
  • Tapping into a strong personal network
  • An impact on your relationship
  • A strong marketing plan

Each of these factors are possible deal breakers in your new career transition plan. If so, revisit your list of careers that you want to move into and analyze the next one on the list.

Once you know what you want to do in your career transition, it is time to create your resume.

Craft a Resume that Speaks to Your Career Transition Goal

It is up to you to tell the story about your career. The art of connecting the dots between where you have been (skills and experience) to where you want to go (career transition role) requires a strong resume. A successful resume tells your story – how your skills and experiences are transferable into the new role.

If your resume is too general, most likely you will be overlooked. A stand out resume will make the interviewer think – is this the person I have been looking for?

In summary, to avoid redoing your resume multiple times, reflect on what you really want to do and if you can do it. No sense wasting time on a resume that serves no purpose.