Writing a Career Change CV

If you are looking to change career then there are various things to consider before you take the plunge. Probably the first thing to do is to assess whether or not you have what it takes not only to do the job, but also to get the job. Please note there is a significant distinction between the two. For example, if you are really good with numbers, and have read up about taxation then yes, you may well be able to complete tax returns, however, if you have never worked in accounts and don’t have relevant qualifications and then your chances of landing a job as an accountant are very slim indeed.

One main reason for this is that the job market is very strong at the moment, and it is extremely likely that you will be up against other good candidates.

With competition the way it is, it is hard enough to land a good job, even when it is in with your area of experience/expertise. This truth is compounded yet further when you try to change career, because almost inevitably you will be competing with people with more relevant qualifications, and more hands-on experience.

It doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t change career. However, it does mean that frequently you need to be a lot more creative and resourceful when it comes to writing your CV.

Some people (and some companies), seem to think that it is just a matter of adding some generic transferable skills to your CV and hey presto you are suddenly transferred into an expert/specialist in a new field. The reality however, doesn’t work like that. Employers are not stupid, on the contrary most are very discerning, so you need to go a lot further if you are to not only whet their appetite, but also go beyond that and get them to notice you, rather than the competition.

It’s not impossible, on the contrary, frequently it is perfectly feasible. However, there is an awful lot more to it than meets the eye, and if you want the best results then it does take a lot of thought, creativity and lateral thinking.

Oh, and plenty of CV writing experience!