Be prepared to speak to those in the interview, as well as
emphasize the transferrable skills you have.
It is often argued that a functional resume can be effective for a career change, to
emphasize the transferrable skills versus actual role you previously held.
While it's definitely important to ensure your experience and the needs of the organization are a match, don't forget to include and
emphasize transferrable skills: skills you have developed that can be beneficial at any organization or job.
If you're changing career, you may also want to take this opportunity for
emphasizing your transferrable skills.
In each section,
emphasize transferrable skills and experience.
Not exact matches
For those looking to enter a new field, this format
emphasizes achievements and
transferrable skills.
For those looking to enter a new field or who are applying for seasonal jobs, this format
emphasizes your achievements and
transferrable skills so that hiring managers can quickly discern whether you are qualified for the role.
After all, this format
emphasizes your
skills, which may be
transferrable, and draws attention away from your work experience, which may not directly correlate with the job you're applying for.
Dave asks: What is the best way to
emphasize transferrable, functional
skills when pursuing jobs in a different industry or with a slightly different focus, e.g. B2B vs. B2C?
Do this by
emphasizing the distinct knowledge set and
transferrable skills that meet job description specifications.
If you're writing a functional resume, you'll want to make this section more detailed than normal — using it to
emphasize your relevant accomplishments at past jobs as well as your
transferrable skills and abilities.
When applying for a job you're excited about, it makes more sense to
emphasize your qualifications and
transferrable skills (something an experienced resume writer is great at) than to overstate your experience and risk getting caught.
If your previous work experience is not relevant, list your past work by job title instead of employer to
emphasize your versatility and
transferrable skills.
Emphasize skills that are
transferrable and relevant to jobs in engineering.