You’re making a career change. What are the best resume templates to use?

A chronological resume highlighting the Employer, Job Title, Roles/Responsibilities with proper TechStack or key skills is helpful. It should not be very lengthy, but a crisp summary of responsibilities helps recruiters to reach out to you with the right job opportunity. Start with a brief summary on the top of resume, with a quick overview of your expectations from your next career move. Chronological CV should largely cover: 1. Summary 2. Professional Skills: 3. Soft Skills: 4. Chronological Employment History 5. Education Details: 6. Certifications/Trainings: 7. Interests/Hobbies:

If you are targeting a profile similar to your current profile then chronological resume makes sense. Always, as a rule, choose a reverse chronology. And be honest in mentioning your work experience dates correctly - including the gap years.

Ah, the resume! A 2 page English paper to describe what value you bring to an organization. I have made a new version of my resume for every job I have applied to and they have all taken the format of a Chronological resume. The Chronological resume is a solid format that can show progression in both responsibility and accomplishments which, we all believe, is what organizations want to see. Be diligent enough to talk about accomplishments in your various roles and not just what they asked you to do. For each role you have held try to find some metrics that describe the ways you saved the organization money, made the organization money or improved on efficiencies. Be sure to list education, community service and certifications.

Highlights of solutions brought to the department the candidate was working in and all knowledge gained. In sales roles show your progression in ranks and area of coverage. Policy and process development is also key when trying to join as a Director level or higher role.

I personally believe the best resume format for job seekers in 2024 is the reverse-chronological format. This format lists your work experience and education starting with your most recent position or degree and working backwards. Here's why it's a good choice: • It's easy to read and scan: Recruiters spend very little time looking at each resume, so a clear and scannable format is crucial. • It's familiar to hiring managers: Reverse-chronological is the most widely used format, so hiring managers are comfortable with it. • It's Applicant Tracking System (ATS) friendly: Many companies use ATS software to scan resumes for keywords. A well-formatted resume is easier for the ATS to parse.

A chronological resume that includes a summary at the top highlighting any skills or accomplishments that align with the job you are seeking. A cover letter detailing how your experience relates and why you are looking for a career change could be helpful as well.

A chronological resume is like a timeline of your work history. You start with your most recent job and list your past jobs in reverse order. This helps employers see how your career has progressed over time. Each job listing includes details like your job title, the company you worked for, and the dates you worked there. Under each job, you can also include bullet points to highlight your accomplishments and responsibilities. This type of resume is great if you have a strong work history in the same field and want to show your career growth. Just remember to keep it simple and easy to read for employers.

It is usefull to prepare a chronological CV, given that Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are designed to request information in this format. If you are pursuing a career reorientation, identify and emphasize in each of the previous roles the transferable skills and relevant experience for the position you are targeting.

A client, let's call her Sarah, was transitioning from a project management role in construction to a similar position in the technology sector. Despite her extensive experience, her current resume, following a chronological format, didn't effectively highlight her transferable skills or passion for technology. I recommended restructuring her resume to focus on key accomplishments and skills relevant to the technology field. By showcasing her project management expertise, problem-solving abilities, and proficiency in relevant software, Sarah's new chronological resume successfully positioned her as a strong candidate in her desired industry.

When making a career change, consider using a resume template that highlights transferable skills and relevant experiences. Functional or combination resume formats work well in this scenario, allowing you to emphasize skills and achievements rather than a chronological work history. Look for templates with sections that showcase key qualifications, accomplishments, and a compelling career summary or objective statement. Additionally, choose a clean and professional design that is easy to read and visually appealing. Online platforms like Canva, Microsoft Word, or Google Docs offer a variety of customizable resume templates suitable for career changers.

Functional resumes are a red flag to a recruiter that you do not have the work experience they desire. Instead of using a functional format, try a hybrid between chronological and functional. Keep your companies, titles, dates, and descriptions in the document, while leading in with a summary and key points that demonstrate your qualifications and transferrable skills.

Think about the skills that recur in many of the roles where you've really thrived. Certain themes probably recur. Those repeatable skills, or talents, are likely to be the "Eight-Lane Highway in your Head". Some of communications-focused Some of may be about collaboration-based Many may be attached to a specific market, technology, tool or business function. You want to be able to get across to those that are reviewing your resume (Hiring Managers, HR, Agency Recruiters, and other people that may refer you on to leads in their network) what is most likely to be fertile ground for your success in the next role. Once you get these skills distilled down to the essentials, i.e. not saying the same thing in different ways, You're ready

When making a career change, a functional resume can be an excellent choice. This format allows you to emphasize your relevant skills and achievements, which is particularly useful when your work history may not directly align with your new career path. Use the below structure. 1. Header 2. Skills 3. Professional Experience 4. Education 5. Additional Section

A functional resume is what you want for a career transition. Especially if you are coming out of a military career. This is a good way for you to highlight the skills you gained in the military that translate to corporate America because it can be harder for non-veteran hiring managers to derive that on their own. This is also what I recommend for contractors, there is no need to describe each role you have had in detail, group like ones together and do one role description that incorporates all of them.

Another client, David, sought to transition from a sales role in retail to a customer service position in the hospitality industry. However, his chronological resume didn't adequately emphasize his customer-centric skills and experiences. To address this, I suggested using a functional resume format, which allowed David to spotlight his customer service skills, communication abilities, and problem-solving techniques at the forefront. By organizing his resume based on functional skill categories rather than job history, David's resume effectively showcased his qualifications for his desired role in hospitality.

In my experience, recruiters and hiring managers discourage job seekers from using a Functional resume because it can leave a lot of context out and signal to them that candidates have information they are hiding. Additionally, all resumes should essentially be “targeted”. Industry keywords and desired skills should be seamlessly embedded in the headline, professional summary; skills section, highlights, job descriptions etc.

A hybrid resume is like a mix of different types of resumes. It combines the best parts of both chronological and functional resumes. With a hybrid resume, you start by listing your skills and qualifications at the beginning, which is like a functional resume. Then, you include your work history in chronological order, just like in a traditional resume. This type of resume is great if you want to highlight your skills while also showing your work experience. It's especially useful if you're changing careers or have gaps in your work history. Just make sure to organize it clearly so employers can easily see why you're a good fit for the job.

As a recruiter; I see a lot of resumes and LinkedIn Profiles. LinkedIn does not really set it self up well for the Funtional resume. And from experience, I have found HM's and talent professionals just like chronological resumes best. So The Hybrid resume really comes into its space here. Honestly, people are usually hired for something they have been doing for the past 3-4 years. When going through a job change, its hard to connect the dot. Often the hard industry specific skills can be hard to demonstrate professional proficency (coding JavaScript for example). However, these skills can be learned. It's the attitude that can't be. Constantly be absorbing new information related to your target career, attend clinics/classes and have fun.

This is what I would recommend for anyone with more than 5 years of experience. I recommend everyone use a summary of skills in bullet for at the top of their resume to highlight technologies they have experience with, certifications, and so on, then continue with a chronological list of their experience but i would also not go back more than ten years, especially if their experience does not relate to what they are applying. For instance, I used to do more PR related work, now I do more HR related work. My Pr experience can be summed up in a bullet point in my summary section.

One of my clients, Emily, was navigating a career change from teaching to instructional design. While she possessed relevant skills from her teaching experience, she lacked formal instructional design roles. A hybrid resume, combining elements of both chronological and functional formats, proved ideal for Emily. This format allowed her to highlight her teaching achievements and classroom management skills while also emphasizing her educational background and relevant certifications in instructional design. The hybrid resume effectively showcased Emily's qualifications for her desired career transition.

I always recommend keeping it clean and well-organized. Listing specific skills that are relevant to the job you are applying for at the top can generate interest. The hiring manager may not get past the first position if it does not look relevant to the role they are hoping to fill. Many HR professionals are very busy. Getting their attention with relevant skills up-front may help your resume make it to the hiring manager. If you struggle to create an attractive resume, seek out a professional. Using MS Word may not be a necessity for the role you are applying for.

A hybrid resume helps to tell your career "story" better for career transitions. Recruiters are looking for your name, what you do, and how many years you have been doing it first. Next, tell them where you are (city and state) and how to reach you. Ditch the resume objective. Everyone knows you're objective is to get a job. Replace this with a professional summary of no more than 3 lines. In almost all circumstances, skills should be next. If you're able to break them into common categories that are applicable to the role, it helps the reader. Follow skills with your reverse chronological professional experience, then education and certifications. To be more personable, end with a community service section for volunteer work.

In my experience, I feel this is the best all round version of a CV/resume which can highlight your key skills, experiences and what you can bring to the table. I would pay close attention to the profile section and try to ensure you don’t fall into the generic buzzword pitfalls that I see too often, but to keep it clear, specific to who you are, for how long you have worked on your career, and what you can offer a new employer. This is the hook! Use it wisely.

I like the idea of ditching the objective - you’re right ! Summary needs to include what action words though? Based on the role description?

To transition to a new career, tailor your resume to the specific field you're targeting instead of using a generic template. Identify ways to make your previous experience relevant to the new field and assess if it's impactful and transferable. If not, consider gaining additional experience through freelance work or other activities such as competitions, research, or training. Thats what I did when I transition from HR generalist to Stakeholder Management to L&D in the past 15-years of experience.

A targeted, hybrid resume is the top choice for many, but especially so for career changers. I worked with a tenured communications professor who wanted to transition to corporate consulting. We identified elements of her background that were either directly applicable or clearly transferable and left the rest behind. We spent two hours together exploring her career to create a compelling story that did not diminish her accomplishments as a professor, but showcased how she could parlay this into a new sector. Her new resume focused less on her direct student contact and more on how she served as a trusted advisor to her colleagues. It turns out this is exactly what a national consulting firm needed and she happily accepted their offer.

When exploring a change in career, a targeted resume is a valuable tool, however, I always caution candidates to be VERY cognizant of which version of their resume they are attaching to an application. There is nothing worse than submitting a resume that highlights the wrong skillset or job title. My best recommendation is always to create a resume that's representative of a function, job family or broader skillset, as opposed to a specific job title. To show more nuanced interest in a company or position, I would utilize a custom objective statement, or even cover letter.

In another instance, John was transitioning from a finance role in banking to a financial analyst position in the healthcare industry. His chronological resume outlined his banking experience but didn't align with the specific requirements of the healthcare sector. To address this, I crafted a targeted resume tailored to the financial analyst role in healthcare. By customizing his resume to emphasize his analytical skills, financial modeling expertise, and understanding of healthcare regulations, John's targeted resume resonated with employers in the healthcare industry, ultimately leading to interviews and job offers.

I changed my career from academia to environmental consulting after serving more than two decades as an educator and a researcher. I found that targetted resume is the right type in such a situation. Academics value long resumes but in industry "short and sweet" concept works well with a focus in transferable skills (I changed my resume from 18 pages to 4 pages). Add a short narrative summarising your training, expertise and work experience. Align your skills and experience with the job description. Focus on recent relevant projects. Include only key publications. Find references in the related field. All the best!

I changed my career from academia to environmental consulting after serving more than two decades as an educator and a researcher. I found that targetted resume is the right type in such a situation. Academics value long resumes but in industry "short and sweet" concept works well with a focus in transferable skills (I changed my resume from 18 pages to 4 pages). Add a short narrative summarising your training, expertise and work experience. Align your skills and experience with the job description. Focus on recent relevant projects. Include only key publications. Find references in the related field. All the best!

In my experience, recruiters and hiring managers discourage job seekers from using a Functional resume because it can leave a lot of context out and signal to them that candidates have information they are hiding. Additionally, all resumes should essentially be “targeted”. Industry keywords and desired skills should be seamlessly embedded in the headline, professional summary; skills section, highlights, job descriptions etc.

Target niche industry and skill sets that align with your experience. Then make a separate tailored resume specific to each company you apply to.

I create a new resume for each position I am applying for. Paying attention to the details of the position description and aligning my skills and experience with the role itself.

For a career changer w/ many transferable skills this targeted approach works best in my opinion. Employers expect to train new hires how to do a job specifically at their company so the resume has to show how your previous experience translates to similar concepts the position is looking for. Incorporating verbiage and concepts from the company’s mission/vision/values statement can definitely help stand out of the crowd. I believe the idea of quality over quantity when it comes to the job search/application process. Students learning the transferability of their previous work to their target internship or entry-level position is what makes my day 🥰 You can just feel the empowerment exuding from the student at that point!

The best resume is concise, clear, and easy to read. Do not include unnecessary personal information, photos, or non-professional "interests" that take away from valuable real estate to highlight your work experience. Utilize consistent font, and format, and capitalize on space within reason. Recruiters want a relevant synopsis of your experience, so maintaining a simple bulleted format rather than paragraphs, keeping margins and font to a standard size will allow for easy review of your key skills and experiences. Make sure to proofread the document (or better yet have someone else review), and ALWAYS double check your contact information. Recruiters can't contact you if your email or phone number are incorrect!

Throughout my experience, I've learned the importance of selecting the right resume template based on the individual's career goals, experiences, and target industry. It's essential to choose a template that effectively showcases relevant skills and experiences while also aligning with the industry norms and preferences. Additionally, I emphasize the significance of tailoring the resume template to highlight key qualifications and achievements that demonstrate the candidate's fit for the desired role. By providing personalized guidance on resume templates and customization techniques, I've helped numerous clients successfully navigate career transitions and secure opportunities in their desired fields.

When you choose a resume template make sure the design astatic is not taking up unnecessary space. Ideally resumes are 1-2 pages and you need to use the space wisely. Also, make sure you are able to easily edit it. A lot of templates can be finicky. Unless you are in a creative field, simple is the best. I have never seen a resume design help a candidate, but I have seen formatting issues from overly complicated templates. And I always recommend saving a PDF version of your resume as it is less likely to be distorted by companies' applicant tracking systems that you apply through. Do save the word version as well for easier editing.

If you want to stand out from the crowd don’t use a “template.” There are specific formats to use depending on why you are transitioning, what transferable skills you have, and the industry you are transitioning to. Also it has been many years now that “Times New Roman” has been considered an “outdated” font. Again depending on the industry, the career path, and your own personality all play into the design. There are many things to consider that cannot be fully explained here. A good certified resume writer is worth their weight in gold.

An effective resume must be simple and easy to follow, without excessive images or logos. Avoid loading the document with too many columns or redundant details, as well as using a wide variety of fonts and colors. It is important to try looking at the resume through the eyes of the recruiter - is it easy to read? Can he understand your responsibilities even if he is not an expert in your field? Is it obvious what your impact and performance was? Use numbers and measurable achievements to concisely and convincingly express the impact you've had at each company you've worked for.

Before worrying about which breed of resume to use ("template" sounds so rigid), analyze the jobs you are leaning toward and identify what they want in education, training, skills, and related experience. Match your background with education, training, and experiences. Recall how well you did...your results. Keep going until you have assured yourself you have enough matches to make a solid case. Don't fall into the trap of worrying about not meeting all "requirements." Neither will many of the candidates in the same field. Once you feel comfortable in what you have to present...then determine how to do so. Try on existing formats to see which fit. Don't be afraid to invent your own. If stuck...try on different professionals.

As long as you are providing a text-based, achievement-filled resume that is in a top to bottom, left to right format, the template doesn't matter. Do NOT use Canva or another illustration tool to create your resume. No one needs fancy fonts, colors, doodaws, and widgets. They simply want to scan and find the information. Definitely use BOLD for achievements so they stand out.

I always advise against Times New Roman, you have to think of the reader and use fonts that are accessible to those with dyslexia. A CV (or resume) should have a balance of white space, signposted headings and information that's easy to digest. A template can offer a framework but there's no substitute for tailoring your information to what the job role or employer requires. If they want a team player, give a concrete example of being in a successful team and specify what you achieved be it a goal or tangible target. A generalised example seldom sells your skills! Also, be mindful of your spelling, punctuation and grammar. Careless mistakes raise questions over your own personal standards.

I have had the opportunity to review resumes in hiring roles and to assist others in improving their resumes. In my experience, the resume template should be selected on a very individual basis. If changing your career would utilize skills that you have used in past roles, but not a current one, a chronological resume may not be the most beneficial resume to prepare. There are many skills that cross industries and can be identified effectively in a resume. There may be hesitation on the part of the hiring manager to hire an individual that is changing their role or industry, so the idea is to demonstrate how your skills apply or "paint the picture" for the hiring manager that you possess the skills being sought.

Career change doesn't involve resume templates. Career change is a bold and often necessary step towards professional growth and fulfillment. However, it can be a daunting process that requires careful consideration and planning. While a resume can be a helpful tool in presenting your skills and experience, they are just one small part of a successful career transition. A successful career change involves self-reflection, research, networking, and acquiring new skills. It requires a deep understanding of your values, interests, and strengths, as well as the ability to identify transferable skills and market yourself effectively to potential employers.

Career shifts need to be planned. You can't simply quit one job and decide to move into a different field. Take courses, job shadow someone, join LI groups in that field/industry, and ensure you have the skills. Next, your resume must be targeted to ONE position type or industry so the keywords are useful. Just because you think you can do 10 different jobs doesn't mean you can have them all in a generic resume. Laser focus on a single position on your resume. Make that so strong that they have to bring you in for an interview. The template doesn't really matter.

عند تغيير المسار الوظيفي، إليك أفضل أنواع قوالب السيرة الذاتية التي يمكنك استخدامها: السيرة الذاتية الوظيفية: تركز بشكل أساسي على مهاراتك وخبراتك. هذا النوع مثالي إذا كان لديك فجوات وظيفية أو خبرة عمل محدودة في المجال الجديد. السيرة الذاتية المختلطة: تجمع بين عناصر السير الذاتية التسلسلية والوظيفية. يبرز هذا القالب مهاراتك مع إظهار تطورك الوظيفي. مثال: قسم المهارات في سيرتك الذاتية الوظيفية/المختلطة: إدارة المشاريع: التخطيط، إعداد الميزانية، التواصل الفعال مع أعضاء الفريق. حل المشكلات: تحديد المشاكل، اقتراح الحلول المبتكرة، واتخاذ القرارات. التفكير النقدي: تحليل المعلومات المعقدة، واستخلاص النتائج المنطقية. تذكر: اختر القالب الذي يسلط الضوء على المهارات والخبرات القابلة للنقل إلى المجال الوظيفي الجديد الذي تستهدفه.