How can you use storytelling to explain a career change on your resume?

Not every career story is a linear one. In fact, that’s pretty rare these days! You may have gone through several career transitions, whether by choice or necessity. Think of the resume summary as your opportunity to tie all the threads of your career story together for the reader. Don’t make them guess at why or how your diverse background is not only relevant to this role now, but an advantage.

One interesting way to strengthen your stance in the resume is to mention the relevant skills that you learned in the past and connect them with the new job. For example if you are coming from an Engineering background and now applying for a management role, talk about your experience of managing teams, projects and how you overcame challenges and achieved results. Quantification is really important when writing a resume, and focus on summary skills.

Your resume should tell a story, much like a plot in a narrative. Start with why you're changing careers, detail how you've prepared, and highlight how your unique skills will benefit your new employer. Craft a resume summary that encapsulates this narrative, engaging potential employers with a clear, compelling career journey.

Everyone loves stories! The intrigue, the suspense, we want to hear it all. Understand that your resume is your story in a room where you will not be present. Ensure it speaks how you want it to. First identify the main plot. You are the main character in your story. Build the story around you. Connect your past, present and future. Show relevance and correlation.

Whenever I work with clients looking to switch careers, I often advise them to think of their resume as a compelling story. I mean, everyone loves a good narrative, right? I help them lay out their journey, making it clear why they chose to pivot, what they've done to prepare, and how they can be an asset in this new role. By framing their experience in a story, it adds depth, making them more relatable to potential employers. It's like turning their professional path into an engaging plotline.

Remember you are the protagonist. You however have several supporting characters in your story. These characters have helped shaped your story and career. These characters may include your mentors, peers, clients or even competitors. Consider those who can testify to your skills and achievements.

I am not exactly sure how you mention your mentors on your resume but one thing you can absolutely do is to get recommendations from your mentors, managers, teachers, colleagues etc on LinkedIn that can help a lot when applying for new positions through LinkedIn.

Absolutely, incorporating supporting characters into your career change narrative on your resume is essential. Just like in a story, these characters can be mentors, collaborators, clients, or competitors who have influenced your journey. They serve as credible sources to vouch for your skills, accomplishments, and potential in your new field. Including references, testimonials, or endorsements in your resume or cover letter can provide a compelling layer of validation and credibility to your career change story, further enhancing your chances of making a successful transition.

In the narrative of your career change, supporting characters play a pivotal role. They are the voices that echo your capabilities and potential. These can be mentors who guided your transition, collaborators who witnessed your adaptability, or clients who reaped the benefits of your skills. Selecting these characters strategically allows you to weave a convincing tale of your readiness for the new role. Including references, testimonials, or endorsements adds depth to your resume, affirming your suitability for the position.

As Elohor elaborated that STAR or some organizations use PAR (Problem + Action + Results) is very helpful in behavior based questions such as Tell us about a situation where ......... Even if the result was not impressive, share in the interview. if it was not successful then let them know why it didn't meet the needs. Most important, it was not a failure but learning.

The STAR approach will help you give life to your story. This simply means: S - Situation T - Task A - Action R - Results Use this approach to tell your story by: choosing a situation that projects the essence of the career change. Tell the specific task you undertook, the action you took and the results you got. The STAR approach will make you stand out!

Absolutely, utilizing STAR method in your resume is an effective way to provide context and depth to your accomplishments. Here's how to implement it: Situation: Describe the context. Task: Define the goal or task. Action: Explain the steps you took. Result: Highlight the measurable outcome. For example, if you led a team of salespeople, your STAR statement might look like this: "Situation: Faced a sales team struggling to meet targets. Task: Tasked with improving sales performance. Action: Led a team of 10 salespeople, implemented a new CRM system, and created a monthly incentive program. Result: Increased sales by 25% in six months." STAR method showcases achievements and key skills on a resume

I’m a fan of CAR — challenge, action, result. Similar to STAR, but most compelling stories involve overcoming a challenge. Take your achievement bullets to the next level by incorporating some of the roadblocks you had to overcome to deliver those results. To build on the above example, did that team of 10 salespeople you led represent a sharp cut following layoffs? If so, that 25% increase in sales takes on even greater meaning.

Certainly, employing the STAR method is a strategic approach to craft a compelling resume that delves deeper into how and why accomplishments were achieved. Rather than merely listing responsibilities, this method allows you to showcase problem-solving, decision-making, and leadership skills through tangible and measurable results. For instance, instead of a generic statement like "Managed a team of 10 salespeople," you can provide a more impactful narrative such as "Increased sales by 25% in six months by leading a team of 10 salespeople, implementing a new CRM system, and creating a monthly incentive program." This method brings your achievements to life, providing prospective employers with a clearer understanding of your capabilities.

Remember most people love visuals. Use this in your story telling. Show and make your audience visualize your story, it will last longer in their minds.

Absolutely, "show, don't tell" is a powerful principle to make your resume more engaging and authentic. Here's a concise way to emphasize this concept: Make your resume compelling by illustrating your qualities and achievements with specific examples, details, and numbers, creating an emotional connection with your audience.

Indeed, "show, don't tell" is a powerful principle when crafting a resume that truly resonates. Rather than merely stating your personality, passion, and values, you should use concrete examples, specific details, and quantifiable achievements to illustrate them. For instance, instead of a vague assertion like "I am passionate about social justice," you can vividly portray your commitment by saying "I volunteered for 100 hours at a local NGO that provides legal aid to low-income families." This approach establishes an emotional connection with your audience, making your resume more memorable and authentic. It allows potential employers to see your qualities in action, reinforcing your suitability for the role.

Absolutely, showing is the heartbeat of a compelling narrative. It breathes life into your resume, letting your personality and values shine through. Instead of simply stating qualities, illuminate them with vivid examples, intricate details, and quantifiable achievements. For instance, rather than proclaiming a passion for social justice, showcase it through tangible actions like dedicating 100 hours to an NGO aiding low-income families. This approach fosters a genuine, memorable connection with your reader, leaving a lasting impression of authenticity.

Use storytelling to highlight your ability to adapt to new environments and learn quickly by sharing examples of how you've successfully navigated change in the past. Throughout your storytelling, explicitly emphasize your adaptability by describing how you successfully embraced new responsibilities or opportunities.

Write your story on LinkedIn, share your experiences with people. LinkedIn is a realtime resume and it really does change lives.