What are some resume networking tips for career changers?

In today's rapidly evolving job market, transferable skills are becoming more important than ever before. As jobseekers navigate their career paths, it is essential to identify and develop transferable skills to succeed in a range of different job roles and industries. So, what are transferable skills? Transferable skills are abilities that can be applied across different job roles or industries. These skills are not specific to a single job function or task, making them invaluable in today's fast-paced job market. Examples of transferable skills include communication, problem-solving, time management, and leadership.

Transferable skills are more than one May realize. If you think you can do something think about why you know even if you have not done that exact thing in the past. I used to tell students to imagine they worked in a lab experimenting on plants. A person may have to communicate with engineers, design experiments, report findings (persuasive writing), budgeting, and practicing precision.

I also recommend talking with someone in the field you want to transfer into to learn about the day-to-day workload. How to best do that? Connect on LinkedIn or post a question in your feed. You may find out that new field isn't right for you. Better to know that in the beginning

Go beyond your resume, examine your entire work history (paid and non-paid) and write out your stories or discuss them with others on what you did, identifying all you have done, and the skills involved to ensure you are identifying all the transferrable skills you have. It's too easy to focus on the few obvious, without realizing the wealth of knowledge we each bring to the table. A little self-reflection and research into yourself can lead to a wealth of information.

As a Career Transition Coach, I always tell my clients that you are better off tailoring 2 resumes and submitting them with applications vs applying for 10+ jobs with the same base resume. The resumes that get seen and get interview are the tailored resumes. Often it’s taking the time to delete information that is not relevant and add in synonyms and responsibilities you don’t currently have on your resume. I always tell my clients that a job posting often reminds us of experience we do have but have not yet included. Use this as a resource!

For career change resumes, it's about connecting the dots between what you've done and where you want to be next. Never assume the reader will do this for you. For example, if you were an admin assistant and are now targeting a role in project management, identify your transferrable skills and feed the reader examples of using or applying these skills to produce a positive result. For example, coordination and communication are important in PM. Perhaps, you coordinated multiple people to create and deliver an important presentation, utilizing proactive communications to keep the project on track and delivered on time. Carefully assess all content in your resume and ask: "will this matter to the reader?". If not, improve or remove!

You have to make it easy for the hiring manager or recruiter to see how you bring value and why they should hire you by doing the work for them. Connect the dots. If they are asking for something and you can do it but it's not an exact match, highlight it in a way that demonstrates how you have the same skills/tools needed and translate it for them. Take advantage of highlight sections, summaries, and the cover letter that people dread as opportunities to make translations. Focus on what you bring and not what you don't. Small things like this can make a difference when you are career switching.

6 years ago, when I reentered the workforce, I knew building a community on LinkedIn was going to be a critical component! I showed up, sharing my experiences, hoping that others could benefit from what I was learning. Fast forward to 2 weeks ago. I was part of an unexpected RIF. I let my network know immediately, as time is of the essence in this saturated market. Friends, former colleagues and strangers showed up in droves to help support! Sending referrals & fresh ideas! I cannot say this enough - Job search is a team sport. It’s more fun & more productive when you let others in! Spreading the word right away helped me get a strong jump on my job search! Remember: An “open to work” banner is NOT desperate. Use your resources!

I think it is important to not only build, but establish a relationship with contacts. If you have an ongoing relationship with contacts, they will immediately want to help. You will be at the front of their minds when they hear of openings. If your only interaction is to request their help then that leaves the impression your using them.

People are constantly meeting new people. In the initial follow up, thank them for their time and mention something you spoke about to refresh their memory. I like to ask how their networking is going. Offer to make connections with your network. This helps the connection not be one sided.

Never be afraid to connect with someone you want to know (as opposed to someone you've worked with or have something in common with). Be specific in your connection request. Same goes for using the platform to engage with others

Before assessing your transferable skills and adding them to your resume and networking conversations, a savvy career changer will determine for themselves the skills they enjoy using. We can all clean a house and make ourselves a meal, but those may not be the skills you want to showcase or feature in your resume. Choose wisely! Because this will be what employers see first. It’s your first impression to that employer. Confidentially choose something you WANT to do.