You're helping job seekers switch industries. How can you tailor their resumes effectively?

Every time I prepare a client for an industry change, we focus on transferable skills. Not only that, we analyze what skills and knowledge they will need to acquire. If possible, his or her passion for the industry or company he or she is applying to can be highlighted right in the CV. We also emphasize the candidate's flexibility and ability to adapt to different industries and markets.

When I help someone transition from academia to industry, the first thing we do is take a close look at their current skills. We talk about the specific industry job they’re aiming for and the kind of skills that the job requires. Many academics find it challenging to identify their own skills so we dig deep into their experience to bring these to the surface. We then go through their CV/resume together, pinpointing any gaps and areas where they might need to improve. If there are skills that need a little boost, we work out a plan to help them develop those. Finally, we carefully analyze the job descriptions they’re interested in, making sure their CV highlights the skills that recruiters are looking for.

When thinking of your transferable skills, it’s important that you also identify skills developed outside of direct employment. If you are looking to enter employment after a long break or for your first role, you still have transferable skills that employers value, these may have been developed as a carer, parent or student

1. It is imperative to firstly, identify skills from the current industry that could be applicable to the new industry, For example - project management, communication, leadership, and problem-solving. 2. Also include the skills prominently in the skills section and demonstrate them through your work experiences. 3. While demonstrating them through the work experiences, use the "STAR" technique. 4. Focus on highlighting achievements through metrics while enclosing the skills used to achieve the same.

Job vacancies and profiles (including on careers service websites) can help you with sourcing this industry jargon. Does the area of work have a professional body? If so, their resources may also prove useful. Lastly, sector-specific news and market research agencies can be helpful with this knowledge-gathering piece.

1. Using Industry-Specific Keywords helps boost the resume rightfully. 2. Do a thorough research on the job descriptions in the new industry to understand the terminologies used with the key skills employers are looking for! 2. It is important to incorporate the keywords into the resume to pass through the litmus test of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) whereby catching attention of Recruiters and Hiring Managers. 3. Have a compelling story in the resume to say and use the 7C technique of communication for it to be effective.

Be authentic and tell your story to show someone else how you have got to this point. People buy into vulnerability and authenticity, and want to know this is a conscious choice and why rather than an opportunistic move because you need a job.

1. It's important to highlight the relevant experience while focussing on accomplishments and experiences that are relevant to the new industry. 2. This details out to be inclusion of specific projects, roles, or responsibilities that demonstrate the capability in similar tasks. 3. Usage of the bullet points to clearly articulate the ways in which the past roles have prepared for the new industry. 4. Usage of 7C's of Communication could be a big plus!

1. Being able to effectively showcase continuous learning is a big high! 2. Inclusion of any additional education, certifications, or training that are relevant to the new industry. This demonstrates the commitment to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills. 3. Mention any relevant courses, workshops, or seminars, certifications, industry events etc that one has been part of! All this demonstrates the steps that individual has taken towards effective lifelong learning.

To tailor resumes for industry switches, emphasize transferable skills and relevant achievements. Highlight experiences and accomplishments that align with the target industry's needs. Use industry-specific keywords and terminology to pass applicant tracking systems. Include a strong summary that reflects your passion for the new field and your unique value proposition. Showcase any relevant certifications, courses, or volunteer work. Tailor each job description to reflect how your past roles have prepared you for the new industry. Finally, use a clean, professional format to make a strong first impression.