Changing careers can feel like you're starting from level one, but it doesn't have to be that way. Your past experiences, even if they seem unrelated, have equipped you with valuable skills. The key is to reframe your CV to tell a compelling story about why your unique journey makes you the perfect candidate for this new direction.

Step 1: Identify Your Transferable Skills

Transferable skills are abilities you've developed that are useful across different jobs and industries. They are the bridge between your old career and your new one.

• Communication: Did you present to clients, write reports, or manage team meetings? That's strong communication.
• Project Management: Did you handle a task from start to finish, manage a budget, or coordinate with others to meet a deadline? That's project management.
• Problem-Solving: Did you fix a recurring issue, handle a customer complaint, or find a more efficient way to do something? That's problem-solving.
• Leadership: Did you train a new team member, lead a small project, or mentor a colleague? That's leadership.

Action: Make a list of your biggest accomplishments from previous roles. Next to each one, write down the transferable skills you used. You'll be surprised how much overlaps with the skills needed for your target career. For more on skills, check out our guide on Skills Section Mastery.

Step 2: Rewrite Your Professional Summary

Your professional summary is critical for a career changer. Instead of leading with your old job title, lead with your new ambition and highlight your most relevant transferable skills.

Old Summary Example:

"Experienced retail manager with 10 years of success in team leadership and inventory control."

New Career Change Summary (pivoting to Marketing):

"Driven and creative professional leveraging 10 years of experience in customer engagement and team leadership to transition into a marketing role. Expertise in managing campaigns (in-store promotions), analyzing customer data (sales trends), and driving growth. Eager to apply strong communication and project management skills to build impactful digital marketing strategies."

This reframes retail experience into marketing-relevant skills. See more on this in our post on The Perfect Professional Summary.

Step 3: Address Employment Gaps or Different Career Paths

Don't try to hide a career change or an employment gap. Address it confidently.

• Functional or Hybrid CV Format: Consider a CV format that emphasizes skills over a strictly chronological work history. A "Relevant Skills" or "Key Competencies" section at the top can be very effective.
• Explain the Pivot (in your Cover Letter): Your cover letter is the perfect place to briefly explain your career change. Frame it as a deliberate and positive move toward a field you are passionate about.
• Focus on What You've Done to Prepare: Did you take a course, get a certification, or do freelance work related to your new field? Highlight this on your CV to show your commitment.

Step 4: Tailor Your Experience Section

Under each previous role, focus on the achievements that are most relevant to your new career. Don't just list duties; showcase results.

Old Bullet Point (Retail Manager):

• Responsible for daily store operations.

New Bullet Point (for a Project Manager role):

• Successfully managed store operations by coordinating a team of 15+ employees, overseeing a $200k inventory budget, and implementing new processes that increased efficiency by 15%.

By quantifying your achievements, you make your experience tangible and impressive, no matter the industry.

Changing careers is an opportunity to build on your strengths, not erase them. A well-crafted CV can make all the difference. Ready to make your CV shine? Use our AI-powered tool to get started!.