Resumes for career changers

Bentley College career counselor Barbara Hyle (right) meets with a student.

Looking to switch careers after many years in one field? Wondering how to grab the attention of would-be employers? Career experts at local colleges say the most important way to land the job you want is to craft your resume into a target-marketing tool.

That means tailoring it specifically to the employer you want to impress, keeping it brief, and highlighting up front the skills and experience that make you the best person for the job.

Make the cut

First, experts say, edit. For example, if you're seeking a public relations job, cut the part about the 15 years you spent in advertising and leave out that screenwriting course you took (even though you thought it was a blast). Highlight, instead, anything PR-related, whether it was a short-term job, a certificate, a course, or an internship.

And if you think you don't have enough to show prospective employers your PR talent, see if there are quick ways you can boost your arsenal of skills. Take a daylong workshop, earn a certificate, or volunteer.

Make it relevant

"The resume is a marketing tool," says Paul Tanklefsky, director of career services and cooperative education at Boston's Suffolk University. "It's not your autobiography."

Barbara Hyle, senior associate director of graduate career services at Bentley College, couldn't agree more. "What people tend to say in resumes is, 'Here's what I've done. Do you want some of it?' But employers want to know that you can do what they want done. I really encourage people to look at the job descriptions, print them out, and go over them with a highlighter, and, to the extent possible, put things in your resume that say, 'I can do what you want done.' "

Career counselors also agree that job-seekers shouldn't feel locked into listing their most recent job first and their education last. It's more important, they say, to put the most relevant experience first, whatever it is.

"Listing your education first, if that's what's most relevant, creates a natural bridge to the new job and is more relevant than your recent job," says Michael Gaskins, associate director of career services and internships at the UMass-Boston.

Summarize

Another crucial piece of the resume, particularly for career changers, is a short summary at the top outlining three to five attributes or experiences that show you're qualified for the job in question, says Tanklefsky.

"Some people like to put in objectives," says Hale, "but I don't encourage that because it's like saying, 'It's all about me.' I tell people all the time: You're not the bride. It's not about you; it's a marketing document."

Last but not least, don't assume you can make up for a less-than-ideal resume by writing a good cover letter. These days, cover letters are often ignored, says Hale. Employers want the resume. Resumes posted on job boards, as well as those that go directly to companies via the internet, get winnowed out through software programs that search for keywords. Says Gaskins, "It's imperative to include those keywords."