Due to circumstances and need for a paycheck, I've taken lower-level positions in other fields.

7 Comments

1. Carol23January 26,2023 at 5:43PM UTC

   Dont use a chronological resume. Use a functional resume. It will make your life much easier...

2. AnonymousJanuary 26,2023 at 8:49PM UTC

   Thank you, Carol. I'm able to customize my resume but do you have any suggestions regarding LinkedIn. I'll use a functional or combination resume but I feel recruiters aren't even looking at my resume but instead default to my LinkedIn profile. Since I can't change it from chorological on LinkedIn, I'm having trouble getting around this problem.

3. AnonymousJanuary 26,2023 at 10:18PM UTC

   Use your headline and About sections on LI to your advantage. They are the two points of valuable real estate. Your headline should have a couple of your best skills, the type of position you're looking for, industry, and other attributes. If you currently don't use this section it simply pulls from the most recent job title you have listed. THAT DOESN'T MARKET YOU. Additionally, use the LI about section to sing your accomplishments that are transferable to and align with your target job. And the trend currently with recruiters is that they do not like functional resumes. Use a Hybrid or Chronological one. Put any jobs more than 10-15 yrs ago in a section "Earlier Work Experience" and cite the company, title, and one major accomplishment, NO YEARS OF EMPLOYMENT in this section. This section would immediately follow your Professional Experience section. Good Luck.

4. AnonymousJanuary 27,2023 at 1:09AM UTC

   I agree with you about LI.
   Focus on the headline and “About” section. Can that link to the hybrid CV or a personal webpage with the hybrid CV?

   On the resume:
   I fear that an “Earlier Work Experience” section with attenuated descriptions will not get employers to focus on OP’s earlier roles.

   I’d go with a *hybrid* resume that includes a strong summary section, lists chronological experience and functional skills. Yes, the functional portion is not in style, but at least it showcases the work that OP wants to do.

5. Laura BrennanJanuary 30,2023 at 6:09PM UTC

   Agree with all the good LI ideas, but also, don't put all your eggs in the recruiters/LI basket. Tap into your network. Go on an information quest, where you are looking for informational interviews in the industries you want to be in (and at the level, or the level above, where you want to be). How has the industry changed post-pandemic? What skills should you uplevel? What new fields/opportunities/challenges are on the horizon.

   Going on this kind of quest makes it easy to ask friends and colleagues if they know someone who could help you answer these questions. It makes an informational interview easy and fulfilling for the other person, because you are genuinely interested in their perspective, expertise, and advice. Show yourself to be someone they should invest in -- because they get a return on investment when you take their advice and report back with good news. Your success becomes their success.

   Plus you will learn answers to questions you didn't even know to ask. You will gain real insight and diverse perspectives on your field, which gives you something interesting and up-to-date to talk about during interviews. Best of all, you will tap into job openings before they go to recruiters; they will remember you when something opens up, and that is gold.

   Your network is there for you! This is an ideal way to tap into it as a win-win for everyone. Good luck!

6. Julie EJanuary 31,2023 at 12:58AM UTC

   I’m addition to all this great advice regarding Linked In I would briefly explain your situation in. cover letter along the lines of I did some exploring but now I want to get back into your original industry. Depending on how long you were away from it I would also explain how the newer roles fit into your career story. What did you learn from thrm and what transferable skills did you gain. Good luck in your job search!

7. AnonymousJanuary 31,2023 at 6:09PM UTC

   Thank you all. I've had wonderful informational interviews that led to interviews. During interviews, they feel my experience is 'impressive' but not for this area's industries. I grew up here but moved away after college to work in larger cities therefore my background is more suited for those industries and locations.

   I've tailored resumes for each position, showcased my transferable skills and how my diversity and inclusion experience from working throughout the US and abroad would resonate for persona marketing and targeted campaigns.

   During coffee conversations with others that moved to or returned to the area, they are having similar experiences. Companies want a linear trajectory and from this area. I can't go back and change my resume and I'm proud of what I accomplished. I've tried all different levels to even get my foot in the door and then I hear I have too much experience even for a managerial position.

   I've tapped into and developed a network in this area. Even utilizing my network, they're being told that I don't have the background for this place. I'm fearful that I'll need to leave and need to be here for my parents.