How do you convince your dream job company that your skills are transferable to their position when making a career change?

6 Comments

1. AnonymousSeptember 14,2022 at 1:08PM UTC

   Could you provide some detail on what you’re switching from and into what industry?

2. AnonymousSeptember 15,2022 at 6:53PM UTC

   Thank you all for the advice, I want to leave a residential lending position to multi family lending. Financing apartment buildings, rather than, single family homes.

3. AnonymousSeptember 16,2022 at 6:09PM UTC

   Thats not that far off in terms of what you were doing prior. I’d say focus on the skill sets you learned and you you want to focus on multi family lending and tie each skill you learned to how you can apply it in this new job. Talk to people who have made the same move and they’re thought process - you can craft your own “elevator pitch” from that

4. Cyndi RosenblattSeptember 14,2022 at 3:21PM UTC

   I helped someone "translate" a resume from a different field. We basically went through each job duty in the listing and matched it to specific duties from previous jobs. There was no need to focus on the parts of the previous jobs that were industry-specific because it wouldn't mean anything to the hiring manager anyway. Some of the relevant tasks were only a small part of previous jobs, so they weren't even listed out in the original version of the resume, but that was the translational part.

5. Emily StarkSeptember 14,2022 at 3:42PM UTC

   I recommend reaching out to the hiring manager directly. You could lead with something like: “X company is top of my target list because x,y,z. Can we have a conversation about the goals of the x team and ways my experience and skills can add value?”

   This conversation plus a resume tailored to the position pulling out transferable skills is a solid strategy to make a career change.

6. Nicole DupuisSeptember 15,2022 at 11:53AM UTC

   Hi There! I would add this information to your cover letter. Focus on how your skills apply to the new position and also express that you are looking for a career change. Maybe adding something in there about being a fast learner and open to the challenge, showing that you understand that there will be a learning curve.

   If you can, connect with the person who is hiring for the position or person who posted the position on LinkedIn (and have your LinkedIn as up to date as possible). If they accept your connection, sending a short and direct message saying that you a) applied to the position b) are excited to enter this new and challenging chapter and c) open to discussing how your skills are advantageous to this role if they have any questions. Good luck!!