24
WALLS KEEP APPEARING!!!
Speaking to so many recruiters lately. "Your resume is great!". "Your resume doesn't say....", "What is a ROI?". It seems like it all depends on what AI robotics are seeing and who is reading the resume. How does one transfer refined skills to a new career when facing a peg and a square? I could really use some advice and networking.
Toni Fiore
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05/23/20 at 1:02PM UTC
Thank you all so much. You are wonderful women, embrace this. We lift each other up.
Lori Parker
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06/25/20 at 1:20PM UTC
I second Toni's comment! Your support is immeasurable!
Kelley Shields, Career & Professional Development CoachWork shouldn't be a 4-letter word.
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05/21/20 at 6:55PM UTC
Hi Tdama, that's such a frustrating situation. I thought this podcast on rebranding yourself (it's one of Lisa Lewis's) might be a helpful way to start thinking more broadly about your situation. Please feel free to ask any other questions that come up! https://www.macslist.org/podcasts/setting-goals/how-to-rebrand-yourself-when-changing-careers-with-lisa-lewis
Yolanda NewbillDynamic Learning and Development Professional
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05/14/20 at 3:06PM UTC
Last year I was introduced to a really cool site called Jobscan which provides an analysis of your resume and its compatibility to a specific job search. It allows you to drop your resume and any job description side by side then does an analysis using some sort of ATS search criteria to determine if your resume is a good match. A score or rating of 0 -100% is provided along with feedback identifying matching vs missing keywords or other criteria such as formatting, skills, etc. They also provide other great tools and resources to support you in your job search and career advancement. Check them out. Good luck!
Lynne CoganCareer Coach for Realizing Professional Dreams
871
05/10/20 at 4:37PM UTC (Edited)
First, write everything out the first time they appear on a resume, then put the acronym in parenthesis. Most people know what ROI means but not everyone does.
Second, applying online and speaking with recruiters are not as likely to work for career changers as it does for people with a linear career with obvious promotions. The screening software and recruiters are told by the hiring manager what the requirements are. The software and recruiters do their best to match it exactly. They don't see the possibilities of what you have to offer.
Third, that means you have to rebrand yourself completely. Understand your new field (profession and/or industry) completely. Be able to discuss your accomplishments from the perspective of your new field. Take online courses; even if you don't think you need them, because they will verify the commitment to your field. Join associations. Definitely re-write/restructure your LinkedIn profile to your new field. You can use the "About" section to explain why you are switching fields and what unique abilities, insights, experience will enable to you to make an important contribution in the field.
Last, network with people in your new field. Have informational interviews. Research and select the companies where you want to work. You can apply for positions even when there are no openings. But be sure you can show how you will either solve the employer's problems, achieve its goals or (preferably and) improve its bottom line. Show how you can make the organization considerably more than you will cost it. (Figure your salary plus around 37 percent more.)
Lori Parker
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06/25/20 at 1:14PM UTC
Thank you!
Lynne CoganCareer Coach for Realizing Professional Dreams
871
06/25/20 at 2:27PM UTC
You're welcome.
HEATHERI reduce communication barriers
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05/08/20 at 3:42AM UTC (Edited)
I totally agree with the suggestions made by anonymous re: using the same phrasing and tense from the job description. I attended an excellent Webinar by Madeline Mann (Self-Made Millennial) on writing your resume for online applications. Check it out on YouTube. She really helped me realize that my idea of key words was not accurate. You will find her advice very helpful for beating those pesky ATS. Hope that helps, and all the best with your career pivot!
Anonymous
05/07/20 at 3PM UTC
I've attended several online job hunting strategy classes in the last couple weeks. One takeaway is that the skills section of your resume should include skills you have that they specifically are mentioning in their job description. I've heard that you need to use the exact phrase and same tense so it matches their ATS. Another suggestion was that job seekers seeking to repurpose their skills in a new field should try the functional resume where you focus on highlighting the experiences that demonstrate your fit rather than listing each job chronilogically . Recruiters only spend seconds reading the resume so this format might make it easier to see your relevancy. I've recently tried it and got an interview so will use again. Good luck!
Lynne CoganCareer Coach for Realizing Professional Dreams
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05/10/20 at 4:19PM UTC
Personally, I like functional resumes. Most recruiters and hiring managers do not because they (1) think you are hiding something and (2) want to know where you achieved the results you did.
The solutions are: (1) to list all of your positions (usually at the bottom of the resume) without comment and (2) after each accomplishment list the company in parenthesis.
