You’ve spent years developing your skills and perfecting your craft.
You’ve built a career in your industry, but now it’s time for a change.
Whether it’s because you’re ready to move on to the next level or just want something different, deciding to take the leap on a career change can be scary.
Your resume is going to be up against countless qualified candidates, how will you stand out when you’re new to the field?
A strong career change resume summary is important. It can show recruiters why you deserve a chance, even if you haven’t been in the business that long.
In this article, we’ll cover:
- Why a strong resume summary is so important
- Career change resume summary examples
- Key takeaways for writing a great career change resume summary
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The importance of a strong resume summary
Before you start writing your resume summary, it’s necessary to understand its purpose.
You might think your resume doesn’t need a summary, but it can make a big difference in your impact on recruiters.
What is the purpose of a resume summary?
Your resume summary is the first thing recruiters see following your header. It is your first opportunity to showcase your value in the industry and a bit of your personality.
Summaries put specific career highlights and accomplishments on display. They help you make maximum impact in minimal time.
This can be especially valuable when making a career change. You want to let recruiters know right away that you’re a strong candidate, even if your experience is lacking.
How to format a resume summary
Like every section of your resume, your summary needs to be clear and concise. Recruiters have stacks of resumes to review. Don’t waste time and get to the point quickly.
Your summary should be no more than 3-5 sentences. Cover the most important and most relevant information.
A good formula to use when writing your summary is the following:
Introduce your role > State your greatest accomplishment > Show that you’re the right fit for the role.
For more specifics on everything that goes into a good resume summary, check out our detailed summary guide and collection of examples.
Including a career change in your summary
The formula above may be simple enough when you’ve got extensive experience on your side, but what about when you’re making a career change?
How can you introduce the idea of a career change in your summary without losing the interest of recruiters?
The key to a strong career change summary - and an entire career change resume - is focusing on transferable skills.
Where is the overlap between your current position and your desired job? What skills do you have that are relevant to your target role?
Even if you don’t have experience in the specific field, hiring managers should be able to see what you will accomplish at their company.
Career change resume summary examples
Now that you have an idea of what goes into a career change resume summary, let’s take a look at some examples.
The summaries below capture some of the most common career changes in different industries. Use them as inspiration when you’re ready to write your summary.
Project manager to product manager
In the example above, the candidate highlighted management experience in their work history and desired role.
They also shared an accomplishment that is relevant to both project management and product management.
The focus of the summary is on transferable skills and relevant achievements rather than specific job titles.
Product manager to product consultant
This example shows a different kind of career change. After building a long career in a particular area, you may decide to step out on your own.
For a career change summary from employee to consultant, focus on your accomplishments and the expertise you can share.
Sports journalist to celebrity journalist
This candidate is making a change to a different niche within their industry.
Like any other summary, focus on transferable skills and what you will bring to the company. In this example, the candidate focuses on reporting and viewership rather than subject knowledge.
Let’s look at a few more examples.
Project manager to COO
Graphic Designer to Ux Designer
Web Developer to Technical Writer
Software Engineer to Ux Designer
Data Scientist to Software Engineer
Product Manager to Sales Manager
Marketing to Advertising
Director to Vice President
Manager to Director
COO to CEO
Final thoughts on creating a strong career change resume summary
Take the time to include a summary when writing a career change resume. Let recruiters know right away why you’re a strong candidate.
Keep your summary clear and concise. In 3-5 sentences, introduce yourself, highlight an accomplishment, and explain why you’re the right fit for the role.
Focus on transferable skills and relevant accomplishments. Show hiring managers what you will achieve at their company.
Add a career change summary to your resume and get ready to start applying to jobs!
Make one that's truly you.
