dcmba's picture Submitted by dcmba on
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Career Management

Several years ago I changed careers moving from sales/operations management in a specialized industry to financial analysis and management accounting after completing my MBA. While much of the work that I did in the prior career (10+ years) serves as a building block for what I do now (3+ years), the work was categorically different. That experience, however, has put me in a position to grow and advance in my new career far faster than most. I've gone from entering AP/AR to doing the work of a controller in 3 years.

Any recommendations on how best to demonstrate this in a resume?

Thanks,
DC

jhack's picture
Submitted by jhack on Sunday July 13th, 2008 7:10 pm

Describe your accomplishments, in bullets, under each job. Be specific and quantify whenever possible.

The resume gets you the interview. The interview is where you will be able to articulate how your career has built up over time and how each role contributed to your current success.

John

HMac's picture
Submitted by HMac on Monday July 14th, 2008 7:35 am

[quote="dcmba"]Several years ago I changed careers moving from sales/operations management in a specialized industry to financial analysis and management accounting after completing my MBA. While much of the work that I did in the prior career (10+ years) serves as a building block for what I do now (3+ years), the work was categorically different. DC[/quote]

I imagine you have specific accomplishments you can list for jobs before AND after the change of industry.

If you can show a steady stream of specific accomplishments, you're building the image of someone who "gets things done" regardless of the industry.

You may not be able to get over the hump with some employers who don't want somebody from outside their industry. But that's their resctriction, and you're probably not gonna get a foot in no matter what you do...

And it sounds like you have the narrative down to emphasize the positives that came from changing industries: it provided the opportunity to create more value than you would have if you had stayed in the previous position.

-Hugh

Nik's picture
Submitted by Nik on Tuesday July 15th, 2008 11:02 pm

Use your cover letter to build a coherent story, tracking you from one career through the other, highlighting the cross-over elements and how they make you better than everyone else. That narrative is key if you have an unusual skill set or a "jumpy" career.