A professional I met recently with 26 years of experience was planning to make a transition from the government to another sector. He decided to begin the process by writing his resume. He painfully realized as he struggled through the process that it is imperative to give great thought to transitions before jumping in.
Here are ten things to consider before starting your resume:
1. What would you love to do in a new job or role?
2. Which of your qualifications, credentials, and accomplishments are most attractive to prospective employers?
3. Do you have an existing network to help you with the transition?
4. Who are employers who may need your services?
5. How will you reach them?
6. Have you located job descriptions or announcements for the job you'd love?
7. If so, are your credentials in line with the job requirements?
8. If not, can you easily acquire them?
9. What are the application requirements for jobs and organizations that interest you?
10.Are your job search techniques up to date?
Once you have answered these questions, it is time to evaluate and assess your work history, accomplishments, skills, education, training, and credentials such as licenses, certifications, publications, and affiliations. It is only after you have done this preliminary analysis that you should begin the documentation necessary for resume preparation. If you begin without adequate thought, research, and reflection you will surely find yourself paralyzed and frustrated in the process.
Good luck!
Send questions or comments to: rkaplan@job-resources.com
Copyright © Robbie Miller Kaplan. All rights reserved.
Revised: January 15, 2004
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