Some resume writers don’t recommend creating a targeted resume version for each career goal, but I believe this is necessary for people in career transition. The job of a career change resume is to convince hiring managers that the applicant has what it takes to succeed in a new career. How can that be done with a “one-size-fits-all-jobs” resume?

It takes a lot of research, reflection, and marketing savvy to create a resume that will open doors to new careers. One came across my desk yesterday, and even though it was written by the brilliant resume writer Karen Hofferber, it still blew me away. The client owns a medical billing practice, but wanted to pursue a development job at her children’s school where she had been volunteering for many years. When I reviewed her new resume, I thought, “POOF! You’re a development specialist!”

Want to make sure your career change resume is going to cut it? Here are a few of Karen’s strategies that should work for you:

1. Add a targeted, job-specific career goal. The top of the client’s resume has a big banner that says, “Goal: Development Manager — ABC School.” So there’s no confusion about what she wants to do from the start of the resume.

2. Write a dynamic qualifications summary. Focus on the skills and accomplishments that are relevant to the new goal. It helps to research and study the job description (or a job description for a similar job) to see the employer’s requirements for the position, and then sculpt your own description proving the value that you offer.

3. Add a skills section. A bulleted list of skills/keywords helps hiring managers quickly see that you have the requisite skills for the job. Omit skills that you use in your current job that are unrelated to your new goal. This client had excellent medical billing skills, but they were left out of the skills section to make room for development-related skills.

4. Emphasize related work, even if it’s volunteer experience or hobbies. Karen created a “School Development Experience” section that highlights the client’s achievements through her volunteer work. It is formatted like a regular job, and shows the value that she has already brought to the school through her fundraising efforts, relationship-building with parents and teachers, and proven success organizing school events. Just because she wasn’t paid doesn’t make the experience any less valuable!

5. Draw out transferable skills from unrelated jobs. This client’s paid experience doesn’t appear until page two of the resume, but when it does appear, the reader gets a strong dose of transferable skills that are relevant to her new goal. The description of her business management role focuses on communication skills, project management accomplishments, customer service delivery, and excellent organizational skills. She doesn’t just say she has these skills, she provides examples of positive business outcomes and benefits that resulted from her using these skills.

6. Show your passion in your cover letter. This client’s letter was so compelling, I said I would eat my hat if the client didn’t get the job. Forget looking at cover letter samples and copying verbiage — speak from your heart and reveal your passion for your new career. Make a clear case for how you would benefit the employer if given a chance, and let your enthusiasm shine through.

To your success,

Kim Isaacs