
Transitioning careers can be a daunting, yet exciting task. You know you have the ability and drive to make a change, but articulating the point is often difficult and convincing recruiters and hiring managers to give you a chance can be a challenge.
If you’ve polished up your resume, you’ll need to explain how your experience and skills can help you successfully transition into a new career. The best place to do this will be in your Cover Letter.
The Cover Letter has always been a great place to show your soft skills and provide context around past achievements. When making a career change, it becomes even more powerful as it gives you the opportunity to explain why you’re applying to a job outside your core experience.
Here are a few tips to help you write a career changing Cover Letter;
Write confidently about your ability.
Hiring managers need to feel that you have what it takes to step into the role. One way to encourage confidence is to learn as much as you can about the role and write about how you’ll approach it.
Communicate what your experience can bring to the company.
Having a unique background can work to your advantage. You may have different or more advanced skills than other candidates. You may have a unique perspective that the company is lacking. Whatever the case, make it your goal to point out how your career thus far can be a positive to a potential employer.
Be specific about your interest in the company.
Hiring managers appreciate candidates who do research. Read up on recent press releases and follow the company on LinkedIn for updates. Mention the things that excite you about the company and why you think it’s a great fit for both parties.
Highlight your transferrable skills.
You many be tempted to write about the skills you’ve acquired in your career, but unless these skills align with the job description, you’re better off leaving them out. The main focus of your career change Cover Letter should be on the skills that the new position requires. Even if you don’t possess the exact experience, you can pick skills that closely align and map them to the required skills.
Thinking about a career change but you're not sure what areas you could be suitable for? Enquire on our home page to set up a confidential discussion.
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