How do I handle a career transition on my résumé?
Hi Deb!
I earned my bachelor’s degree in finance and soon will earn my MBA with a concentration in finance. Recently, I have really become interested in human resources. I have no work experience in HR. I’ve researched it and talked to people in HR positions. Week after week, I feel more strongly that finance is not for me and I want to give HR a try. First, my parents are going to flip. With that aside, how to I handle this transition? What do I put on my résumé? Anonymous MBA Candidate
Dear Anonymous,
You are not the first person to change your mind after earning a degree. I have counseled many candidates like you. The good news in your case is that there is overlap between your degree and your goal.
Find a couple of example job postings that represent your HR career goal. If you make a two-column list, you can see the overlap more clearly. In the left column, list the major requirements and duties from the postings. In the right column, list your education (courses), key points of experience (job titles/major duties), and major academic projects/internships. Highlight the items on the right that match the items in the left. Those are items you will emphasize on the résumé. Now, look at the column on the left. Highlight items where you do not have experience. Those are skills that you need to develop through an internship, additional course, or online training program.
Also, there are several reputable national human resources organizations, such as Professionals in Human Resources and Society for Human Resource Management. Becoming a member and exploring professional certifications would be beneficial to you.
Wishing you all the best!
Deb
If you have a question for Deb, please email debra@careersdonewrite.com. The Ask Deb column appears every Friday on our blog at the Careers Done Write website.
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