Start with a career objective. The summary or objective is typically optional on a resume, but if you are hoping to switch industries, this section is important. Think of it as your elevator pitch for potential employers. This is where you can explain how you plan to leverage your past experience in another career path to enter—and succeed in—this new field. Keep it to one or two sentences, and use active verbs and keywords from the job posting to really catch the recruiters’ eyes. 

Give skills their own section. Under a separate heading beneath the career objective, list the required skills that appear in the job description, and include bullet points or a short paragraph with specific examples of how you have demonstrated each skill in your current and previous roles.

Highlight your relevant work experience. First, read through your most current resume or LinkedIn profile (or, if you don’t have either, write a list of all your past jobs, including titles, responsibilities, and accomplishments for each). Next, read the description of the job you are applying to, paying careful attention to the qualifications, responsibilities, and education requirements. Finally, match up the job requirements with your experience, and revise your resume to reflect how your experience makes you qualified for the job. For example, if you are a nurse but want to transition to a job in retail management, describe how you managed people and improved the customer (a.k.a. patient) experience in your career. Be creative! Every job teaches you something new and helps you grow. You are probably more qualified than you think!

Focus on education, certificates, and training. Are there educational requirements for your dream job? If so, make sure you show your potential employee that you’ve got what they’re looking for. In the education section of your resume, list all your relevant education, plus any certificates you have earned or training programs you have completed that make you a qualified applicant.  

Include relevant interests, accomplishments, and volunteer roles. Have you learned something on your own, participated in an activity, or become involved in an organization or group that is relevant to your desired new career? Create a section at the bottom of your resume for miscellaneous experience—anything you’ve done or accomplished that doesn’t fit in your job history.