
How to List Certifications on a CV (with Samples)
Guide for how to list certifications on CVs + examples and tips. Lists of easy certifications and job-critical certifications + how to put them on CVs.
A career change CV sample that gets interviews. Write your CV for career change fast, with expert tips & good + bad examples.
This career change CV sample cuts the clutter.
That’s good because—
A CV for career change has to show you’ll do the job.
Even though you haven’t done it yet.
Don’t fret.
Pick achievements from old jobs that fit the new one.
That’s the only way to prove this isn’t just a passing whim.
This guide will show you:
What does a perfect CV for a career changer look like? See below—
Save hours of work and get a CV like this. Pick a template, fill it in. Quick and easy. Choose from 21 CV templates and download your CV now.
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My previous CV was really weak and I used to spend hours adjusting it in Word. Now, I can introduce any changes within minutes. Absolutely wonderful!
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This career change CV example moves the candidate from marketing to software engineering.
It shows software engineering accomplishments. It downplays past work in other fields.
The job wants skills in Java, C++, and debugging.
Kelly Hitoshi
Software Engineer
Personal Info
Phone: 949-300-9278
Email: kellyhitoshi@gmail.com
www.kellyhitoshi.com
linkedin.com/in/kelly-hitoshi
twitter.com/kellyhitoshi
Summary
Energetic software engineer, seeking to use proven skills in Java and C++ to provide expert development to Blue Waffle Worldwide. Created 4 working web apps and 4 mobile apps. Debugged 15 web apps and contributed to 8 GitHub projects. Wrote code for 25+ client projects.
Skills Summary
Java
C++
Debugging
Experience
Senior Marketing Specialist
O'Neil & Watanabe Inc.
2015–2019
Marketing Specialist
Orinco Marketing
2012–2015
Education
2008–2012
B.S. in Business Administration, California State University
Conferences
Additional Activities
Languages: Java, C++ C#, PHP, Ruby, SQL, MySQL, HTML5, CSS3, Javascript
Tech Skills: Coding, Debugging
Soft Skills: Leadership, Teamwork, Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Creativity
Now here’s how to write a career change CV:
This is urgent:
Your CV format makes all the difference.
What about the career change functional CV? It’s seldom a good idea to write a functional CV for career change. It lacks the work history employers crave.
Expert Hint: Save your CV as a PDF unless the job posting disallows them. Career change CV PDFs don’t flake out in transit. They’re also machine-readable.
Shocker:
Most CVs for career changes fail miserably.
They talk about the wonderful things they’ve done that the employer doesn’t care about.
Don’t do that.
Write a CV objective for switching careers that proves you belong here.
Include:
1. One adjective (energetic, hard-working, efficient)
2. Job title (project manager, administrative assistant)
3. Years of experience (2+, 7+)
4. How you’ll help (provide expert software development)
5. Flashiest 2–3 achievements (created 4 web apps, wrote code for 25 projects)
These career change CV examples show how:
Those are worlds apart.
Why does the first of those sample CV for career change objectives work? It shows you’re not meddling in things you don’t understand.
But where can you get job-matching achievements like that?
Get experience for CVs for career changes from:
Note: A CV objective for switching careers used to talk about your goals. Today you’ll get more interviews by showing how you’ll meet the organisation’s goals.
Expert Hint: Write your career change CV summary last. Look through the rest of your CV and cherry-pick the best bits from it for your qualifications summary.
The ResumeLab builder is more than looks. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Easy. Improve your CV in our CV builder now.
Nail it all with a splash of colour, choose a clean font, highlight your skills in just a few clicks. You’re the perfect candidate and we’ll prove it. Use the ResumeLab builder now.
Why do CVs for career changes need a skills summary?
Here’s the problem:
Let’s say you worked in marketing. You’re changing to a programming career.
Your CV for career change can’t be all about your old job.
But—
You can show things you did that transfer to your new career.
A switching careers skills summary does just that.
These career change CV examples give a map:
The job ad wants skills in (1) Java (2) C++ (3) debugging.
Let’s say you’ve never had the job title, but you’ve done side-tasks and projects.
Skills Summary
Java
C++
Debugging
Perfect.
Why do those career change CV examples work so well?
They show competence, though you’ve never held the job.
But even the hotel reservation system was just a mockup that you did for fun.
The debugging tasks were side-jobs from your old profession.
What skills work in a CV for a career change?
Read the job posting to find out.
Plus—use these transferable CV skills:
Expert Hint: Making a career change at 50 or 40? You’re not alone. According to a University of Phoenix study, most of us want to switch, but we fear the risks.
Here’s the secret:
You need to show experience in your career change CV.
But—
Don’t talk about the great work you did that doesn’t fit this job.
Find achievements in your old work history that match your new career.
These CV for career change examples show how:
Job ad wants Java, C++ and debugging skills. Experience Senior Marketing Specialist Marketing Specialist Senior Marketing Specialist Marketing Specialist
O'Neil & Watanabe Inc.
2015–2019
Orinco Marketing
2012–2015
O'Neil & Watanabe Inc.
2015–2019
Orinco Marketing
2012–2015
Why does career change CV sample #1 nail it?
Because it’s short.
It shows you weren’t playing hooky for seven years.
It lists accomplishments that fit your new career.
Then it leaves room for more impressive feats that fit the job.
PS—
The % and other numbers show your skills are powerful.
Expert Hint: “I need a new career!” said everybody. But look before you leap. Check Glassdoor and the BLS.gov website to find fields with high pay and short training—and consider choosing from these.
Your CV for career change education has to grab them.
Here’s how:
Don’t just talk about your degree and GPA.
Show accomplishments that fit your new career.
See this career change CV example:
Education
2008–2012
B.S. in Business Administration, California State University
Nicely done.
That career change CV sample links you to your new career.
It shows you aren’t completely green.
Expert Hint: Is your CV experience thin? You can make your education section longer with positions and projects. Add bullet points to each.
To get interviews when transitioning to a new profession—
Add extra sections to your CV for career change.
These samples of CV for career changers show right and wrong:
Additional Activities
Those first of those career change CV examples does the trick.
What about certifications on a CV for career changers?
If the job requires them, put them under your CV objective for switching careers.
If they’re just add-ons, put changing careers certifications lower down.
See the functional CV samples for career change in this guide for placement.
Expert Hint: Send a cover letter for career change CVs. Make your best case for why you’re switching. Reference job-fitting achievements to show competence.
Double your impact with a matching CV and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter builder and make your application documents pop out.
Want to try a different look? There’s 18 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.
For a career change CV that breaks down barriers and gets you that new job:
Got questions on how to write a great CV for career change? Not sure how to go about finding a new career? Need a cover letter for career change? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply..
Guide for how to list certifications on CVs + examples and tips. Lists of easy certifications and job-critical certifications + how to put them on CVs.
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