Making a career change can be daunting. Not only are you taking the leap to change your job – but you might be turning your whole career on its head.

As you may not have existing experience in your desired field, a good career change CV is essential for getting your foot in the door. You need to highlight any transferrable skills that are relevant to the role and show you’ll be great in this new line of work.

Perhaps you’re in marketing, but feel your skills would be better suited to a career in buying? Or you’re a corporate accountant looking for a change into the non-profit sector? Whatever direction you’re moving, our career change CV examples can help you take the first step.

How to write a CV for a career change.

At some point in your career, you may decide it’s time for a change. Whether you’re switching roles in the same industry or mixing it up completely, you’ll need to rework documents like your CV and cover letter to align with the new role you’re applying for.

Here’s how to write a CV for a career change:

1. Pick the perfect CV format.

First up, you need to pick the right CV format for this new type of work. Are you moving into a creative industry? Or are there set CV preferences to adhere to? Start with a CV template and customise based on the role.

For instance, you may decide to opt for a combination CV rather than a chronological CV, to emphasise your skills over work experience.

2. Update your personal summary to explain the career change.

A strong personal summary is a great way to catch the eye of future employers, while also addressing the fact that you’re changing career.

You may decide to mention your top transferable skills here and explain why you’re switching direction. It’s also the perfect place to highlight your passion for this new sector or industry. Have a look through some personal summary examples to get started.

3. Realign your skills to the new career.

Pick out your transferrable skills to highlight on your CV. Do you have leadership or managerial skills from a different sector? Rephrase these in a way that can relate to your new career path.

Skills like project management, communication and attention to detail are all examples that can be easily transferred between industries and job roles.

4. Highlight your certifications.

If you’re applying to a role in a completely different industry, you may want to take part in some online courses or qualifications to develop your expertise. This could help boost your chances of securing a job in your chosen area, and help you prepare better for the technical aspects of the role. Make sure these achievements are clearly outlined in a dedicated section of your CV.

5. Revise your experience.

You might prefer to put your previous work experience at the bottom of your career change CV – to steer the focus to your most relevant skills and qualifications.

Here, you should try and highlight anything from your experience that’s relevant to the role you’re applying for. Make sure to mention any work you’ve been involved in which could be similar to the new industry.

Editable career change CV examples from Adobe Express.

5 top tips for writing a career change CV.

While swapping industries can be daunting, creating a career change CV doesn’t need to be. Here are five tips from Adobe Express on how to write a CV for a career change:

• Do your research. As you’re applying with less experience, it’s even more important to come across as knowledgeable in the field. Make sure you’re up to date with the latest industry trends.
• Emphasise transferrable skills. Your transferrable skills are your best bet at securing a job in a new field. Think about how you can phrase your skills in your career change CV and cover letter to show how they will come in handy in this new role.
• Use your hobbies and interests. If you don’t have experience in the field, use this section to emphasise your interest in it. Plus, if you have relevant hobbies, make sure to add them here too.
• Be prepared to network. Building connections with the right people can go a long way when changing careers. Networking may be more important than ever as you need to prove yourself to be capable in a new industry.
• Remember that it takes time. Changing career isn’t an overnight thing. It’s a big decision to make and may include taking courses or completing training modules to prepare you for interviews.

Career change CV personal statement examples.

The personal summary section of your CV is the perfect place to succinctly outline your reasons for a career change. Take a look a these three career change personal summary examples to help craft your own.

Graphic design to UX design.

Creative graphic designer with expertise in e-commerce and web development certified in UX design. Seeking a UX designer role at [insert company] to enhance customer engagement. I am confident my technical skills in wireframing and prototyping will enable me to be beneficial in this position.

Retail to e-commerce.

Hardworking retail professional with over three years in the industry optimising customer experience and leveraging sales. Skilled in customer relations, inventory management and purchasing pattern data analysis. Striving to leverage experience in customer engagement at [insert company] in an e-commerce role.

Hospitality to healthcare.

Adaptable hospitality manager with experience in guest satisfaction and operational management. Confident that my background in crisis management, multi-tasking and client communications will help me seamlessly transition into healthcare administration. Eager to apply to [insert role] to develop experience and progress career in a healthcare environment.

Free career change CV template ideas.

Try Adobe Express for free now

Good to know.

How do you explain a career change?

When communicating a career change to a potential employer, it’s best to be honest. Include in your personal summary an overview of why you’re interested in the new career and why you’d be a great fit. In the interview, discuss your long-term goals and explain how your decision relates to them.

How do I update my CV after a career change?

Once you’ve made the move to a new career or industry, you can re-focus your CV to prioritise the most relevant experience. Add your current job role in the new sector to the top, then touch on your previous professional experience in slightly less detail. This helps show that there aren’t any gaps in your employment.

You can also update your skills section to show off some of the hard skills you’ve picked up since the career change, to support your softer skills.

Is Adobe Express free?

Yes, our free plan offers many core features including thousands of templates, photo editing and effects, animation, and 5 GB of storage. See our  pricing page for details and to compare plans.