There are ways to increase your chances of an interview, even if you lack actual experience with the industry you are applying to. Things like education and certifications can help a would-be employer see you in a more favorable light.

Highlight Your Training and Skills

Use the education portion of your CV to highlight the training you have undertaken to qualify for the position.  You may qualify for the position if you hold the right training and certifications, even if you lack prior experience.

Review your current CV and look at the experience you do have. Think of ways you can point out the relevance of that past experience on your CV. For instance if you are seeking a management position but have only front-line customer service experience you could point out that you worked closely with the management team to develop and streamline their processes.

Also look for skills outside of work that also apply to the position you’re applying for. For example, organizing sports team outings and fund-raising shows event organization skills.

For help identifying those elusive skills and then highlighting them in the right way on your CV, contact Gateway for help today.

Seeking a change in your employment situation can be a smart move, especially if the industry you are in is experiencing a period of decline. But changing industries is not always as easy as it sounds. In fact, seeking a job in an industry other than the one where you have been employed is much like landing your first job. Employers are looking for workers with experience in their industry, but you cannot get that experience unless you first get a job in the industry.

Focus on Your Skills

Create a skills section on your resume and use that section to list any certifications you hold, and any systems you have worked on, either in school or on the job. This can give the hiring manager a comfort level and prove that you have the experience needed to the do the job, even if you are coming from an entirely different industry.

Get the Attention of the Hiring Manager

Use your cover letter to further highlight your relevant training and experience. You can, for instance, highlight the fact that you have achieved a Microsoft Certified System Engineer (MCSE) certification when you are seeking a computer industry job. Even though you lack experience, that MCSE certification proves that you have a certain knowledge level concerning software and computer programs.

By using these strategies to highlight the experience you do have, you can make it through the screening process and get your resume in front of the decision makers in the company.

For help tailoring your CV to a new industry, contact an experienced Gateway Career Consultant.

A couple of tips for CV writing.

Some job applicants exaggerate or bloat their CVs just to meet the requirements of the job. While you want to impress your prospective employer, be truthful about what you can do. Do not claim a typing speed of 90+ per minute if you can only manage a decent 45 or 60 at most. You will be tested and a prospective employer can assess your true skill level.

Similarly, be honest about your educational attainment and past work experiences because it will be embarrassing for you if the company does some verification and your employer discovers you lied in your CV or interview.

You can download a free Gateway Guide to CV Writing for more tips.

If you want to increase your chances of getting hired, you have to know about job hunting mistakes. Be aware of common mistakes made when writing a CV and avoid them if you want to safeguard whatever edge you may have over the other job applicants.

Many employers reject applications for the simple reason that the submitted CVs are difficult to read. So:

• Take extra care in preparing your CV
• Be careful about your spelling, grammar and spacing.
• Keep your CV short and clear.
• Include only the relevant information the employer needs to know.

For more CV Tips, read the free Gateway Guide to CV Writing.

Writing a CV can be tricky, especially to support a career change. Traditional advice doesn’t always work and it can be difficult to know what’s expected in a new industry.

The free Gateway Guide to CV writing will help, but here are 3 tips to help when you’re specifically writing a career history for career change:

1. Remember your skills are transferable. Make sure you emphasis how your skills helped your achievements.
2. Address  the big question ‘why are you changing career’ in your covering letter.
3. Decide on the most appropriate type of CV for you (see the free Gateway Guide for details).

Gateway Careers consultants have experience helping people who change careers – whether that’s at 40, 20 or 60.

A change in career should be exciting. Avoid the frustration: a Gateway career consultant will help  you produce your best CV for career change. Make an enquiry today.