What is the best way to prepare a resume when you are changing fields and have a new degree?

Melissa,

Different career fields have different standards. For example: Designers will have very colorful resumes, uniquely organized. Lawyers typically make their resumes very professional, using very standard fonts. Try to find some people in the industry you are pursuing and ask to see their resumes (or find some online). Don't copy anyone's resume, because you want yours to be unique, but note the similarities in how people in that field present themselves.

Also, feel free to add a short summary to the top of your resume, clearly outlining your ambition in a specific field, ad why you will be a fit. You can highlight training and education here, or by making that the first section of your resume.

If you already have a resume to which you will be adding the new degree information, just add your Education section at the beginning of your resume. If you are doing a resume for the first time, you would do the same. If you degree is in the field to which you are changing, you would definitely highlight that part, perhaps citing the reason you pursued that degree within that field.

There is no one right way to set up your resume. In fact, you may have more than one resume based on where it's being sent. While many have a chronological resume starting with the most recent position, some create a functional resume focusing on skills rather than the time in a specific job. As example, if you were every a server in a restaurant you have customer service skills, multi-tasking skills and great attention to detail.

For education, some choose to highlight their education first while others choose to put it at the end. This is a personal preference. My education used to be at the beginning. Now, since my degrees are pretty old, they're at the end. It's a personal preference and depends on what you wish to highlight.

Good luck!

Hi Melissa!!

"The purpose of a résumé is to convince the hiring manager that you are the best candidate for the job," said Shweta Khare, career expert and founder of Careerbright. "It might not be an easy thing to convey convincingly if you are changing careers, but with some effort, you can stand out in the competition."

The best way to approach résumé-writing, Khare said, is to highlight your skills and extenuate your shortcomings or lack of experience. Here are a few ways to make yourself look great on paper and land an interview. The rest is up to you.

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  Use the right format
  Every possible industry you can work in has its own culture. If this is your first time writing a résumé for a job in our new field, check out as many sample résumés as you can to get a good idea of what the accepted norm is.

  
  


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  Volunteer and freelance in your new field
  You don't necessarily need to have years of experience behind you, but unless you can show that you have the knowledge and skills to do what's expected in your new field, your résumé will never be considered. Khare suggests doing some volunteer or freelance work related to the jobs you'll be applying to.

  
  


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  Quantify your achievements
  Regardless of the field(s) you worked in before, hiring managers want to see quantifiable achievements to know that you can make a positive change in any situation. Your résumé should tell the reader about what problems you solve and how you can solve them, even if they aren't related to your new industry.

  
  


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  Look at the resumes of people with your potential job
  You can gain a lot of insight into what needs to go on your résumé from your network community. Do some LinkedIn research and get introduced to individuals that currently have a similar job to the one you want. See what kind of experience and skills they list, and use that as your guide when presenting yourself on paper. More importantly, knowing someone in the industry could give you an "in" with a hiring manager.

  
  

"Your network can not only help you land a job in the field, but also offer feedback on your résumé," Khare said. "Find a contact who works in a similar position and ask them to review your résumé before you send it in."

See more at: http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/5429-career-change-resume.html#sthash.9OCssy7D.dpuf

Good luck in your new achievements!