How do we use our current skills to change careers?

Often we underestimate our talents and abilities. As we mentioned previously, however, our skillset defines our marketability and determines what we have to offer a prospective employer.

Before attempting to change careers we must do a thorough self examination of our skills. Keep in mind that some of our skills may be related to experiences in areas that were never included in our resume as full-time employement. For example, someone who painted houses over the summer while in college might have enough experience to include it in a resume for manager of a paint store.

Let's take a look at a job description then see if we can gleen some critical skills the employer might be looking for when reviewing resumes.

Focus on management of on-time delivery of contract services while adhering to the quality requirements and production standards of company.

** Set up and/or approval of work schedules to ensure that schedules are maintained at the proper level.

** Monitor flow of materials and utilization of labor to ensure adequate production and customer service levels. Make recommendations to Executive Management when adjustments are needed.

** Review of inventories and supplies required to maintain efficient and cost-effective operations.

**Monitor allocation and use of personnel to ensure fulfillment of production schedules in all departments at the lowest possible cost.

**Facilitate operations and develop and/or approve project schedules of all departments.

**Assist Executive Management in conceiving, researching, planning, targeting, and controlling reductions in cost existing and new customer services. **Participate in the implementation technology to improve costs and maximize customer services.

**Continuously improve customer satisfaction through programs and/or training to meet customer quality and service expectations.

**Administer and manage safety and quality to provide an adequate and safe working environment.

**Facilitate assessment of and assistance in upgrading the talent base to achieve growth (i.e. reduced cost, maximize project schedule timelines and on-time customer service delivery). Suggest potential weaknesses that may require additional attention and/or training.

**Advise Executive Management and/or facilitate operations on general HR issues (i.e. potential threats and weaknesses, human capital management, employee motivation, performance tracking, monitoring employee adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), analyzing impact of SOPs on customer service levels.). **Other duties as assigned.

Skillset: managment, customer service, basic HR, scheduling, project managment, budget oversight

You might even see additional skills that would enhance a prospective employees skillset for this position, but for the purpose of this exercise we'll start with these.

Now Build the Bridge

Managment, customer service, basic HR, scheduling, project managment, budget oversight

Let's assume the actual skills of the person seeking this position include:

Shift management, call center representative, hiring, scheduling, budget development.

The actual skillset is very similar to the targeted skillset even though the work environments may have been quite different. In this example, a functional resume provides an opportunity for the prospective employee to briefly describe previous overlapping responsibilites. Emphasis on similarities in experiences would be highlighted in the cover letter.

How Did You Bridge Your Skillset?

Do you have suggestions, tips, or information on ways to bridge a skillset? What worked? What didn't work? Share it with us!