How do you explain a change in the career move?

When you want to have a career change, it is of course, your prerogative. However, you will still have to satisfy the curiosity of the would-employer as he/she would be measuring you in terms of your performance, stay with the company and other capabilities. Hence, you will owe an explanation to him/her as to what prompted you to want to change careers. While speaking it is easy - with the right preparation, to say it objectively why a career change took place - however, in writing it is a bit difficult to explain so it comes out clearly.

What you need to do to make your point clear enough so that you would be called for an interview:

• write as concisely as possible about your educational qualifications and skills set; most people will concentrate on highlighting their skills sets as the best reason for switching careers; however your qualifications also could be a good direction pointer at times (for example you are an excellent office secretary/ personal assistant with a Master's degree in English and are good at PR work and communication training - you could make a good teacher for undergraduate students based on your high qualifications and excellent skills set)

highlight your career objectives so the career move would look obvious (for example, in the above example if you have a career objective as 'to be a good trainer and/or educator in communication' then a teaching profession would fall in line - and not really look a too far away jump

• highlight certain experiences in the past (during or outside the last job ) when you had experienced extreme satisfaction taking up different responsibilities, which actually had opened your eyes to your new talents - and these experiences motivated you to seek out jobs as the present one.

Ensure that you assure that you are confident that you will perform well in the new line of work and that a change in career based on the chosen reasons will actually help you grow professionally and personally, which in turn will make you a valuable addition to the company.

The above can be highlighted in the cover letter better than in the actual CV, while you carefully draw the attention of your prospective employer to the best attitudinal and technical skills set. The cover letter can also help you prepare the would-be employer to the difference in the experience and work history. Briefly explain in the cover letter why you think that a change in career would be good for you and why such a change would make you a valuable asset to the company.

Lastly, remember to highlight only those skills that will make you look as a good match for the present job. Do not dilute the fit, by adding all the irrelevant (to the present job) responsibilities and duties carried at the previous job, as this would actually show as a misfit. Highlight only what you need to make your candidature look as closely matched with the job applied for as possible.