10 Expert Tips for Writing a Career Change CV

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Switching careers is exciting, but also downright nerve-racking. You’ve got relevant skills, buckets of passion, and a fresh sense of direction, but when it comes to putting all that into a CV? That’s when things can get a little… sticky.

In this blog, I’ll walk you through 10 expert-backed tips to help you write a career change CV that doesn’t just explain your past - it sells your future. Let’s turn that career curveball into your next big win.

 

Table of Contents

• Why a Career Change CV Needs a Different Approach

• 10 Expert Tips for Writing a Career Change CV

• Elevate Your CV with The CV Centre

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

 

Why a Career Change CV Needs a Different Approach

A career change CV needs a different approach because employers want to see that, even if you haven’t walked the same path as other candidates, you’ve picked up the right tools along the way.

That’s why it’s so important to focus on your why when writing a CV. Why are you making this change? Why now? And why are you a strong fit, even if your career path looks a little different on paper? It might mean reworking the structure of your CV, writing a personal statement that reflects your direction, and making your transferable skills shine through clearly and confidently.

Want to know how your current CV stacks up? Get a free CV review and let’s find out how we can get you moving towards that next chapter with confidence.

 

10 Expert Tips for Writing a Career Change CV

Over the years, I’ve helped thousands of professionals pivot into new industries, and the good news is it's completely doable. You just need a CV writing strategy that speaks the hiring manager’s language while staying true to your story.

Let's go through the 10 tips that will get you there.

Tip 1: Start with a Strong Personal Statement

Your personal statement is that short paragraph sitting right at the top of your CV, just under your name and contact details. A quick but powerful snapshot of who you are, what you want, and what makes you a brilliant candidate - all in 4–6 lines (no pressure, right?).

When you're switching careers, your personal statement becomes even more important. Why? Because it’s your chance to steer the conversation before the recruiter starts asking, “Hang on, why is a civil engineer applying for a job in HR?”

Pre-empt the doubt by telling your story your way and assuring them you have the essential skills required for the role. That's what they're looking for. For example:

"After five successful years leading client accounts in the marketing industry, I’m now transitioning into user experience (UX) design - driven by a deep passion for creating intuitive, people-focused digital products.
I bring strong stakeholder communication, project management, and creative problem-solving skills, all of which align with the demands of UX roles. I’m now looking to join a forward-thinking digital agency where I can contribute to impactful user-centred design projects."

Tip 2: Choose the Right CV Format

When it comes to writing a career change CV, one of the biggest game-changers is choosing the right format. There are three main types of CV formats:

• Chronological CV - This one lists your work experience in reverse order, starting with your most recent job.
• Skills-Based (Functional) CV - Instead of focusing on job titles and timelines, this format puts your transferable skills front and centre.
• Combination CV - A hybrid of the two, this one starts with your key technical skills and then adds a short summary of your job history.

For most career changers, a skills-based CV is your best friend. It shifts the focus away from “where you’ve been” and onto “what you bring to the table”. It gives you the chance to group your experience under meaningful skill areas, rather than burying it under old job titles that might not match your new direction.

Tip 3: Highlight Transferable Skills

Now we’re getting to the heart of what makes a career change CV work - your transferrable skills. These are the golden nuggets of experience you’ve built up over the years that can slot neatly into your new role… even if the industries look worlds apart on paper.

Here’s how to make those skills shine:

• Start by reviewing the job description. What skills are they asking for? Leadership? Communication skills? Problem-solving? Jot them down.
• Group your experience under clear skill headings. This is where the skills-based CV format really earns its keep. Use headings like “Project Management”, “Client Relations”, or “Training and Development”, then add bullet points that show where and how you used each skill.

Tip 4: Link Past Experience to the New Role

Once you’ve identified those transferrable skills, the next step is to link them clearly to the role you want. It’s not enough to list them, you need to tell the employer why they matter in this new context.

Here’s how to connect the dots:

• Look at your past roles through a fresh lens. Maybe you led a team in retail, handled budgets, or dealt with tricky customer queries. That’s people management, financial awareness, and conflict resolution right there.
• Lead with outcomes and show how your past work delivered results that are still relevant. "Reduced training time for new hires by 25%" is just as valuable to a future employer as it was to your old one.

Tip 5: Use Keywords from the Job Description

88% of employers believe they’re missing highly qualified candidates because those candidates are being filtered out by ATS software simply for not submitting ‘ATS-friendly’ CVs. That means their applications don’t contain the specific keywords or criteria the system’s looking for - so they get binned before a human even gets a look in. Frustrating, right?

The key is to naturally weave these terms into your personal statement, skills summary, and experience descriptions. Think of it as your way of saying, “Hey, I get what you’re after and I’ve got it.”

Tip 6: Highlight Relevant Achievements

When you’re making a career change, highlighting your achievements does two powerful things: first, it gives hiring managers something concrete to latch onto, and second, it shifts the focus away from industry-specific experience and onto what you actually delivered.

Here’s what I recommend:

• Place achievements under each role you’ve held. For instance, if you're moving into operations, talk about how you improved processes or reduced bottlenecks in previous roles. They don’t have to be dramatic - even small wins like introducing a new system or mentoring a junior colleague can go a long way in showing initiative and value.
• Keep them outcome-focused. Think “what was better because you were there?” That’s the golden question every employer is silently asking when they read your CV.

Tip 7: Explain Your Career Change Motivation

Now, let’s talk about the why. It’s the question hiring managers will be asking the moment they spot your CV doesn’t follow a traditional path. Why the change? Why now? And why this direction?

Start by setting the tone in your personal statement and carry that thread throughout your CV. If you’ve got hobbies or personal interests that link to your new field - like coding in your spare time, writing, design, or mentoring - include them. Relevant volunteering or side projects can also be brilliant proof of your passion and commitment.

If this is your dream job, you should let it show. By the time they get to the bottom of the page, you want the hiring manager thinking, “This actually makes a lot of sense.”

Tip 8: Tailor Your Education Section

The education section of a CV doesn’t usually get much love. It often ends up as a bit of a copy-and-paste job from whatever you wrote ten years ago. But when you’re changing careers, your education can play a much more strategic role.

For example, let’s say you studied English Literature but want to move into set design. If your degree included a module on scriptwriting or dramatic structure, mention it - and explain how it gave you a deeper understanding of stagecraft, narrative flow, or the relationship between story and visual elements. The more specific you can be on the tasks you completed, the better.

Tip 9: Keep It Concise and Relevant

One of the trickiest parts of writing a career change CV is striking that balance between showing the value of your past employment history and knowing when to let go of the bits that don’t quite fit.

The key is to focus on relevance. For example, if you’re moving from hospitality into admin, your customer service background is gold. But the fact that you were responsible for opening and closing the till might not be so important anymore, unless it ties directly into cash handling or responsibility in your target role.

Tip 10: Include a Professional Online Presence

These days, one of the first things a potential employer will do after glancing at your CV is pop your name into Google. So, let’s make sure what they find backs you up, not lets you down.

Aside from making sure you're not posting anything you wouldn't want your employer to see on your socials like Facebook, a well-optimised LinkedIn profile shouldn't be underestimated. Even just sharing content or engaging in relevant discussions can show recruiters that you’re serious, switched on, and already immersing yourself in the industry.

 

Elevate Your CV with The CV Centre

Each of these tips is designed to help you shift the narrative - from “not quite qualified” to “clearly capable”. That’s the magic of a well-written career change CV.

At The CV Centre, we specialise in helping people just like you take the next step with confidence. Whether you need a complete CV transformation or expert advice to bring it all together, my team and I are ready to help you create a document that opens doors.

You’re not starting from scratch. You’re building something better. Let’s make your CV reflect that.

Explore our CV writing for career change services.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Let's recap some of the key points from this blog in simple, digestible FAQs.

How Do I Explain My Career Change In My CV?

To explain a career change on your CV, start with a clear and confident personal statement. Briefly share why you’re making the move, what’s driving the shift, and how your existing skills and experience align with the new role. Frame it as a logical, proactive step.

It’s also a good idea to expand on your motivation in your cover letter. That’s your chance to give a bit more background and really connect the dots for the employer. Together, your CV and cover letter should tell a consistent story: this change isn’t random, it’s the next natural step.

How Do You Explain a Career Break On a CV?

To explain a career break on a CV, be open and straightforward. Include the dates, add a short explanation (e.g. career break for caregiving, travel, study, or health), and focus on any positive outcomes, like skills gained, courses completed, or perspective gained. A short gap won’t put employers off, but leaving them guessing might.

How to Write a Personal Statement for a CV When Changing Career?

To write a personal statement for a career change CV, focus on three things: where you’re coming from, where you want to go, and why you’re the right person to make that move. Lead with your key strengths, mention your motivation for changing direction, and show how your past experience translates to future success.