Is Your Resume Blocking Your Career Change?
The Career Change Paradox
Let me share something that might surprise you: that polished resume and LinkedIn profile you've worked so hard on? They might actually be working against your career change goals. I know this sounds counterintuitive, but after helping thousands of professionals transition careers, I've seen this paradox play out time and time again.
Why Your Past Is Getting in Your Way
Here's the reality: your resume and LinkedIn profile are essentially historical documents. They tell the story of where you've been, what you've accomplished, and the skills you've developed in your previous roles. While that's great for moving up within your current field, it becomes a liability when you're trying to pivot into something new.
Think about it. When you apply online for positions in your target field, you're likely getting auto-rejected or hearing crickets. Why? Because applicant tracking systems and recruiters are programmed to look for exact matches to their required skills and experience. Your "historical documents" are speaking the language of your old career, not your desired one.
The Traditional Application Black Hole
I hear this all the time in my practice: "J.T., if I could just get in front of them and explain my transferable skills, they'd understand why I'm perfect for the role!" And you know what? You're probably right! But here's the problem: you're not getting that chance because your application is being filtered out before any human eyes even see it.
The Game-Changing Strategy: Your LinkedIn Feed
Now, here's where things get exciting. While your LinkedIn profile might be working against you, your LinkedIn feed can become your secret weapon for career transformation. Instead of relying on your profile to tell your story, you can use your feed to demonstrate your knowledge, passion, and capabilities in your target industry.
How to Leverage Your Feed for Career Change
Think of your LinkedIn feed as your live portfolio. Start sharing insights, analysis, and thoughts about the industry you want to enter. Comment on relevant trends, engage with industry leaders, and showcase your understanding of the field's challenges and opportunities. This accomplishes two crucial things:
It provides evidence of your knowledge and capabilities in your target field
It helps you appear in recruiters' searches thanks to LinkedIn's algorithm, which picks up on the consistent themes in your content
Building Your Bridge to a New Career
When you consistently share relevant content about your target industry, you're creating proof of your capabilities that goes beyond what a traditional resume can convey. This allows you to approach hiring managers and say, "I'm passionate about your industry, and here's why," with a track record of engagement that backs up your words.
The Power of Strategic Visibility
Remember, career changes happen all the time—but rarely through traditional application channels. By shifting your strategy from "hoping to be found" through applications to actively demonstrating your value through your LinkedIn feed, you're taking control of your career narrative.
This isn't about abandoning your resume entirely. It's about understanding its limitations and creating new pathways to showcase your potential. Your LinkedIn feed becomes your living, breathing portfolio of expertise—one that speaks the language of where you want to go, not just where you've been.
The best part? This approach allows you to build relationships and credibility in your target industry before you even apply for positions. When you do reach out to hiring managers, they'll see someone who's already engaged with their industry, not just another resume in the pile.
Remember, changing careers isn't about fitting yourself into the traditional hiring box; it's about thinking strategically and creating new ways to showcase your value. Start using your LinkedIn feed as the powerful tool it is, and you might be surprised at the doors that begin to open.
Go get ‘em!
J.T. O’Donnell
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