You’re thinking of trying something new in a field different from where you are now. You’re quite confident that the background and skills you have can be a perfect fit for this “something different” you’re looking into. There’s only one hitch: you don’t have all the requirements that the employer in the new field expects.

So now, you’re unsure whether it’s sensible to apply. Of course, you’d be having second thoughts, especially in the midst of a recession. It’s a huge decision. But if you take the time to do some research, face up to some challenging questions, and turn to online resources to better evaluate your transferable skills, you’d be able to have a clearer picture of where you want to go – whether to take the bull by the horns … or sit it out.

First, search company websites or even a general job board where job descriptions of the position you’re seeking are posted. A comprehensive job description should give a full list of duties and responsibilities of the job, together with the minimum (the must haves) and preferred (great-to-haves) or favored qualifications.

Then, truthfully answer these questions:

1. To what extent do my skills and background meet this job description?
2. Has my experience equipped me with adequate skills to do this job?
3. Do I have ample knowledge of the industry?
4. Do I pass the minimum requirements?
5. Among the preferred requirements, do I have something that could stand out that I should highlight and draw attention to in my resume?

Carefully go over the descriptions and underscore words and phrases that very nearly come up to, if not exactly match your skills and background; focusing first on the minimum requirements that apply to your job history. If you find many of the minimum requirements matching up to your skills, move on to the preferred requirements and see if – and where – you hold a definite advantage over other candidates.

Tags: change careers, history, job description, Job Search, job skills, resume writing

This entry was posted on Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 4:27 am and is filed under Applying for a Job, Career Changes, Free Advice, Job Search Tips, Resume. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.