Universal Job Skills

If you are going into a new job that is nothing like the job you had before, it might be a little confusing to know what to put on your resume, or at least how to communicate those skills. A teacher in a former career might not know how to communicate that they are perfect for a sales job, or a former drill Sargent showing how they would be good at a day care center.

Sample Resume

The best way to get an idea of what you want to put on your resume is to look at samples. Here is a good site to look at sample resumes. Looking at a sample resume will allow you to get a feel for what skills to show off, and how to show that you have those skills. After checking out a few samples, you should start to see patterns in what people are listing and what universal skills transfer well into any job setting.

Universal Qualities

So, what are some of the universal qualities that all employers will look for? The ability to sell, get along with others and lead by example are three key qualities that all employer are going to want out of their employees.

These skills are important because you will be expected to work with teams and be able to come up with innovative solutions that will grow the company and make it more money.

Even if you have a job like teaching, you are going to be asked to come up with ways to make the learning experience better and be forced to work with other teachers and students to make that possible.

Figure Out Where Your Old Jobs Do Relate To The One Being Applied For

Some of your old jobs may actually be related to the one that you are going after now. Sales and teaching might not seem to be the same at all, but they have similar qualities. You have to be able to grasp new concepts and be able to show and convince others why they are important.

If you are going to go after a job as a consultant, that would imply that you have knowledge and experience on a subject, or industry, that you have worked on in the past. Connecting the dots can make writing your resume a lot easier and communicate to your potential employer that you are a good fit for the job.

Your previous employment history should show not only what you did, but what you learned and how those skills can be used in the workplace today. We all have learned a thing or two about dealing with other workers, customers and managers. Everyone has learned about sales, running a business and perhaps even managing others during their time spent working in the past.

We don't live in a vacuum where we merely move on from one task to the next, but live in a dynamic world where we are always learning and growing. The ability to see that context and connect the dots between seemingly unrelated jobs will go a long way toward successfully switching careers.