How to navigate career transition
Change is rarely welcomed in our lives, but is frequently the catalyst for long-term positive changes in our fortunes and well-being.
Job dissatisfaction & Career transition
Some people may feel unfulfilled in their current job and may seek more meaningful or challenging work.
Career stagnation & Career transition
Some people may feel that they have reached a point in their current career where they are not able to grow or advance further.
Life changes & Career transition
Some people may experience changes in their personal life, such as having children, health issues or caring for ageing parents, that may prompt them to seek a career that is more flexible or allows them to better balance their work and personal life.
Redundancy & Career transition
Some people may be motivated to transition to a different career due to economic factors, such as job loss, company downsizing, or industry changes.
Passion or interests & Career transition
Some people may want to pursue a career that aligns with their personal passions or interests.
New opportunities & Career transition
Some people may be motivated to transition to a new career due to new opportunities for growth or advancement that are not available in their current field.
As technology continues to advance at an unprecedented rate, career transition is becoming an inevitable aspect of professional life rather than a rarity. This constant evolution means that the idea of a single, lifelong career is becoming increasingly outdated.
Embracing career transition
Rather than viewing career transitions as daunting challenges, they should be seen as opportunities to thrive in the dynamic landscape of the modern workforce. This mindset shift is crucial for navigating the technological advancements that continue to reshape the world of work.
The magic is transferable skills
Adapting your CV to highlight transferable skills is crucial during a career transition.
It's about showcasing abilities that are valuable in multiple sectors — like teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving.
This approach demonstrates to potential employers how your past experiences are applicable and beneficial to the new role, even if it's in a different industry. By focusing on these universal skills, your CV becomes more compelling, enhancing your chances of moving successfully into a new career path.
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Career transition: Assess your skills and interests
Identify your strengths and the types of activities that you enjoy.
Career transition: Research your desired field
Learn about the industry or profession, the types of jobs available, and the qualifications and experience required.
Career transition: Network
Connect with people in your desired field(s) and ask them about their experiences and how they got where they are.
Career transition: Highlight transferable skills
If you have many years of experience, you have attributes that are valuable to an employer. Transferable skills can be pivoted towards new opportunities by aligning your adaptable strengths — such as leadership, communication, and analytical abilities — with the core requirements of diverse roles. This emphasis not only showcases your versatility but also illustrates your capability to thrive in various environments, making you an appealing candidate across industries.
Career transition: Create a plan
Set specific and measurable goals for yourself, and develop a plan to achieve them. This plan may include interim steps you will need to take to ultimately qualify for your desired career.
Career transition: Be persistent
Career transitions can be challenging, but with determination and hard work, you can achieve your goals.
Is there an age limit to making a career transition?
Yes, and no...
Career transition: Too young and too old
There is no age limit to making a career transition, and people of all ages can make changes to their career paths. Age can be a factor in a career transition, as some people may feel that they are too old to start over in a new field, while others may feel that they are too young to have reached a dead-end in their current career.
Career transition: Age is just a number
It is important to remember that age is just a number, and that people of all ages have the ability to learn new skills and succeed in new careers. Employers are often looking for candidates with a diverse range of experience and perspectives, and age can be an asset in this regard.
Career transition: Age discrimination is real
However, it's important to note that age discrimination does exist, and older workers may find it harder to find a job or get hired for a position, especially in some fields where companies are looking for younger candidates.
With that being said, it's important to keep in mind that it's never too late to make a change, and that many people have successfully transitioned to new careers at different stages in their lives. I'm one of them; ask me about it. It's important to be honest with yourself about your motivations and to be realistic about the challenges you may face, but with determination, a solid plan, and the right mindset, you can make a successful career transition at any age.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Executive CV Imperatives, The CV development process, inclusions, fees and packages
How do I engage you to write my CV?
Most people like to start with a phone call to chat about the options and my process.
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This phone chat provides a valuable opportunity to ensure you select the most appropriate CV package that caters to your unique needs.
Click on the phone, anytime night and day, to book a complimentary 15 minute call at a time that suits you.
During this initial call, we will go through my process, and I will outline the kind of support and communication you can anticipate throughout our partnership. The primary objective here is to instil confidence in my ability to present your profile in a light that optimises your chances of securing interviews.
Ready to proceed? Kindly choose a package and complete your payment via debit card, credit card, or bank transfer. Following this, we'll arrange an initial call to explore your requirements. Together, we'll refine your CV and any additional documents included in your chosen package until you're entirely satisfied. Should you require further assistance, additional CV services are available at your discretion.
If your needs are urgent, the best approach is to complete my form with as much detail as possible. This provides me with important context.
My process and my credentials
We will work together to carefully align your CV with the employer's selection criteria.
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Review of selection criteria
A detailed examination of the employer's specific criteria to ensure your application aligns precisely with their expectations.
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Discussion about potential employer
We explore the employer's culture, market dynamics, and broader industry factors to inform a nuanced application.
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Personal attributes 'gap' analysis
Evaluating the alignment between your attributes and the employer's criteria, we strategise to accentuate your strengths and mitigate any weaknesses.
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Initial CV build
This stage involves developing the first draft of your CV, highlighting your achievements and experience in a manner tailored to the role.
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Review and Refinement
Rigorous refinement of your CV ensures it presents a compelling narrative that aligns closely with the employer's requirements.
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Preparation of supporting documents and social media profile
We also prepare any necessary supporting documents and optimise your social media profile for a consistent professional image.
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Application
The final step is the submission of your carefully crafted application, maximising your chances of securing an interview.
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CV Writer Certification and Memberships
I am a founder-member of the UK-based CVRA, which professionally certifies and educates CV and Resume Writers worldwide.
Can we chat before I make a purchase?
Yes, we can have a brief chat before you place an order for any CV package. Once an order is placed, for the £205 and up CV packages, we can Zoom meet or phone at mutually convenient times to discuss your CV needs and the best approach, or to hone the documents. It's best for me to see your old or existing CV, and the job ad or job specification before we meet for the first time.
How do I select a CV package?
The job ad or description will set out exactly what an employer wants from you.
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It's quite common for senior people to feel that they can skip certain aspects of the application because of their status, but if your resume doesn't align with the selection criteria it almost certainly won't pass the ATS, let alone be read by a human.
Executive CV Elements
The key elements of most executive job applications are: the CV, the Cover Letter or e-note, and the LinkedIn Profile.
- A CV (referred to as a Resume in the USA and Australia) is a concise summary of your qualifications, knowledge, skills, experience, and achievements, tailored to the selection criteria of the job you seek.
- The cover letter, often digital (an e-note) in today’s online application processes, distils your CV’s pertinent attributes into a succinct pitch.
- Applicants are frequently required to "address the selection criteria," providing responses for both essential and desirable skills, knowledge, experience, and achievements.
Implicitly, your application should demonstrate alignment with the employer's selection criteria, even if not explicitly requested.
The cover letter (or its electronic counterpart) and LinkedIn profile derive from your CV, supporting your application for the specific role. LinkedIn is crucial for roles where a professional network is key and serves as a platform for potential headhunting.
If your needs are urgent, the best approach is to email me with as much detail as possible.
What exactly are 'selection criteria'?
Consider this your blueprint for differentiation, addressed to ensure your pitch precisely mirrors the attributes sought by the employer
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Selection criteria delineate the exact qualifications, experiences, and personal attributes a company values in candidates, especially critical for executives poised to align with an organisation's strategic aims and culture.
Such criteria typically include a blend of essential and preferred qualifications, highlighting:
- Demonstrated prowess in leadership and adeptness in team oversight.
- Advanced educational qualifications and pertinent professional history.
- Strategic acumen and sector-specific insight.
- International experience, showcasing a global perspective and cross-cultural competency.
- Notable accomplishments that have had a tangible impact on previous organisations.
Often referred to by various titles like Job Specifications, Position Requirements, and Competency Frameworks, these criteria provide a detailed blueprint of the expectations for applicants, addressing both technical abilities and behavioural virtues.
What sectors do you specialise in?
I have extensive experience across private, public, and third sectors on three continents.
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I have authored executive CVs for, and/or been employed by, organisations in these sectors, among others:
Executive and C-Suite CVs
- CEO, Director, Senior Executive roles in the private, public and third sectors
- Overseas postings and migration Resumes and CVs (USA, Australia, New Zealand)
- Third sector Executive CVs
- Pharmaceutical, Health & NHS Trust Executive CVs
- Financial services and Insurance Executive CVs
- Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Education Senior Appointment CVs
- Construction and Engineering Executive CVs
- Transport and Logistics Executive CVs
- Technology, e-Business and Digital Executive CVs
- Retail & Hospitality Executive CVs
- Government, County Council, political and Local Authority CVs
- Marketing and Sales Executive CVs
- IT and Information Management Executive CVs
- Mining & Resources Executive CVs (extensive experience)
- Franchisee application CVs (McDonalds etc)
CVs submitted to these organisations
The accomplishment checklist
A compelling CV must convey your potential capacity to drive success in complex corporate landscapes.
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A compelling executive CV must showcase your capacity to drive success in complex corporate landscapes, focusing on significant and measurable achievements over duties and responsibilities.
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Personal action accomplishments
In this context, consider problems as constraints on an organisation from a prospective employer's viewpoint. Reflect on challenges you've overcome or opportunities you've seized. |
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About the PAR Technique
The Problems->Actions->Results (PAR) method helps highlight your professional accomplishments, filling the 'experience' sections of your CV to show you meet an employer's needs. |
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1.Financial Accomplishments
Consider any actions taken to save or make money, boost efficiency, or enhance productivity. Have you expanded sales, developed new areas, or streamlined operations?
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2.Innovative Accomplishments
Reflect on any adopted innovations or identified needs leading to new products, services, or strategies, showcasing your ability to think ahead and bring about change.
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3.Interpersonal and leadership accomplishments
Your contributions to improving team relations, enhancing communication, or leading initiatives underline your leadership and collaborative skills.
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4.Quality and added-value accomplishments
Have you improved training, recruitment, product quality, or customer experience? Highlight how you've raised standards or added value.
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Alternatives to the STAR technique, include CAR (Context, Action, Result), PAR (Problem, Action, Result), SOAR (Situation, Obstacle, Action, Result), SCAR (Situation, Challenge, Action, Result), SAO (Situation, Action, Outcome), OAR (Opportunity, Action, Result), and DAR (Difficulty, Action, Result), offer versatile frameworks for articulating competencies and achievements.
Each model varies slightly, focusing on different aspects of a situation, whether it's the context, problem, obstacle, challenge, opportunity, or difficulty faced. This variety allows individuals to tailor their storytelling to best match their experiences and the interviewer's expectations, ensuring a concise and impactful presentation of their skills and successes.
How to Stuff Up Your Job Application
Numerous individuals submit applications for countless roles, only to be met with silence.
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Here's where they often stuff up:
Overlooking the ATS
The primary stumbling block? Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). A staggering 70% of CVs are thought to be sifted out by these digital gatekeepers at the first hurdle because they fail to align with the employer's selection criteria, marking the downfall of the one-size-fits-all CV.
The Generic CV Trap
Distributing the same CV for varied applications is a guaranteed misstep. Personalise your CV for each role, highlighting how your unique skills and experiences position you as the ideal candidate.
Incompatibility with Job Specifications
If your CV doesn't echo the skills and experience the job advert demands, chances are it'll be passed over. Ensure your CV meticulously matches the job requirements detailed in the employer's specification.
Overly Stylised CVs
Avoid overly stylised CVs that prioritise aesthetics over functionality. Laden with colours and complex layouts, these CVs often confuse Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), rendering them fatally ineffective. Also, many organisations and jurisdictions will reject applications containing photographs to avoid accusations of gender or ethnicity bias.
To avoid the pitfalls and boost your chances of an interview, focus on devising a CV that's not just clear and concise but also bespoke for the job in question and compatible with ATS requirements.
To avoid the pitfalls and boost your chances of an interview, focus on devising a CV that's not just clear and concise but also bespoke for the job in question and compatible with ATS requirements.
Please complete this form if you'd like a 15 minute chat prior to making a commitment to purchase my CV writing services. I will contact you to confirm a precise time and date.
If your needs are urgent please contact me by phone, FB or TXT.
Elle has consistently provided personalised, results-driven CV consultancy services, with a fifteen-year track record in delivering personal support that accentuates the achievements and aspirations of her clients. This means moving beyond a comprehensive job history to spotlight accomplishments and skills that directly address the employer's wants and needs (selection criteria).
Hitting the sweet spot with your CV
Selection criteria may not be explicitly stated in a job description, but addressing them is crucial if you are to align your application to the employer's needs, requirements, and circumstances.
- Your attributes: The first circle represents your (the applicant's) knowledge, achievements, and skills
- Job description: The second circle represents the employer's strategic and operational needs in filling the post
- The market: The third circle represents the broader trends and challenges facing the employer's industry
This succinctly illustrates why each senior executive CV and its accompanying documentation must be tailored to an employer's requirements, needs, and situation. Venn and the art of the CV (Bradshaw, Edwards 2022).
CV alignment with selection criteria
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Begin with the employer's needs.
This vital process entails deeply considering the employer's selection criteria. Understanding their demands allows us to precisely tailor your application to meet their expectations."
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Your attributes versus their needs.
We evaluate how your qualities, experience, and achievements align with the employer's selection criteria. This review guides our approach to accentuate your strengths and address or downplay any weaknesses, ensuring your application is best positioned.
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Starting Your CV
The groundwork of your application is laid here with the creation of your CV's first draft. Utilising insights from earlier steps, we showcase your achievements, skills, and experience in a pitch crafted for the role.
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CV review and refinement
Next, we carefully review and enhance your CV, focusing on crafting a narrative that aligns closely with the employer's requirements. Each aspect is examined to ensure optimal alignment and a compelling pitch.
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Supporting documents and social media.
We prepare requested supporting materials like cover letters and answers to questions. We also create or fine-tune your social media presence to ensure it reflects a consistent and professional image, further supporting your application.
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Application submission.
This final phase is where you submit the carefully curated and error-free application to the potential employer, ensuring it adheres to all specifications. This is designed to maximise your likelihood of being called for an interview.
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This holistic approach aims to boost your success in securing interviews by meticulously aligning your profile with employer expectations and weaving a persuasive story of your skills and experience. Although our strategy adapts to each client's unique needs, this outline showcases our core methodology. In situations without a specific job target, we apply sector-wide or role-specific criteria to tailor your application, ensuring broad relevance and appeal. Nonetheless, this broad-stroke approach may not be as effective for executive positions, which require bespoke applications.
Aligning your CV
Tailor your CV to the prospective employer's specific needs and demonstrate how your accomplishments align with their requirements. Providing concrete examples with metrics strengthens your case and enhances your chances of securing an interview.
- Your attributes: The first circle represents your (the applicant's) knowledge, achievements, and skills
- Job description: The second circle represents the employer's strategic and operational needs in filling the post
- The market: The third circle represents the broader trends and challenges facing the employer's industry
