Q. I am the quality control manager at a firm that makes medical equipment. My quality control skills are transferable to almost any industry. I want a job as a director of quality control, but I will look at other opportunities, too. If I can manage a quality control department, I can manage any department. I want to leave my options as open as possible. How do I write a resume that will show I’m a great candidate for any management job in any industry?
A. You never want to put hiring managers or recruiters in the position of guessing where you will fit in their organization. No one is looking for a manager of “any” department in “any” industry. Companies have specific needs, and they outline those needs in their advertisements and job postings.
It is possible to write a resume that highlights your transferable skills, but that is not the same as writing a resume for any job in any industry. When you customize your resume for the job opportunity, you:
- Pay attention to the requirements in the specific job posting or advertisement, showing how your skills, experience, and education fit you to fill those requirements.
- Focus on the value you have created in the job you hold now and in prior positions by focusing on achievements (“increased quality 15%,” “reduced turnover from 10% annually to 2%”) that would benefit any company.
- Highlight any skills, experience, and education that prepares you to fulfill a new role; for example, certifications you have recently acquired or skills (like fluency in another language) that you may not have used before.
Do not be afraid to think outside the box if your goal is to move outside your current career path. For example, your background in medical equipment may have given you the knowledge you need to move into sales for a medical device firm.
Whatever you decide, always remember that hiring managers and recruiters know what they are looking for—and the burden is on you to prove that you are what they want. Please contact me today at Robin’s Resumes®, and I will be happy to help.