transition | Robin's Resumes (r)

Resume Q&A: How Do I Transition to Self-Employment?

Oct 24 2021

Q. I spent most of the pandemic at home, working and taking care of my kids. It was tough, and I was actually looking forward to the chance to get back to the office. But even though I may be ready, the daycare center and after-school program I used are not yet running at full capacity. My managers are running out of patience with my need for flexibility. My priorities have changed. I want to take part in the gig economy, where I have more control over my time—and my health. How do I transition to self-employment?

A. Many people have been giving serious thought to becoming self-employed after the pandemic. Many people begin the transition to self-employment by keeping their current job and fitting in freelance work at night or on weekends. That is difficult to do when you are already stressed from childcare and your full-time job. You may want to see if your current employer is open to part-time work—or even to becoming your first freelance client.

There are several ways to build a client pool:

Short-term contract positions let you build up connections and a reputation in your industry. You will need a resume to apply for those positions.
Networking is vital to anyone who is self-employed. Keep a resume on hand to provide to anyone who has a lead and needs more information about your capabilities and experience. You may want to join the local chamber or business networking groups.
Reputable online job websites can connect you with people who are looking for individuals to handle a special project.
Self-promotion online—posting on professional sites like LinkedIn, establishing your own website, and even creating an e-book—gives you visibility. Take advantage of print opportunities also, in the local paper or business magazine.

You should be aware that self-employment comes with a few extra legal and financial requirements. For example, California recently tried to pass Proposition 22 which tightened the rules defining independent contractors. The legislators were concerned that companies used the “independent contractor” designation to deprive workers of health, retirement, and other benefits. Whatever your own take on this situation, you must be careful that your jobs confirm to “independent contractor” status. Furthermore, you should prepare to take over the high cost of benefits yourself, especially health insurance for you and your family.

Robin’s Resumes® has helped many people transition to self-employment with resumes, LinkedIn profiles, and cover letters that show their value to future clients. Contact us today.

New Goals vs. Old Resume: How to Align Them

Jan 06 2019

Are you rethinking your career? You may find a looming gap between current career goals and your current resume. Many college graduates find themselves considering careers that do not align with their degree. People returning to the workforce after a break may find the skills that they acquired in the past are no longer relevant. Other job seekers may be deliberately seeking a new career path for any number of reasons; they might want to explore new interests, have better chances for advancement, or move to a place with fewer openings in their field.

Whatever your reason, there are several ways to handle that career/resume discrepancy on your resume and to prepare yourself for bridging the gap between where you are now and where you want to be.

Handling the Discrepancy on Your Resume

Hiring managers and recruiters do insist on a certain level of skill for most positions, but they are also interested in how skills are used. Review your past career to find transferable skills. These skills may be soft skills (such as leadership or communication) or hard skills (such as data analysis or sales). Then show how you used those skills to benefit employers. Within certain boundaries, it doesn’t matter if you sell shoes or cosmetics; great sales skills are always appreciated.

You should also consider organizing your resume so that you show your most relevant experience first, regardless of date. You could, for example, begin with a section titled “Relevant Experience” or “Career Highlights” before you offer a chronology. You could divide your career into two parts, listing non-relevant jobs under “Other Experience.”

Bridging the Gap to Where You Want to Be

If you see a career transition in your future, start preparing now to make yourself more marketable. Compare advertisements and job postings to see what top three or four qualifications appear over and over again; concentrate on meeting those specific qualifications. Read carefully, without regard to the job title. You may find that your ideal job (or one close to it) is available but not under the title you expected.

Take courses in your chosen field, volunteer those rusty skills to sharpen them, and work freelance, contract, or part-time jobs in the industry you are targeting to acquire current and relevant experience.

Attend networking events and gatherings where you will meet people who already work in your goal career. Even if they do not know about current openings, they can help you gain insight into what will make you more appealing to hiring managers and recruiters. When you are transitioning your career, you may want to talk to a career and transition specialist or a professional resume writer. I am qualified in both fields. Please contact me today.

Resumes for Former Educators

Mar 04 2018

According to some surveys, nearly half of all new educators transition out of teaching during the first five years. If you are about to become one of those former educators, you may be wondering what direction your new career will take and how your resume will help you get there.

In many instances, the transition from educator to employment in another field is almost seamless. For example:

Math educators to positions in finance, insurance, or forecasting
Science educators to positions in pharmaceutical, healthcare, engineering, or aerospace
English educators to positions in marketing, public relations, or social media
Language educators to positions in global industries
Computer educators to positions in IT, software development, or help desks

But former educators are not limited to those positions. You have soft skills—relationship building, communication, tracking, problem-solving, keeping in alignment with regulations—that are valuable in any field and at every level of an organization. With leadership and employee motivation a top priority for many companies, educators also have a natural fit for corporate training and Human Resources positions.

Your resume should highlight both your hard and soft skills, with an emphasis on those accomplishments and daily tasks as a teacher that would make you a good fit for the position you want. It is very important that you know where you want to fit in any organization, as recruiters and hiring managers will not determine this for you. Finally, you should prepare yourself for a new position by taking courses, applying for certifications, or handling consulting or volunteer jobs that prepare you with concrete knowledge and experience.

If you need help to envision your new career outside education or to create a resume that highlights your value to a company, please contact Robin’s Resumes®. As a certified Job and Career Transition Coach as well as a recognized resume writing expert, I can help ensure that your transition into the corporate world is a smooth, enjoyable, and profitable one.

Work Gaps: How to Return to Work or Transition Jobs

Dec 20 2015

Have you been out of work a long time or are thinking about transitioning into a new job? It is definitely possible to re-enter the workforce after a long absence or in a brand new role. Your value to a company will be clear if you take some of the following steps:

Take professional/academic courses to keep you current with your profession.
Volunteer because volunteer work also involves skills and accomplishments.
Network—you need connections in your profession. Professional associations and conferences are particularly rich networking sources.
Accept a position with a professional association or help out with a professional conference. You will be seen and remembered, and you will meet networking contacts.
Look for consulting or freelance jobs to build up your resume with current experience rather than trying to move directly into a full-time job.

If you have been out of work for a while or if you are transitioning into a new industry or profession, you may not be aware of all the opportunities available to you. Informational interviews may help you learn about job positions or career paths you had not considered. In an informational interview, you are not asking for a job but for information about your industry or profession.

Before confining your search to entry-level positions, make sure you have fully considered your current and transferrable skills. You should not need to start with a job that requires no skill and no work experience at all: you have skills and you have experience. Again, an informational interview may give you more confidence about the value you bring to a company and indicate what you can do to make yourself even more valuable.

As a professional career coach as well as a professional resume writer, I can help you return to the workplace or transition from your current career.

Parents Returning to Work: How to Prepare for the Big Day

Sep 07 2014

Whether you are now or soon will be a stay-at-home parent, you will want to start preparing for the day when the children start school and you transition back to the workplace. You want to start that job hunt with a resume that shows you still have skills and achievements that count, despite your time away.

Volunteering, particularly on a nonprofit board, is a great way to develop and maintain skills. Your contribution to the success of a nonprofit translates directly into ways you can contribute to the success of a for-profit company. And who knows? You might find that a paying job at a nonprofit is in your future.
Freelance jobs may be available in your field. If you can work them into your child care schedule, they are another good way to keep skills sharp and achieve new successes. Your satisfied clients will also be a good source of referrals when you are ready to seek full-time employment.
Participation at industry events lets you keep up with the changes in your field, as do continuing education and credentialing courses. Plus these activities help people remember you when a job opening comes up.

When you are ready to transition back to the workplace, you will want to contact a professional resume writer who has experience writing resumes for people like you, with an understandable gap in their work history. Robin’s Resumes® is here to help.