Dear Sam: I have had a successful career in the accounting and finance sector, but I have been managing a department outside of accounting for the past year. My current job is very stressful and I want out. My ideal job is a non-supervisory role where I would be doing financial analysis, reporting and accounting. I have decided that is what I love to do and want to go back. The problem is that I make a high salary and my career path would logically lead to upper management. Money and responsibility aren’t everything. How should I present myself in my resume and cover letter to positions I want to apply for? – B.
Dear B: Wonderful question and one I hear a lot from those seeking to downsize a career and pursue something that better reflects their current career target and goals in life and career. The key to positioning yourself how you want to be seen is to identify the key qualifications and experiences sought in that lower-level position and reflect an abundance of that content on your resume.
Even though you have supervised others, you have performed the same functions you now wish to pursue exclusively in the past. Therefore, create the content of your resume with the majority of it presenting your experiences “doing” rather than “managing.” This means you will have to build a summary positioning you as a hands-on contributor versus a manager. Then, in the professional experience section, be sure to prioritize information on what most qualifies you for your target roles instead of what over-qualifies you. You will also want to perhaps trim the number of years of experience you present so that you are providing hiring managers with a competitive picture of your candidacy and the expected 8 to 10 years of history.
Lastly, in your cover letter, do not be afraid to tell your audience that you are seeking to return to your passion and not seeking the management accountability or salary you had as a manager. Don’t be afraid to be honest and explain the reasons for your career transition. When coupled with a strong resume with very targeted content, your transition will be much smoother.
Samantha Nolan is an Advanced Personal Branding Strategist and Career Expert, founder and CEO of Nolan Branding. Do you have a resume, career, or job search question for Dear Sam? Reach Samantha at dearsam@nolanbranding.com. For information on Nolan Branding’s services, visit www.nolanbranding.com or call 888-9-MY-BRAND or 614-570-3442.
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