Will employers take me seriously if I have no experience in the new field?

Many will if you show transferable skills, relevant volunteering or training, and a clear reason for the change.

Should I list all my old jobs?

List recent or relevant jobs in full and shorten older ones to a line. One or two pages is enough.

Which transferable skills work best?

The ones named in the job advert, such as dealing with people, reliability, teamwork and staying calm. Give one example of each.

I find it hard to write about myself. Where do I start?

Start by listing what you do in your current job and what the new job asks for. Ceev can write the CV from your own answers, typed or spoken, and show a free preview.

Career changer CV example

A strong career changer CV shows how the skills from your old job apply to the new one, backed by real examples. It should lead with the parts of your experience that match the new role and explain the change in one clear sentence.

Owen Hughes

Career changer

owen@example.com · 07700 900193 · Nottingham

Profile

Reliable shop supervisor with nine years in retail, now moving into care work after helping to look after an older relative and volunteering at a community lunch club. Calm and patient, and used to helping people who are worried or upset. Looking for a care assistant role and ready to complete the Care Certificate and any training the employer requires.

Experience

Shop Supervisor

a high-street shoe shop

Led a team of five sales assistants on weekend shifts and helped new starters settle in

Dealt with upset customers calmly, listened to the problem and found a fair solution

Completed cash-ups and opening and closing routines accurately

Trained new colleagues on till procedures and stock handling

Moved stock safely, following the shop's manual handling training

Volunteer

a community lunch club for older people

Served meals and drinks to around 25 guests each week and sat with guests who wanted company

Helped guests in and out of the hall and told the organiser when someone seemed unwell

Completed a Level 2 food hygiene certificate to help in the kitchen

Helped plan the weekly activities, including quizzes and singalongs

Volunteered every week for over a year

Key skills

Patience and listening

Looking after customers and guests

Reliability and punctuality

Supervising a small team

Handling complaints calmly

Cash and stock handling

Safe lifting and moving

Level 2 food hygiene

Willingness to train

Example · fictional candidate · Noir design · Use this design

Tips for a career changer CV

Write one sentence in your summary that explains why you are changing career, such as caring for a relative
Lead with the skills the new job needs, such as patience, reliability and working with people, and back each with an example from your old job
Use volunteering, caring for family or short courses to show real steps towards the new career
Put the most relevant points first under each job, and shorten older or unrelated duties
Mention courses you have done or are willing to do, such as food hygiene, first aid or the Care Certificate
Do not apologise for the change. Focus on what you can do now and what you are ready to learn

Applying with a cover letter? See our career changer cover letter example.