Guide · CVs
How to write a career change CV (UK)
Changing career means your CV has to answer one question fast: why should someone hire you for a job you have not done before? Here is a simple structure that puts your transferable skills first, with a template you can copy.
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Why a normal CV works against you
A standard reverse-date CV leads with your current job title. If that title is in a different field, a recruiter skimming it may decide you are not a fit before they reach the skills that matter. A career change CV moves the evidence for the new role to the top.
The 6-part structure
- Target headline. Name the role you want, not the one you have. For example: Trainee Project Coordinator | Former Retail Manager.
- Profile (3 to 4 lines). Say what you are moving into, why, and the two or three strengths you bring from your past work.
- Key transferable skills. Five or six bullet points, each matched to the job advert and backed by a short example: Scheduling: planned rotas for a team of 14 across 7 days.
- Relevant training and projects. Courses, certificates, volunteering or side projects linked to the new field. Put these above your work history.
- Work history. Keep it, but rewrite each role so the bullets highlight the transferable parts rather than every duty.
- Education and extras. Short and at the bottom, unless a qualification is essential for the new role.
How to find your transferable skills
- Print the job advert and highlight every skill and duty it mentions.
- Next to each one, write a moment from your past work where you did something similar, even in a different setting.
- Use the advert’s own wording on your CV, so both people and applicant tracking systems spot the match.
- Add numbers where you honestly can: team size, budgets, customers served, time saved.
Copyable template
[Your name] [Town] · [phone] · [email] · [LinkedIn] [Target role] | Former [current field] professional PROFILE [Current role] with [X] years’ experience in [area], now moving into [new field]. Brings [strength 1], [strength 2] and [strength 3], backed by [course or project]. KEY SKILLS • [Skill from advert]: [one-line example with a number] • [Skill from advert]: [one-line example] • [Skill from advert]: [one-line example] • [Skill from advert]: [one-line example] TRAINING AND PROJECTS • [Course or certificate], [provider], [year] • [Project or volunteering linked to the new field] WORK HISTORY [Job title], [Employer], [dates] • [Bullet showing a transferable skill] • [Bullet showing a result] EDUCATION [Qualification], [place], [year]
Mistakes to avoid
- Apologising for the change or explaining it at length. One confident line in the profile is enough.
- Listing every duty from old jobs instead of the parts the new employer cares about.
- Sending the same CV to every advert. Tweak the headline and skills for each one.
- Going over two pages.
- Leaving out unpaid work, courses or projects that prove your interest.
Related guides: how to write a cover letter, how to write a personal statement for a job and how to keep track of job applications.
Frequently asked questions
- Should a career change CV be skills-based?
- Usually a hybrid works best: a skills section near the top, followed by a normal work history. Many recruiters distrust CVs that hide dates and employers completely.
- How long should a career change CV be?
- Two pages at most for most UK roles. One page is fine if you are early in your career.
- Do I need to explain why I am changing career?
- Briefly. One line in your profile is enough on the CV. Save the fuller story for your cover letter or interview.
- What if I have no experience in the new field?
- Lead with transferable skills and anything that shows real interest: a short course, volunteering, or a small project. These count as evidence.
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