Moving from a new career to another can be daunting, especially when the other is not similar. If you find yourself in such a position, you can win over the hiring manager through a career change cover letter.
Writing a cover letter for a career change is similar to writing any other cover letter. It refers to your resume that does not duplicate the same material.
Even if an employer does not specifically want a cover letter, it should always be included with your job applications.
A cover letter for a career changer should still show that the applicant has done their homework on the company, fits the job requirements, and is aligned with the organization’s mission.
The most significant distinction between a career changer’s cover letter and any other resume is the letter’s main body, which is where the candidate pitches their qualifications.
So, if you’re considering a career change, you’re just in line.
However, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to writing a cover letter, but there are a few things to keep in mind if you’re changing careers.
Table of contents
What is a Good Reason for a Career Change?
You’re not alone if you’re considering a career change.
According to an EdX survey, 32 percent of professionals aged 25 to 44 explored changing careers, and 29 percent had previously done so!
Also, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average worker takes upwards of ten different occupations before turning 50, and this number is expected to climb even more in the following decades.
This means over the course of people’s working lives, they expect an average person to change careers five to seven times.
While working used to be thought of as little more than a way to make ends meet, it is now commonly recognized that choosing a rewarding career is one of the keys to a happy existence.
With this in mind, perhaps it’s time for you to take a step back and consider some of the most common reasons people decide to change careers.
Because of the changing nature of employment, you may be able to make a career move sooner than past generations.
People are increasingly working in unconventional ways, such as part-time, remote, or flexible.
Education and training are now becoming an ongoing aspect of a more dynamic working style, whereas skills and vocations were once learned for life.
New learning possibilities, such as online classes, help to make this possible.
But why do people switch careers? What are their justifications? What are your motivations for making a career change? We list the top 5 reasons people change careers below.
These reasons might be a good one to change yours too.
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1. For Career Satisfaction
Professionals frequently shift occupations in order to achieve a higher degree of job satisfaction.
A middle manager, for example, might seek a higher-level position in an industry where their experience and skills might be useful in an upper-management role.
Another example is someone who feels stuck in their current job with no room for advancement within the same industry.
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2. Career Flexibility
Another key aspect that influences job change is work flexibility.
Employees who are juggling a profession and their personal lives frequently need and require a flexible role.
One of the most prevalent reasons for changing occupations is to achieve a better work-life balance.
3. Salary Increase
According to the EdX poll, 39 percent of individuals who considered or had previously changed occupations done so in order to improve their pay.
Because the average wage gain is between 3% and 5%, changing occupations is sometimes the greatest method to increase your earnings.
4. Hunger for a Fresh Challenge
Even if you’re happy with your job, company, and coworkers, it’s possible that everything has become too normal after a few years.
A career shift could be just what you need if you’re the type of person who needs to challenge themselves and try new things.
Getting a little out of our comfort zone can be just what we need to feel fulfilled and accomplished at work.
Starting a new job path that motivates you to learn new information and abilities may help spice things up if you’re feeling too comfy.
5. Change in Priority
A work is similar to a relationship in that you can sometimes grow in separate ways.
While you may have been enthusiastic about your company’s objective in the past, that may no longer be the case.
The notion that people can change dramatically over the course of a lifetime isn’t new, and what you like doing at 22 may no longer be appealing at 40.
You may have experienced a spiritual awakening and desire to leave the office for a more relaxed work environment.
Alternatively, while financial security may not have been a top priority when you were younger, you now need more stability than your present freelancing employment provides.
Changes in values, concerns, and priorities may indicate that a job change is necessary.
6. Having a Different Passion
Take a moment to recall your adolescent years. Did you secretly wish to become a stand-up comic, but your school counselor recommended you to pursue a business degree instead?
There’s nothing wrong with pursuing a long-term goal or doing something you love.
We’re frequently pressured to make sensible or realistic professional selections, but you’re the only one who can decide what job is best for you.
It’s now easier than ever to investigate a new career or increase your internet presence thanks to technological advancements.
It is entirely possible to make a profession out of doing what you enjoy if you prepare carefully and use all the modern resources accessible to you.
7. You’re Dissatisfied with your Life
In a recent survey of British workers, job satisfaction was found to be the second most important predictor of total life satisfaction. This comes as no surprise.
If you’re unhappy, one of the first areas you should check is at your employment.
Your professional life will undoubtedly spill over into your personal life, and if you’re unhappy, a career shift may provide you with something new to focus your energies on.
There are several aspects of your job that may make you miserable, like the pressure, the long hours, your coworkers, or the monotonous task.
If you’re dissatisfied with your workplace and it’s harming your personal life, it’s time to make a change.
What Do I Say when Changing Careers?
Hiring managers will be curious about why you want to change jobs. They want to hear that you’re leaving for the right reasons—a better opportunity, more challenges, and career growth.
The interviewer will want to ensure that you aren’t leaving your job because of poor performance, difficult working relationships, or hate your job or boss.
When responding to questions about why you are switching jobs, it’s important to provide reassurance that you are moving on for the right reasons, not just to get out of a bad work situation.
When you’re changing careers, you have to be careful with your
The reason you desire to change employment will pique the interest of hiring managers. They want to know you’re leaving for the correct reasons, such as a better opportunity, more challenges, or career advancement.
The interviewer will want to make sure you’re not leaving because of poor performance, strained working relationships, or a dislike for your job or boss.
When answering queries about why you’re changing jobs, make sure to reassure them that you’re doing so for the right reasons, not just to get out of a poor situation.
How to Write a Career Change Cover Letter in 2023
If you’re applying for a job in a different industry or field, your cover letter or letter of intent will play a big role in whether or not you obtain the job.
Because your CV may lack the necessary experience that hiring managers seek, you should utilize your cover letter to illustrate why you are a good fit despite lacking that specific work history.
A decent cover letter should clarify why you are qualified for the position. A cover letter written following a career change, on the other hand, must go above and beyond.
Make sure you do your homework about the firm before writing your cover letter so you can show the employer that you understand the organization and why you want to work there.
Three key points must be addressed. This will help you stand out from other candidates who have more hands-on experience in the field.
You don’t have to go over each of these points in order or in separate paragraphs. The goal is to make sure these topics are communicated somewhere in your letter.
1. Introduce Yourself
What three facts about yourself would you tell a hiring manager if you only had three minutes? What are your plans for marketing and packaging your experience?
Are you, for example, a tech-savvy customer service representative looking to put your skills to the test in a sales role?
Are you a well-organized office manager interested in a career in human resources? Or are you a graphic designer turned software engineer looking for a career that allows you to combine your creativity and technical knowledge?
Use this section of your cover letter to highlight the attributes that distinguish you as a person and an employee.
There’s no need to go into detail about your life here, so refrain from saying things like, “After graduating from college in 2015, I chose to apply for an administrative assistant job…”
Try something like, “I’m an organized, deadline-driven administrative assistant with a knack for wordsmithing CEO communications and livening up corporate announcements.”
The purpose of your introduction should be to make it short, crisp, and relevant to the position.
2. Make Your Transferable Skills a Priority
Most crucial, concentrate on the transferable talents you have that you can use for the new job rather than the skills you have that are specific to your current work.
Examine the job description for the position you’re looking for, paying special attention to the abilities required.
Select the ones that most closely match your own abilities or experience.
Then, if at all possible, use specific anecdotes from your professional or academic background to demonstrate some of these strengths in action.
3. Emphasize your Previous Positions’ Superior Performance
Other applicants may have related experience, but if it’s substandard and can’t be backed up by strong recommendations or demonstrable results, you might be a better fit for the job than they are.
Do your best to explain how you excelled in past roles in your letter, and then relate that to a synopsis of how you would contribute to this new one.
Make sure your references will back up your claims.
4. Demonstrate your Enthusiasm for the Company
Mention how enthusiastic you are about the company. This is another technique to set yourself apart from other competent prospects.
Employers may be more interested in someone who is passionate about their company and the job opportunity than in someone who only wants a job and is uninterested in anything else.
Make it obvious in your cover letter that you are familiar with the organization and excited about the possibility to join it.
5. Bring Everything Together
Consider the last few paragraphs of your cover letter to be your concluding argument. Use your final phrases to tie everything together.
You’ve spent the preceding paragraphs creating a case for why you deserve an interview.
Make sure your cover letter ends on a positive note. Not the other way around, you should be emphasizing what you can do for the firm.
So, while you could be really excited about the prospect of learning everything there is to know about digital advertising, this isn’t the moment to bring it up.
Instead, say something like, “I’m excited to talk about how my marketing and public relations experience will help the digital advertising team!”
Career Change Cover Letter Sample
Read the sample cover letter below for ideas on how to write your own cover letter for a job move.
However, make sure to tailor the example to your specific experiences and the job you’re going for.
Download the cover letter template for a career transition (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online).
Career Change Cover Letter Sample
Career Change Cover Letter Example
Depending on where you are in your career and how much experience you have, this may look like this.
Dear Ms. Regina Smith,
Over the past few months, I’ve volunteered to represent my company at local college recruiting events, and I had no idea how much fun job fairs could be. As I meet with eager students, collect resumes, and chat with soon-to-be graduates about business development opportunities at Sunny Sales Inc., I often find myself thinking, I wish this was my full-time job. So you can imagine how excited I was when I discovered the university recruiting coordinator opportunity with Cloud Tech!
After completing a degree in business administration, I decided to put my outgoing personality and laser-focused organizational skills to work as a business development specialist for Sunny Sales Inc. Over the past two years, I’ve sharpened my communication skills in client meetings, fine-tuned my presentation experience, and sourced more than 300 warm leads. Working in sales has given me an invaluable foundation, and now I’m ready to move from business development to recruiting.
I’m energized by the prospect of applying my interpersonal skills and sales experience to the university recruiting coordinator opportunity with Cloud Tech. I think my enthusiasm for recruiting and ability to learn on the fly will serve me well in this role. I’ve outlined how my skills might fit with your specific needs below:
- Applicant outreach: As a business development specialist, I’m comfortable seeking out new opportunities, making cold calls, and selling potential clients on the advantages of Sunny Sales software.
- Conducting interviews: I make an average of 50 phone calls a day, meet with at least five clients a week, and am happiest when I get to interact with many different personalities. I’ve also gotten to participate in 10 interviews as part of a sales panel, resulting in two new hires for our organization.
- Application management: I track my 1,500+ business development contacts as well as activities, pipeline, and 30+ active opportunities in a customer resource management system. As an organized, tech-savvy professional, I think I’d be able to master an applicant tracking system in no time.
I’d love to learn more about your university recruiting strategy for the coming year and to discuss how my experience and recruiting exposure might benefit the Cloud Tech team. Please let me know if there’s any additional information I can provide, and thank you so much for your consideration.
Warmly,
Donovan
Conclusion
When writing your cover letter, be sure to highlight your unique qualities, transferrable skills, and enthusiasm for this new profession.
Explicitly stating this to potential employers will aid them in piecing together your qualifications. This will increase your chances of progressing further in the process.
References
- OnlineCurrículo – Cover Letter Template (Quick 5 step guide and great templates for your inspiration)
- flexjobs.com – 5 Common Reasons to Change Careers
- careerfoundry.com – 5 Reasons Why It’s Time To Make A Career Change
- thebalancecareers.com – Sample Career Change Cover Letter and Writing Tips
- themuse.com – 5 Steps to Writing a Cover Letter as a Career Changer (With Samples!)
- unwsp.edu – Cover Letter for a Career Changer
