How to Write a Career Change Cover Letter (with Example)

Changing careers is an exciting (and sometimes terrifying) prospect. We know this process can be stressful and time-consuming, but don’t fret – you’re in good company. According to iHire’s 2021 Talent Retention Report, 21.1% of workers say they’ve made a career change in the last year. Still, a major challenge for career changers is convincing employers that your past experience is relevant to the new position.

The best way to do so is with your cover letter. A well-written cover letter addresses any skills and experience gaps in your resume that may prevent an employer from contacting you for an interview.

Tips for Writing a Cover Letter for a Career Change

Writing a cover letter for a career change is different than crafting a normal cover letter. Use the tips below and the career change cover letter example at the bottom of the page to get your foot in the door and land that interview.

Show Your Enthusiasm

In a cover letter explaining a career change, you first need to introduce yourself and express enthusiasm for the role. Begin with your name and the position you’re applying for, and then explain the reason behind your career change. Use our Career Change Resources Toolkit to help develop those ideas and express them in a way that demonstrates passion for your new direction.

Since you’re leaving one industry for another, you need to show that you’re committed to the role. Leverage your introduction to speak to why you want to work for the company and briefly mention why you’d be a great fit. Your introduction doesn’t have to be long; you’ll expand on it later in your cover letter.

Address Any Gaps in Employment

If you have gaps in your employment history due to pursuing other certifications and degrees, or for taking a career sabbatical, inform the hiring manager. We asked Sidney Green, iHire Certified Advanced Resume Writer, how to talk about employment gaps when writing a cover letter for a career change.  She said:

“Be upfront with the recruiter. After your introductory paragraph, you should let the recruiter/hiring manager know if you took a career sabbatical or professional leave of absence. You should not disclose ultra-personal details, but you should give a high-level explanation as to ‘why.’ If the career sabbatical was to go back to school, earn a certification, or pursue continuing education in the industry you’re switching to, you should mention that and give details on your coursework and material studied.”

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Highlight Transferable Skills   

The key to showing employers that you will succeed in the role without direct experience is to emphasize your transferrable skills. Look through the job posting and find the top three to five skills for the role, and ask yourself what in your background you can point to that covers those.

“If you didn’t go back to school or pursue a certification in the new field you’re interested in, that’s OK, too,” Green said. “Just make sure you’re able to speak on transferable skills from your career history. If you’re a social worker looking to become an attorney, you can mention that you’ve had experience with case management, colleague collaboration, and documentation preparation because they are relevant to an attorney’s job duties.”

There are several types of transferrable skills, but the most common are hard or technical skills and soft skills. Hard skills and technical skills are specific abilities you can demonstrate practically, like data analysis or using Excel. In contrast, soft skills are less tangible and more subjective, like attention to detail or communication. Generally, your soft skills will be more transferrable to a new career and are universally desired by employers. Other attractive soft skills include:

• Management or leadership
• Customer service
• Organization
• Planning
• Problem solving
• Teamwork
• Critical thinking
• Creativity

Emphasize your ability to quickly learn new skills and concepts, and focus on past accomplishments to show you can succeed. Stress that you have the experience, just in a different industry.

Video: Stand Out With iHire's Cover Letter Generator Generator

Customize the Cover Letter for Every Position

Keep in mind that by highlighting your transferrable skills, you’re showing what you can do for the employer. Research the company and the role so that you can explain why your skills fit with this position, then adjust your career change cover letter template accordingly.

Leave out unnecessary information to focus on how you can help the company grow. Keep your cover letter simple, short, and concise – usually three to four paragraphs are good. Finally, make sure your resume aligns with your cover letter explaining your career change.

Look to the career change cover letter example below for inspiration, and remember, you can always work with an iHire Resume Writer to help with this task.

Career Change Cover Letter Example