How to write a cover letter when changing the industry in times of crisis?

A cover letter is the bane of many people applying for a new job. Some consider creating it a waste of time, others find it difficult to write about themselves. Meanwhile, it turns out that a well-written cover letter can be a ticket to success when changing the industry!

In this article you will learn:

• why is a cover letter very useful when changing the industry,
• how to justify the industry change in the letter,
• what skills and features to emphasize in the cover letter when changing the profession,
• what, instead of experience focus on your cover letter.

The crisis forced many people to switch industries. Whether the change of profession is the result of a freezing economy and a lack of supply in the existing industry, or your own decision, be calm. Do your best to get recruiters to pay attention to you, despite their inexperience. See how to create a cover letter that will help you stand out and get your dream job in a completely different profession.

Why should you write a cover letter when switching industries?

Not every employer expects potential employees to send you a cover letter – but if you are at the stage of changing the industry, it pays to prepare one. Therefore, do not prevent you from applying to companies that require this form of application to work.

By means of a cover letter, you have a chance to convince a potential employer that your CV is rich even without an internship in the industry you are applying to. After all, experience is an important, but not the only advantage of a good candidate!

Cover letter – change of profession well justified

In your letter, be sure to justify your decision to change your career path. Prove it’s your conscious choice. Emphasize that it is not accidental, even if the immediate impetus for change was the crisis and job cuts in the previous job. Write about your career plans, high level of motivation, openness to learning. Convince your employer that you will be valuable to his business.

Briefly tell your story. Describe why you are interested in re-industry and what you are doing to achieve your goal. If you motivate your willingness well, some recruiters will certainly want to meet you – especially if you are recruiting for lower-level positions without needing a lot of experience.

Change of job position – a cover letter that highlights strengths

A cover letter is a document that you create from start to finish. It has a fairly loose form, and its elements are only framed. So what to write in a cover letter when changing the industry ?

One of the best practices is to describe your soft skills. Consider especially those that show that changing jobs is a logical improvement in your professional development. Examples:

• light pen – if you apply for a job in an editorial office or an advertising agency,
• ability to work under time pressure – if you are applying for a project management position
• ability to work with the customer – if you want to work in a store or as a customer manager.

Industry change cover letter – throw the template from the previous work into the trash

Unfortunately, your application documents for recruiting for companies operating in your previous industry will not be useful when changing your profession. So take it from a completely different angle: focus not on inexperience, but on what you do and what you could do to grow. What should a cover letter for a change of industry look like?

First of all, write down what the employer will gain if they hire you. When changing or retraining, it is difficult to boast about projects implemented within a given branch of business. Therefore, bet on your ideas. Write how, thanks to your skills, you will increase sales, reduce costs or speed up processes in the company to which you apply.

Be specific and persuasive. Share your passion for a new industry – express the desire to learn new things. Show what you have done so far to implement your idea for changing the industry (e.g. courses completed, postgraduate studies, volunteering, student internships).

Industry change cover letter is your bargaining chip. Don’t worry about inexperience. Remember that earlier activities also pay off – even if they are not related to a new position or industry. The acquired skills are always useful to some extent and enrich you as an employee. Use them if you can. Good luck!