How to Write a Resume When You Are Unsure About a Career Choice

by Nicole Vulcan

You may be unsure about your career path, but that's not something you want to share with a potential employer. When you apply for a job, the employer wants to see a resume that is tailored to that specific company and its open position -- and wants to know that you're enthusiastic about getting the job. So even if you're not sure whether you want to stay in a certain field, do your best to highlight the skills and qualifications that make you a great candidate for the position you're applying for. In other words, you should be tailoring your resume for every job to which you apply, and leaving any uncertainty out of it.

1. Read over the job posting the employer posted to get information about the skills, education and personality type the employer wants. Note any details that match your own attributes. It's OK to have a vague shell of a resume saved on your computer, from which you can add details -- but you should only submit a resume that contains information that speaks directly to the employer in question.

2. Type your name in bold lettering at the top of the resume, and then follow it with your contact information, including your address, phone number and e-mail address.

3. Decide whether you want to include an "Objective" section under the contact information. If you're not sure of your career path and you're applying for a job just to bring some money in the door while you decide, that's probably not worth mentioning in this section. However, if you're excited about exploring a certain job for its possibilities for your future, that's probably something worth saying. Type "Objective" in bold lettering, and then write a statement about why you want the job -- making sure to mention the job title. If you have some special skill or background that makes you qualified, mention it very briefly, keeping the Objective section to one or two sentences.

4. Decide whether your background would be better highlighted with a skills-based or an employment-based resume. Even if you're not sure of your future career, you probably have a set of skills and possibly a work history that has lead you in a certain direction. If the job for which you're applying is very similar to jobs you've held in the past, you'd probably be best off creating a resume that highlights your work history first. If you haven't worked in that field but have skills that may translate, you may want to focus on your skills first. For example, if you've always worked as a server in restaurants and now want to get a job in insurance sales, your transferable skills may be customer service, money handling or the ability to work under pressure.

5. Type "Skills" or "Work History," and then put the title in bold. If you've decided to highlight your skills, create a bullet-point list and detail five to 10 of your most transferable skills -- making sure to refer back to the job posting to highlight any matching skills the employer wants. Get creative, but be honest -- it's OK if the skills you list have not been tested in a work environment, but make sure they're actually skills you possess. If you've decided to focus on your work history, list them in reverse chronological order, with the most recent first. Type the job title, followed by the company name and the month and years you worked there. Then type one or two sentences that describe your duties, making sure to include any information about job duties that are similar to the duties the potential employer wants her new employee to do.

6. Create an "Education" section under the "Skills" or "Work History" section, and then list any degrees or diplomas you've earned. If you focused on certain types of coursework or had a favorite class that will be relevant to the job at hand, mention it briefly here. Even if you're not sure about your career path, your school history can demonstrate a certain focus that would be appealing to this potential employer.


  • If you're really having trouble nailing down a career path, consider taking a few online skills and personality assessments. This can help highlight your most prominent characteristics, and may help you fill out the "Skills" section of your resume more accurately.

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