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Crafting a Standout Resume and LinkedIn Presence: Insights from a Career Conversation

  • June 11, 2025
  • Career Conversation

Navigating a career transition can make job applications challenging, especially with a diverse background or a career break. In a recent GoCrackIt Career Conversations session—part of their comprehensive career transition services—career transition coach Siddhartha Banerjee guided a professional with experience in social work, operations, and management on refining their resume and boosting their LinkedIn presence. Their discussion offers practical tips for job seekers aiming to stand out.

Excerpts from the conversation:

Siddhartha: Could you share your career goals?

Candidate: I started in the development sector after a Master’s in Social Work from a reputed institute, working on housing programs and later a trust-backed initiative focused on government scheme delivery. I then joined a social entrepreneurship startup, focusing on youth skilling. After upskilling through a general management program, I worked in operations at a travel tech firm, leading a large team. Now, after a career break, my CV isn’t getting shortlisted, and I’m unsure how to position my diverse background.

The candidate’s journey, marked by multiple career shifts from social work to operations, is a strength but can appear scattered to recruiters. Siddhartha, acting as a career coach transition expert, suggested a strategic resume overhaul.

Siddhartha: Narrow down to three or four roles, like CSR program manager or operations manager. Create tailored resumes for each. Your CV looks scattered due to diverse experiences. Add a career timeline flowchart to map your roles, then elaborate only on the experience relevant to the target role. For an operations role, detail your travel tech work extensively.

Candidate: I’ve made CVs for CSR, program management, and impact consulting roles, but they need updates. Can you share a timeline example?
Siddhartha: I’ll send a sample. It starts with a flowchart of your career, followed by detailed points for the targeted role. Mention other roles briefly in the timeline.

This approach, a key aspect of coaching for career transition, makes the resume ATS-friendly and focused. Siddhartha also addressed the candidate’s frequent job switches—three one-year roles and a short stint at the travel tech firm—which raised recruiter concerns.

Siddhartha: Be transparent about short stints. Explain the first role was contractual, the second ended due to organizational issues, the third was for higher education, and the travel tech role involved layoffs during an economic downturn. Such layoffs are well-known, so recruiters will understand.

Candidate: Is it okay to mention the layoff? Some say it’s negative.

Siddhartha: Be honest about all roles. Provide context calmly to present a cohesive career journey.

The candidate’s career break, due to personal and professional challenges, was another hurdle. Siddhartha, drawing on his expertise in career transition services, offered a concise framing.

Candidate: My break followed personal and professional transitions. I rejected some roles due to low pay or discomfort with operations work. How do I present this?

Siddhartha: Say the break followed the layoffs and required time for personal adjustments. It’s relatable. If asked inappropriate questions, like about future plans, calmly say you’ll follow company norms.

Siddhartha also emphasized LinkedIn for personal branding during a career transition.

Siddhartha: Share stories from your work, like beneficiary experiences or training programs, with photos if possible. Write about CSR trends to show thought leadership. Share posts with contacts in target organizations.

Candidate: That makes sense. I’ll start posting more.

By tailoring their resume and leveraging LinkedIn, the candidate can better position themselves for their desired career shift. GoCrackIt’s career transition services, including personalized coaching sessions like this one, provide invaluable support for professionals navigating career changes. Our next blog explores re-entering the workforce with freelancing and networking strategies.

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