Change managers can be an essential part of an efficient and well-managed organization. Here’s how you can showcase your talents to get that great change manager position.
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Although it was identified before the 1900s, change management was formally introduced in 2003 by Prosci, a change management consultancy, as a structured way to apply tools, knowledge and resources to effectively steer the success of an organization. The need for change management stems from the need to manage the impact of changes in organizations in three areas: processes and tools, positions and organizational functions.
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Change affects almost all areas within all organizations, from human resources and information technology to the entire operation. Where there are people, processes and technologies, the effects of change will be felt.
The job of a change manager is to ensure that changes to the management process are well received and accepted throughout the organization. These changes may be related to the workforce, company policy or the implementation of new technologies. A change management specialist must have a thorough knowledge of the effects of change and must be able to foresee how employees can respond.
Every candidate for a change manager position must have a good understanding of and experience with the implementation of change management principles and methods. The task also requires that you understand the employees and establish good communication with them. Like any job, you must have a good resume to get a position in this field.
What skills do you need to be a change manager?
A good CV requires a list of your skills, skills and training, including an excellent understanding of how people experience change. You must also have first-class listening skills, the ability to communicate well with all audiences and the ability to build great relationships with staff. Your natural talent for planning strategy and your ability to work effectively at all levels of the organization must also be included.
Here are some important skills and considerations that you can include in your change management resume:
- You are able to apply a structured methodology such as ADKAR and to manage change management activities. For example, how have you applied different methods for individual versus company-wide change management strategies? What was the result?
- You have demonstrated successful design, development, delivery and management of communication. Consider which communication strategies you could use effectively in different projects. Which of them worked best in different scenarios?
- You can assess the impact of changes to the business structure and identify key statistics. For example, which statistics work best? How were they used and what were the results?
- You can support the design and delivery of training programs, including all required documents. Share information about the types of training programs that you have helped develop and why they have become successful.
- You are fully able to hear and understand the impact of change with regard to individual functions and the company as a whole. If a change manager is not geared to the concerns of employees or the company, it is virtually impossible to effectively develop and implement strategies to address changes when they occur.
- You can clearly discuss changes with all stakeholders and what steps should be taken to prevent problems. Important steps can be missed without effective and timely communication, making a smooth change process unlikely.
- You have the ability to reduce the anxiety that often accompanies change within organizations. If there is fear, employees are more likely to deliberately or unintentionally withhold process-related information.
- You can help to increase buy-in from stakeholders who could otherwise fight change. If stakeholder relationships are tense or there is a low buy-in, stakeholders can become obstacles to managing change instead of part of solutions.
- You ensure that changes are in line with company-wide goals. If changes are not in line with short and long-term goals, it is less likely that companies will achieve their goals on time or not at all.
List skills and work history are important, but not the only factor. The right layout and layout will help you through the door for an interview.
How should you format your CV?
After you have made sure that your name and contact details are at the top (of course), you can set a good career goal. The goal must be a combination of what you want and what you can offer your potential employer. But make it short and simple – no more than two lines. Your career objective can look like this:
Experienced specialist in change management, focused on applying the best structured methods and techniques to manage the effects of organizational change. As a clear and powerful communicator, my goal is to proactively help teams successfully adopt new technologies and processes.
Then add a summary of your skills and try to squeeze in as much as possible without overdoing it. Then add relevant work experience, starting with the most recent. Add a short and simple summary of the relevant tasks you have performed for each organization. Finally add your education.
The preparation of a good CV is crucial. Your resume must make a good impression on the recruiter to get you through the door – then you can make your true self shine.
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