The Arnold Schwarzenegger Method: Resume Tips to Highlight Your Transferable Skills

If you want to work in a different field, market yourself to that field.

Sounds pretty easy, doesn't it?

It's not. But it can be done. In fact, it's done every single day. Take Arnold Schwarzenegger, for instance. The Austrian Oak was a dominating bodybuilding champion, then gained worldwide acclaim as an actor, and is now the Governor of California.

How did he earn success after success? By marketing his transferable skills. You can too. Here's how:

Will success. The Governator dreamed of wealth and fame. He was consumed by his desire. He latched on to bodybuilding and willed himself to the top. At his peak, Ahnold won six Mr. Olympia titles in a row, then retired. Then he came back a few years later (while filming Conan The Barbarian) to win his seventh. Likewise, in order to re-market yourself in a different career path, it's helpful to have achieved a measure of success in your present one - and accept nothing less than a successful transition. Remember that succeeding in one area opens doors to success in others.

Leverage success. Schwarzenegger's early movies were all about showing his muscles. He leveraged his success in bodybuilding to carve a career as a movie action hero. He knew his physique was money in the bank and convinced studio moguls it was, too. In his first few movies, he displayed raw charisma and a pumped body. Not happy doing campy, low-budget flicks like "Hercules In New York," he kept leveraging his box office clout until he was able to make the movies he wanted to make. Over time, he was better known for his movies and less for his pose-offs. Likewise, you may not make the total transition in one step, but need to continually leverage the skills and accomplishments you gain (that cross over your current and future positions) to make the next step.

Look for an opening. Around the time Terminator 3 hit cineplexes, then-California Governor Gray Davis was in the political fight for his life to keep his post. When the public called for a special recall election to determine whether to keep Davis in office or not, Arnie decided to run. He knew his name recognition and previous successes in the worlds of bodybuilding and Hollywood would make him an instant contender. By this time, he had honed his speaking ability (somewhat lessening his Austrian accent) and sales skills (from promoting Planet Hollywood), which made him a natural for elected office.

IN A NUTSHELL: Transfer to a new career by succeeding in your current one, leverage that success and continually looking for other openings.