Let me tell you a quick story.
Maya was a middle school teacher for nearly 10 years. Super sharp, super organized, and completely worn out from the classroom.
She wanted out. Not because she didn’t love teaching, but because she wanted to work in a quieter space.
She had her eye on something called "Knowledge Management." It was all about organizing tons of information and building digital filing cabinets so org teams could find what they needed faster.
It made total sense. This is the work she did as a teacher for years. But when she started applying to jobs, nothing was landing.
She rewrote her résumé over and over.
Took courses. Added every skill she could think of.
And... crickets.
Why This Matters to You
If you're trying to move into a new role or a new industry, it's SOOOO tempting to show everything you can do.
You’re probably thinking: “If I just explain it all, they’ll get it. I just need that interview and I'll help them see.”
But please, listen to me when I say this:
WHEN YOU SAY TOO MUCH, PEOPLE STOP LISTENING.
They don’t know what to focus on. And in hiring? Confusion equals “no.”
Common Solutions and Why They Won't Work
Here’s what most educators try when switching careers:
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List every transferable skill
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Say yes to any job that might fit
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Try to be “open” to all kinds of roles
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Build a résumé that tries to cover it all
And what happens?
People don’t see how you fit.
You end up blending in and trust me, now is not the time to blend.
A Better Approach for You
Here’s what we did with Maya and it worked.
I told her: Cut 80% of what you’re trying to say. Pick one result, one story, one ask.
She thought about her classroom and realized something.
She had built systems for organizing lesson plans, tracking student data, and sharing info with other teachers and they all used it.
That was knowledge management... she just hadn’t called it that.
So she made that the story.
She rewrote her LinkedIn and résumé to highlight how she built and maintained systems that helped people find what they needed.
She dropped all the unrelated stuff. No more long lists of classroom tools or soft skills.
Three months later?
She landed a job as a knowledge management coordinator at an incredible tech company.
TL;DR:
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Trying to say everything can slow your career down
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Clarity is more powerful than a long list of skills
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People hire based on one clear, relevant story
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Cutting back your message can move you forward faster
Your Next Steps
GRAB A PEN AND PAPER, PEOPLE. WRITE THIS DOWN.
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Ask yourself: “What’s the one thing I want to be known for in my next role?”
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Find a real story from your past that proves you can do it
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Cut anything from your résumé or LinkedIn that doesn’t support that story
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Practice sharing that one result when talking to people
P.s.
When you're making a career change and want to stand out without saying everything, the Elevated Careers Career Change Accelerator is built for you. I help you get clear on your message so your next move is fast and focused.
Hope you'll give this a try.
See you next week.
Steph Yesil
Find me on LinkedIn, Get My Career Change Kit,
Book a 60-Min Strategy Call (Do it soon. These fill up FAST.)
