Your resumes (targeted to each potential employer) must do more than merely identify transferrable skills. Help employers visualize the contributions you could make despite your lack of experience. Emphasize powerful achievement statements and downplay unrelated experience. And rehearse until you can clearly explain in your interview performances what, from the employer's viewpoint, you bring to the table.
Would-be career changers, forget about mass campaigns of generic documents and generally pleasant interview performances. These too often are wild goose chases in today's ultra-competitive job market.
DEAR JOYCE: I want to change careers, but I think I need new training. Money's a big problem. Ideas? -- S.S.
When you need to update your skills or learn new ones, check out community colleges (even though they're jam-packed these days). Attending workshops, taking online courses, or even joining a Webinar over a lunch hour could be attractive to employers.