In The End! The Simple Method to Update Your Resume

If you’re like most people, your resume sits untouched until the time comes to apply for a new job. Perhaps you were recently laid off and are now panicking as you pull out your old resume to see how out of date it is. Alternatively, perhaps you are looking for new opportunities but are overwhelmed by the sight of your old resume.

If updating your resume seems difficult, if not impossible, we can help. Rather than tackling a full resume rewrite all at once, we divided resume updates into manageable single tasks. This list can be used in any way you want. You could schedule one task per day until your resume is up to date, or you could assign yourself a weekly task; the choice is entirely yours. Whatever you decide, updating your resume is easy and less intimidating with this guide.

#1: Bring it up or print it out and jot down some quick notes.

The first step in updating your resume is to get it out of the closet. If you saved the file to your computer, open it in a text editor or print it. Whatever method you prefer for working with your resume, the initial goal is to simply go over it quickly.

Make some quick notes about what you see using a text editor or small post-it notes and a pen. Look for areas that need to be updated right away. Make a list of any initial thoughts you have about what you want to change.

This is not the time to get into detail; instead, this should be a quick five-minute activity. These notes will be useful as you work on improving your resume. Not only that, but sometimes just facing your old resume helps to alleviate anxiety about its current state. You might discover that it’s not as bad as you thought.

#2: Assess your listed experience

Your next activity will be to dig deeper into the experience you’ve listed. This is usually one of the most neglected areas.

Consider it from two perspectives:

• What new positions should you include on your resume? Make sure you have important information about your most recent job. You’ll need the names of your previous employers, the duration of your employment, and some key facts about your experience and accomplishments.
• What jobs should you leave off your resume? In some cases, your resume may still contain information that is no longer applicable. For example, if you are a decade into your professional career, it may be time to pull information from your college part-time job waiting tables. This will help to keep your resume from becoming too long.

#3: Conduct a keyword search

In recent years, there has been a significant shift in how resumes are initially read. Many businesses use computers, also known as Applicant Tracking Systems (ATSs), to scan resumes for key words. If the keywords do not appear, the resume is never seen by a human.

As a result, if you haven’t updated your resume in a while, you should search the document for industry-specific keywords. Return and naturally sprinkle in keywords.

#4: Keep your skills up to date.

Along with including your most recent job experience, you should review the skills you have listed. Have you picked up any new skills? Do you have any new certifications? Make a point of clearly listing any relevant skills. This is yet another effective method for including key words on your resume.

#5: Make space for numbers.

Incorporating numbers is one of the best ways to make your resume stand out from the crowd. Numbers assist in quantifying an accomplishment.

Consider which of the following sounds more powerful:

Resulted in an increase in sales.

Over the course of a year, sales increased by 50%.

Our point has been made. So go over all of your bullet points highlighting your achievements and look for places where you can include a number to help quantify your work.

#6: Run a spell check on it.

Now that you’ve updated your resume, double-check to make sure everything is in order. Check your resume for spelling and grammar errors. Many word processors include these tools, but you can also use an online tool to double-check your content, such as Grammarly.

#7: Send it to a friend

With your updated resume ready, it is time to put it in front of a friend, colleague, or family member. Ask for feedback, particularly around the clarity of your statements. What might sound straightforward to you could be confusing to someone else.

This constructive criticism can help you hone your messaging to be clear and succinct. Incorporate feedback as necessary and spell check one last time.

#8: Quickly scan it

Finally, just as you would ask someone else to read your resume, scan it with your own two eyes. Set it aside for at least a day and return to it later. Instead of getting bogged down in the details, quickly scan your resume from top to bottom.

What catches your attention? Do you think it’s easy to find relevant information quickly? If you notice anything out of place, rework your resume one last time.

#9: Delegate your update to the professionals.

Finally, one of the simplest and quickest ways to update your resume is to delegate the task to a professional. Giving your resume to a professional will not only make updating it easier, but it will also ensure that the final product is the best representation of your professional career.

Ladders provides free resume rewrites. We will gladly assist you in creating the ideal resume for your specific requirements. We have extensive resume writing experience and can make updating your resume less stressful and time-consuming.

Keep in mind that your resume is one of the most important documents you will present to a hiring manager. A well-written resume can open doors and land you interviews.

Before applying for a new position, always update your resume.