Welcome to the ResumePower Blog! Resume expert Kim Isaacs offers real world, proven advice on
resume writing, cover letters, career change, and job search strategies.
Is it Time to Update Your Resume?
I don’t ask for much, really I don’t. But one thing I ask is this:
How long has it been? Six months? A year? If you don’t know the answer or you’re mentally traveling back to a long-forgotten, distant past, then it’s time to update your resume. I can’t tell you how many clients contact us in a panicked state and request a resume update ASAP (i.e., yesterday) because a great opportunity came along and their resumes haven’t been updated since the Reagan Administration.
Resume emergencies can be avoided if you keep your resume up-to-date and add new accomplishments as they happen. I recommend thoroughly reviewing and updating your resume quarterly, and the change of seasons is a good reminder to tackle this arduous task. If that seems too much, at least update your resume right after you change your smoke detector batteries twice a year for Daylight Saving Time.
Check out Norma Gaffin’s post on Monster’s Blog about Update Your Resume Week and links to helpful articles: Have You Updated Your Resume Lately?
Best wishes,
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I think your right. One thing I notice in my industry is that so many people expect their lack of preparation to somehow be an emergency on my part.
I guess I am guilty of it to. Since I dislike that so much, I will keep it in mind with my resume. Do you think its important to have a new job to update? If I havnt changed positions, do I just need to add in new responsibilities?
Thanks again for the tip!
Holly
Hi Holly,
If you haven’t changed positions, focus on adding new accomplishments. Yes, your resume should show current responsibilities, but that should only be a very brief section. Instead, think about your employer has benefited from your performance and how you’ve gone “above and beyond” your job responsibilities. If you’re not sure about your accomplishments, try asking your colleagues or supervisor to tell you what you’ve accomplished — this is a great way to get another person’s perspective on the value you offer.
Best wishes,
Kim
I have been trying to find new job opportunities for over a year. I have just completed a post graduate degree in education. I have written and re written my resume every way possible. I was look at the section on one site that tells you how many people have people have viewed my resume and the # is 0. It has alwas been 0. What can I possible be doing wrong.
Hi Kimberly (nice name!) - I’m sorry to hear that you haven’t had much success in your job search. The reason might be your resume, or it could be your job search methods. The most effective way to find a new position is to reach out to employers and network within your industry.
For your online resume — the #1 reason why resumes posted to job boards get no hits is a lack of industry keywords. Before you revamp your resume, do some research on keywords that might be used to find someone with your talents. Search jobs postings to get an idea of what credentials hiring managers value, and you can rebuild your resume based on inclusion of these terms.
Another possible issue is your “headline” (this field is used on Monster.com). If your headline is weak or silly (or just not targeted to your career goal), employers won’t be inclined to click on your resume — they will move to the next resume on the list.
I hope your job search turns around!
-Kim
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