September is International Update Your Resume Month and the perfect time to update your resume as many companies renew their hiring efforts for 4th quarter deliverables. As the kids head back to school, you can refocus your time on your career development.
How old is your resume? If it has not been updated in the last year or two, odds are it is outdated and not winning you interviews. A fresh resume can be just what you need to jump-start a stalled job search. As you read job postings, capture key words and phrases to add to your resume keep the language of your resume current. Most importantly, make sure your resume is compatible with the Applicant Tracking Systems many employers use today, to avoid the “resume black hole”. Otherwise, no human being will ever read your resume.
Even if you are not currently conducting a job search, you should treat your resume as a living document, capturing your career accomplishments and milestones throughout the year. In addition to keeping you ready for career opportunities that may arise, this process of evaluating your accomplishments can help you prepare for your annual performance review.
Key items to include:
- Ways you have helped your employer make money, save money, or become more efficient or productive (include quantifiable numbers where possible).
- Promotions or awards
- New technical skills learned
- Certificates, licenses, or degrees earned
- Major accounts landed
- High customer satisfaction ratings
- Notable projects
- Conferences or seminars attended
- Professional organizations joined
Don’t know where to start? We’d be glad to help. Email us today for a fee consultation. A Professional Resume Writer can provide an objective view of your qualifications and highlight the value you offer an employer.
For the do-it-yourselfers, we offer a Best Practices Resume Guide. Click here to request it, and we will email it to you.
Trish Thomas founded The Resume Resource in 2009 to help people develop the tools, strategies and confidence to build satisfying careers. As a Career Coach and Resume Writer, she helps her clients articulate their unique value to stand out from the competition, and guides them through the job search process to make it less overwhelming and more successful. Contact us to see how we can help you build a more rewarding career. www.the-resume-resource.com