Resume Renovation! 3 Tips to Update Your Resume and Showcase Yourself (PART ONE)
Well folks, the cold weather is here — September is over. And if you missed the most important aspect of September (no, it’s not back to school – it’s also, “Update Your Resume Month”), then you should definitely take the time to give yourself this important gift. You may be thinking one of two thoughts here. 1. “I don’t need a new resume. Thank heaven, I still have my job.” Or 2. “I’ve been out of work for MONTHS. If I have to look at my resume one more time, I’ll pass out.”
Whether you’re living one of those two realities or not, updating your resume should be a no brainer for ALL of us right now. It’s even important if you work for yourself – having an updated and readily available profile or bio is a life saver when new opportunities come up. Whatever you call it, an updated resume simply spells S U C C E S S. And remember, a great career coach can really help you create a resume that works for you on every level. So what steps do you take to begin a resume renovation with a new pair of eyes?
Step 1. Do a good web search on your field of expertise, and of course, on the job you want as well. What are the industry keywords that consistently come up? What do the resumes of others in your field look like? Don’t just look at the wording, look at the formatting choices and the variety of subtitles that are chosen. Pay close attention to the way those ahead of you on your career path choose to lay out their experience.
Step 2. Also be sure to search the online help wanted arena in those areas also. Look carefully at the keywords in the more specific ads, especially if you are looking to change industries or roles. Having a handle on the language will help you USE those words and phrases on your resume, and that will definitely help you get noticed. Right now, companies are inundated with applicants. One position on the job boards can bring in hundreds of resumes, and one tool HR departments and agencies are using to sort through these resumes is a scanning software that is smart enough to look for the keywords.
… Tune in later this week for Step 3 and a few last ideas to keep in mind!
To your continued success,
Catherine Palmiere, CEIC, CPBA, CPCC, CEMC
Adam Personnel, Inc
(212) 557-9150