During your job search it is essential to review your resume regularly, checking that the information contained is still relevant to the sort of work you are looking for as well as seeing if any improvements can be made to its format, structure or detail.
The following tips will help ensure your resume is up to date and promoting the very best of you to an employer.
Assess your resume every time you apply for an advertised position
Different employers can have different needs and so job advertisements may differ for the same job. It is therefore crucial that your resume emphasises that you have the skills asked for in each particular advertisement responded to - something that cannot happen without you going through it for each application.
This does not mean you need to write a new resume every time you apply for a job, but you do need to tailor your resume every time. Do this by checking the information you currently have and then adjusting the detail in line with the employers needs. Focus on the skills and qualifications listed as essential or required, increasing the number of facts and/or being more specific on your experience and training in these areas. You can then give less or more generalised information on skills that are of reduced importance to this employer.
Regularly check that the detail is still relevant
Over time, the sort of positions you apply for may change due to demands for certain kinds of work or simply as a result of your own personal preference. Make sure your resume follows this change in terms of both content and presentation.
Think about how far back your resume goes
Information on both your work experience and training should always only go back approximately ten years. Anything older simply loses its relevance in today’s ever-changing workplace.
There may be other detail in your resume though that is more recent but still outdated - and so not adding value but taking up space or worse still showing you in a negative light. For example, computer training completed five years ago for software that is now completely obsolete or certain work practices used that are now considered ineffective. Regularly critique your experience, with a view to ensuring your resume focuses on current work processes and ideas.
Be aware of industry changes and assessment
Like everything else, what employers and recruitment consultants want to see in a resume changes over time. How resumes are short listed also changes, with the introduction of computer software that searches for keywords being a recent addition in many organisations.
With a considered approach, you can keep abreast of such changes and tailor your resume to get the best chance in today’s job market.
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