Updating your resume can be overwhelming, especially if it has been a few years since you have looked at it. The good news is, once you get it cleaned up and updated, it makes the process of tailoring it to a specific job a lot easier.
So where do you start? Start with the basics. You want to make sure your resume is in the correct format. A concise resume should include your best, most relevant experience, everything old and outdated must go.
Update Formatting
Your resume is the first thing an employer sees, it is their first impression of you. Therefore, it should be organized correctly, in a clean and concise resume format.
Although there are plenty of resume templates out there, try and differ yours from the “basic” formatting so that it stands out as much as possible. Make sure to set your resume margins to 1” on all sides of the page and that you use a standard font. Each section of your resume should be organized appropriately so that the reader can quickly skim over it.
Your sections should be organized as:
- Resume header
- Objective (this will change for each job you are applying to)
- Education
- Work Experience
- Skills
Lastly, it is important that you save your resume as a PDF. The reason that this is so important is that when you submit your resume, the formatting can get ruined. A PDF file guarantees that this won’t happen when one opens the document.
Update Your Experiences and Skills
You should only include those jobs and skill sets that are relevant to the position you are applying for.
Tailoring your resume to a job description is one of the most important things to do. By tailoring your resume, you signal to the hiring manager that your experience is relevant and that you are the right person for the job.
The experiences you choose to include will change depending on if it is a senior-level role or entry-level. For example, when you are just beginning your career, you would include most of your work experience and/or internships that showcase your skill sets. Whereas if you are applying for a senior-level role, you would include only your work experience that demonstrates your proficiency in the job requirements.
Your skill section on your resume should list all your professional skills that are relevant to the position. Think about it. What’s missing? What needs to be updated?
Examples of these skills would include computer, writing, leadership, organizational, communication, and management skills.
Contact Information
Your contact information should be updated to the most current information. It should include your first and last name, your email, and your phone number. This should be placed at the top toward your header.
Lastly, make sure to read over your resume several times to catch any errors, typos, or missing information. If you highlight your skills pertaining to that position and have the most relevant and updated information on your resume, you will stand out and have the best chance to move forward to the interview process.
Good luck!
