Whether you’re a recent college or high school graduate entering the job market, or you’re an experienced professional seeking a higher-paying position or a career switch, it’s a good idea to keep your resume updated!
You never know when you may run across a golden opportunity. An up-to-date, professional resume is the first step towards getting hired. In this article, we’ll go over 7 simple resume tips you can use to increase your chances of landing your dream job.
- Write A Professional Summary
The first thing you should write for your resume is a professional summary. This goes on the top of your resume – and it outlines who you are, what you do, and what you’re looking for in a job, as well as your basic qualifications.
- Cut Out Anything That’s No Longer Relevant
First things first – you can start by cutting out any information about your career and work history that is no longer relevant.
For example, if you are a younger person, you may still have an entry-level job, such as work at a restaurant or a retail store, on your resume. If there are no details about these positions that are pertinent or relevant to your current job search, they can safely be removed.
If you have switched your career and area of focus, you’ll want to remove older positions from your former field. In general, if you look at a job position, skill, or other aspect of your resume, and it does not seem relevant to your current career path, it should be removed.
- Think About Sprucing Things Up
If your resume looks a little bit plain, think about giving it a style makeover. Microsoft Word, Pages on Mac, and even Google Docs have a number of default resume layouts that can help you organize your information more effectively and make it more visually appealing. Try out some unique formats and see which one you like best.
Experience the Double A Difference
- Update Your Work History
Next, tackle your work history. Add any positions that may be missing and consider revamping your existing language. Phrase your past positions to make them more exciting and relevant.
- Note Your Professional Accomplishments
If you don’t have a dedicated section for professional accomplishments, you should add one. This is a good place to add information about the projects you’ve worked on in the past, as well as any certifications or recognition that you gained due to your excellent work.
- Add To Your Skills And Competencies
Take a look at the “skills” section of your resume. Chances are, there are some outdated skills that you can remove and new skills that you’ve learned which can replace them. For example, if you’ve recently passed a professional certification, you can add that to your skills.
- Make Sure Your Personal Information Is Up-To-Date
This may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised at how many older, outdated resumes have old addresses, emails, phone numbers, or even maiden names. Double-check all of your contact information and personal information, and make sure that it’s up-to-date and accurate.
Use These Tips To Build A Better Resume
With these 7 tips, it will be easy to update your resume, and start looking for your dream job. So get started now with this advice, and see how much of a difference these simple steps can make!
Bonus Tip
All the work you’ve put into updating your resume will come full circle when you land the interview with your chosen prospect company. Seal the deal with an artfully crafted, handwritten thank you not that sincerely expresses your desire to join the team.
Related: Why Hand Written Notes Strengthen Client Relationships