Updating Your Resume

In today’s ever changing society, technological developments in the industry are a constant.  And since the job market is moving towards more contract work, it is important to update your resume and send it out to stay marketable.  Once you have updated your resume with your new skills and experience, be sure to sent it out to recruiters to help you locate an available position.

First, is the style of the resume up to date?  If you used a template from 2000, then it’s time to update the look of your resume.  Your resume should be easy to read or skim, it should be concise and organized according to date, with your most recent experience listed at the top.

Check to see if your contact information is still valid.  Do you have your most frequently used e-mail address listed?  What about your phone number and address?  Contact information is critical when searching for a new opportunity.  Without it, your resume is worthless.

Once you have completed a contract, or maybe you have completed a big project at your permanent place of employment, make a list of the tasks you performed and what their outcome was.  Summarize how you positively impacted the employer and transfer this information to your resume.  Be sure to include your dates of employment and the title you held while performing the tasks.

Remove any outdated information, such as out-of-date technology competencies.  For example, if you are aware that SQL 2000 isn’t being supported anymore and it’s listed on your resume, the reader will imply your skills are also out of date.  However, if you’ve taken a course in an updated version of software, make sure you now include that training on your resume.  Any training that you have attended will demonstrate your willingness to learn new skills and evolve with technology.

Make sure your objective is still accurate.  Are your professional goals the same as the last time you reviewed your resume?  If not, now’s the time to make a new, powerful statement about your career goals.  Additionally, if you have achieved a career goal, make sure this is included in your resume.

Finally, make sure you run a spell check, print your resume and then proof read your resume.  Grammar mistakes and typo’s detract from the integrity of your resume.  Make sure you have packaged yourself correctly and send it out for fresh eyes to review!