How Often Do You Review Your Resume?
August 2, 2012
A few weeks ago, I was looking on Indeed.com, a job placement board. I saw a position that I felt was perfect for me, but my resume was outdated. By the time I updated my resume, the posting was taken down. That’s when I discovered it’s very important to review your resume often.
Your resume is outdated when you have not added recent jobs, job responsibilities or activities related to the job you are seeking. You should review your resume at least every six months. It may be helpful to keep an ongoing record of any new tasks that you are taking on, including volunteer tasks. That way, you can easily update your resume at regular intervals.
Resume styles change as well. Are you still using a format from 10 years ago? This may show a potential employer that you don’t respond to change. Review online resume templates to make sure yours looks fresh and current with trends. Windows 7 has some nice, free templates that allow you to create your new version. Here are three tips:
- Use a format that is suited to your skill set. There are resumes for every kind of job seeker — from a student who just graduated high school or college, to a professional with several years experience. Your resume should reflect who you are so the organization you are applying to will see how you will fit in.
- Be sure to use the spell check feature on your computer so that there are no spelling or grammatical errors. You should also have at least two people review your resume to make sure it reads well. They may be able to detect problems that you didn’t catch.
- Don’t forget to save your document on your computer and on a ‘flash drive’ so that you can take it wherever you go. You never know when you may see a job posting that you want to go for!
Remember, a resume is the first impression that a company has of you, so give it the time and attention it deserves.
Tosha Murph
tmurph@regent.edu
Tosha Murph is a GoodProspectssm Virtual Career Mentor for Education. She has more than five5 years experience in higher education. She coaches and advises prospective students on choosing the best degree to achieve their desired career. She has a Bachelor’s degree in English.
