Why bother with a resume update?
The truth of the matter is, most people shelve their CVs once they’re comfortably employed, letting them gather dust. If this is you, it’s safe to say you need an updated resume in order to be a top contender in your quest for a sweet new job. You have to use every possible advantage to compete in today’s job market. You should update your resume every six to 12 months to add new skills and experiences,” says career expert Vicki Salemi.
You don’t want to delay applying for the job because you need time to update your materials when the next awesome job opportunity will arise, you probably have some stuff on there that dates you or makes you look stale, and you want to be ready for it since recruiters spend about six seconds viewing a resume, you can’t afford to be anything less than sparkling plus you have the best chance of being considered for a job if you apply within the first 24 hours.
Check out the following tips
1.Erase that Objective: A 25-word wow statement highlighting who you are and what you have done is all you need. Sweep away that Objective and replace it with a new and improved summary. So, for starters, get rid of the “objective” field. That’s yesterday’s news and a potential red flag to hiring managers that you’re not on top of current standards and practices in the workplace.
2. Spray away boring Verbs: Employers want to recruit talent that is passionate about what they do and enthusiastic about their company. Use keywords that are key in your field. Cross-check job ads to ascertain the expected keywords. Replace sterile and overused verbs with action verbs such as launched, improved, influenced, developed and so on. Nothing kills mojo quicker than lifeless verbs floundering on your resume.
3.Replace obscure fonts: Playful, unprofessional fonts are an eyesore. For example, font like Comic sans with common easily-read font like Verdana, Calibri, Times new roman and so on. but in case you are not sure, take a look at some current sample resumes to see what is and is not in fashion.
4. Toss out outdated skills: Terminology changes from year to year, so be sure your resume reflects current trends. Old software programs or other examples of terminology from yesteryear that may make you seem out of the loop should be tossed out of your resume.
5. Boost Your Social profile: A recent study by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) found that 84% of employers recruit via social media, and 43% of employers screen job candidates through social networks and search engines. An active online presence speaks volumes to your potential employers. Just make sure that people who are searching for you online will like what they find. You can add non-abrasive social network and embedded links.
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