I recently asked a recruiter friend to “review” my resume. A review by a professional is an important step in making sure you have an attention-getting document. I have reviewed many resumes during the course of my HR career, so it made sense to ask an HR colleague to take a look at my own. Imagine my surprise when she candidly advised me that it needed a significant overhaul. I will admit that it has been five years since I conducted a serious job search, but some of my accomplishments during the five-year period are seriously absent from my resume. Further, the resume is too lengthy even without some of the more recent information.
Your resume is an important marketing tool and I recommend periodic updates to keep it fresh and current even if you are not actively seeking a new role. This will save valuable time if an intriguing career opportunity presents itself. Your resume should reflect your career progression—anything you accomplish which adds to your skill sets and increases or broadens your experience and/or education.
As you gain experience you will want to move from the more task-oriented entries to those that detail actual results. Those accomplishments that add value or further the goals of the organizations you have worked for are key in relating your credentials to the requirements of the jobs you pursue. Employers want to know about your contributions and how you are going to make a significant difference for their company. Even if your qualifications are not a perfect match, being able to demonstrate how they are transferable to the specific requirements gives you a competitive edge over those candidates whose resume content is not as convincing as your own. Make sure, however, that your content does not overstate who you are and what you have done.
Even with the right content, formatting is also an important element in developing your resume. Effective use of space, language and software compatibility are critical in making sure your resume is not passed over for the next one. Recruiters do not have time to work at finding out who you are. My first pass through a stack of resumes is typically designed to quickly screen out the ones I do not wish to review further. A document that is crisp, focused, and results-oriented with an appealing overall visual presentation, will go to my ‘review further’ pile.
Resume refreshing to represent who you currently are and who you plan to be is time and effort well spent whether you are new to the job market or a seasoned professional looking for a change. First impressions do count!
