How do you refresh your resume?

One question to ask yourself line by line "Is this information relevant for the job I am applying for"? If the answer is "no", then delete the line.

I love what everyone else has shared already - such good advice. I'd like to add that your job entries need to show what you did with some detail; please don't make me guess where you used the tools and skills listed in your summary or [technical] skills area! Another thing to consider: did YOU do this work? Your team may have done X but please document your specific work doing Y on this team.

If you've been at a company for more than 10 years, consolidate some of your experience, but still show the promotional progression. The older the role, the fewer bullet points it should have!

One thing I’ve always found helpful when creating bullet points is to write them as if you were telling someone outside of your field what you did/do. I believe that helps to write clear, detailed points that are easy to understand and to the point.

My simple rule of thumb I use, if more than 10yrs old, it should be removed. I would hope that your recent experiences include what you did 10years ago that is relevant to the job you are applying for.

If you are applying for different roles, let's say roles in account management and customer success, set up two "master resume templates" and tailor your master templates to those job titles. This will make it much easier for you when you apply for a specific role e.g. in account management as you have less things to customize. When I was last job searching last, I had three master templates ready and it was a real time saver for me.

I'm in the customize your resume every time camp. Employers don't want to know everything you have ever done - just what you can do for them. You have done a lot in every job, and are justifiably proud of all you've done! But all the nits and grits don't do much for you in a job search. And if what you've done isn't relatable to the new job, it doesn't belong on your resume for this job. Stick to skills and accomplishments, and try to keep to those which are relevant to the new job. If you have relevant skill or accomplishment that comes from a job more than 15 years ago, add the company name and job title only to a section called Additional Related Experience. You can then list the skill or accomplishment without aging it or you.

When you start to customize your resume, take a good hard look at the job description. It is your holy grail of information. Familiarize yourself with it completely and demonstrate how your skill set and experience align with the job's responsibilities. Now, showcase the transferability of your diverse skills to the specific job through achievements and measurable results. Concentrate on accomplishments rather than merely listing your previous job descriptions. Remember - recruiters typically spend only 5-8 seconds scanning your resume before making a split-second decision on whether to interview you. So, be strategic and ensure that every word, skill, and statement counts.

Awesome idea, Petra! I would add that the only areas I would change include my headline, my brief about paragraph, maybe key accomplishments, and the skills. The rest of my resumes stay the same. It depends on the goal, if you are making a pivot etc. so it's difficult to be precise.

I don't agree that every resume has to be fully tailored. I believe in the 80/20 rule. 80%+ should stay the same. If you are applying using a "spraying and praying" approach (reacting to online postings), it would simply not be possible to update 20% of your resume for each role. If, however, you are proactively seeking out roles, enquiring with people in your network, then definitely spend that time to adjust that 20%

Yes, adding new skills and achievements is important and also do not forget to review your "older" skills and achievements. Do they still add value in your resume or is it better to remove them?

"What have you done for me lately" - absolutely highlight what is most recent - as long as it is relevant. It's great you did x 10 years ago, but what did you do in the last 2 years?

Something people often forget are their interpersonal skills or "soft skills". When you read a job description, you will see many, many soft-skills listed. Include those in your resume! For example: inclusive, adaptable, high emotional-intelligence, communication, strategic

Limiting the experience on your resume to the last 10-15 years is the first step in keeping your skills and achievements current. Add skills from those jobs, or from courses you've taken in the past 10-15 years -- as long as they relate to the new job! If something is older than 10-15 years, many employers see those skills, and the related experience, as outdated and no longer relevant.

Replace "responsible for" with more specific action verbs and do not use the same action verbs all over your resume. Mix them up a little. Add your individual achievements, results and experience when listing keywords. Just copying and pasting keywords from the job description will not set up apart from other candidates. It is not the tasks you did, however the impact you had in your previous roles that the hiring manager and recruiter are interested in.

In the quest for an impactful resume, it's crucial to integrate keywords and potent action verbs that mirror job descriptions and employers' expectations. Keywords embody essential skills and attributes, while action verbs elucidate the tangible impacts you've championed. It's not enough to copy keywords from job listings; personal achievements must shine through. To unearth relevant keywords, one must: 1. Tailor the resume to the specific job listing applied for, 2. Examine widely circulated market job adverts, and 3. Investigate LinkedIn profiles in the same position and sector. This three-pronged approach supports preparing a resume that stands out and resonates with potential employers.

Make sure there is enough white space and that your font is not too small. 10 or 11 is a good size. And in regards to the layout, do not overdo it with the design. Less is more, unless you are a graphic designer.

Like Petra said, less is more. I advise to have the top 1/3 to 1/2 include the most important information about you. If the person doesn't have to scroll to know they want to interview you, you've done well!

Two useful, free tools to consider when upgrading your resume are the resume builders from Resume Worded and Teal. Both harness the power of AI and give you feedback. No matter where you are at in your career, it is a smart idea to keep your resume updated. These tools are a great way to get feedback without having to ask a friend or colleague for input.

Having someone proofread your resume before submitting it is absolutely crucial. After diligently customizing your resume and applying to multiple roles, your brain becomes so accustomed to looking at your resume that it no longer "sees" it objectively. This is when you might miss spelling or grammatical errors, notice different fonts, encounter missing dates, or find misalignments in bullet points. Always have a fresh pair of eyes review it, do not let all your hard work go to waste. It could potentially make the difference between securing an interview or not.

As shown by the authors in this collaborative article, the importance of refreshing your resume cannot be overemphasized. We grow everyday and a month old resume may not be able to show the recruiter your current skills. Here are some ways to get started: 1. Take out time to reflect on your previous or current activity and pen them down. Ask yourself questions like what were the actions that got you accolades or added value to the company? Can I measure and quantify the impact? 2. Keep an career progress log that shows what you did, how you did it, and the outcome of that action. Pen those achievement no matter how little and ensure you update them as frequently as possible, those notes will serve you well.

Sometimes a single page resume is sufficient. A long list of everything you did in your professional life but irrelevant to that job you are applying will often be ignored. Take the relevant and transferrable skills and put that on the resume. Also if a lot of your experiences are similar because you have done that role for a long time, remove the redundant and repetitive information. Simple, to the point and succinct resumes are always more attractive.

A good practice is to chip away at it as you go. This will be much easier than trying to update it every few years as you try to switch jobs. By updating it as you go, you'll be able to better remember and articulate your achievements. Do you use a task tracking software at work like Trello or Asana? Or do you document things in a wiki like Confluence? This will be a goldmine of information to jog your memory on what exactly you've been doing. A big bonus here is that while this can be packaged up into your CV for new opportunities, you'd also want this information at hand if you're actively pushing for a promotion in your current organisation.