As the end of the first quarter nears and most bonus payouts will have happened, take a few minutes to review and spend time refreshing your resume. It always pays to keep an updated and prepared resume ready.
Change the Font
Resist the urge to use color, graphs, tables or symbols on your resume, but play with the fonts a bit just to change things up. Maybe you’ve gotten too settled in the look of your resume. There are many professional fonts and bolding and underlining can jazz things up just enough to be interesting without being annoying.
Delete, Delete, Delete
Only keep what is essential on your resume. You only need the last ten years of work experience. You don’t need your hobbies, references available or your family information. If you still have your street address on your resume, you are dating yourself in these privacy concern times.
Include Temporary Positions or Consulting Assignments
If you did some interesting projects when you were out of work or between semesters of school that utilized skills you are now marketing, include them! Applied experience is always a plus and a great tactic for refreshing your resume.
Edit
Make those bullet points snappy. They should spring off the page at the reader. Too much information in the education section is unnecessary if you’ve been working more than two years. Make every word count, and make sure every word is spelled right and your grammar is impeccable. Succinct and to-the-point resumes are always refreshing.
Heading
Use the name you are called, not your legal name. Don’t use a middle initial unless it is part of your regularly used name, i.e. JC Smith or Jim Smith not James C. Smith. Provide your email address and your cell phone number. DO NOT label them email and cell. You can provide your city and state if your preference is for a local position. If you are open to relocating, don’t include your city and state.
Refreshing your resume in the new year can remind you why you like your current position or why it is time to start a job search. The Executive Recruiters at Smith Hanley Associates are ready to serve you.
