Does your resume need a little spring cleaning?
Spring is here and with it comes change, renewal, and often times, reflection of yourself both personally and professionally. Just like the warmer weather is welcomed, it’s also a good time to reevaluate your career, set up goals and reassess. Why not think about making a career change?
While a job search at any time can be daunting, it’s important to know that a crucial step for a prospective job seeker is planning and preparation – and that starts with your resume.
Start by dusting yours off and seeing what areas you can spruce up and / or update.
Do you have temporary, contract or interim positions you need to add? Have you learned any new software skills? Have you taken on a managerial role? As accounting, finance and IT professionals, many of you are constantly growing and developing your skills. Be sure to keep track of these changes, especially on your resume.
I’ve written about Tips For An Eye-Catching Resume before, however, there’s always room for improvement. That’s why, I’ve collected a few of the most tried and true resume tips for accounting, finance and IT job seekers – and all professionals looking to enhance their career–in the 6 Tips to Freshen Up Your Resume below.
1. Only keep what’s needed.
Take stock of what’s currently on your resume and think about what it’s conveying to hiring managers. If you have your first job from 15 years ago on your resume, it might be time to take it off—unless of course, it has been your only position. A rule of thumb when considering what to keep on your resume, think about only including positions that you’ve held within the past 10 years. Similarly, if you have unnecessary information on your resume like your hobbies, remove it. Your resume is a hiring manager’s first impression of who you are and you want to make sure you showcase what’s really important for you landing your next position.
2. Include temporary opportunities.
This is an important one that often gets overlooked. Be sure to include any and all temporary, interim or contract positions on your resume—employers will be interested in job seekers who have kept their skills sharp in between roles.
3. Think of your bullet points as snapshots.
Rather than include every detail within the bullet points of your resume, think of the information as points for you to elaborate on. The bullet points should include your job responsibilities—and equally as important, your accomplishments. In other words, the bullet points should elicit further conversation of your experience and achievements.
4. Add awards or certifications.
This is very useful information to include. Job seekers should include their awards and certifications. This is the time to showcase why you are the most qualified and what better way to do that than by including what sets you apart from the crowd.
5. Checklist your resume.
Use a checklist to make sure you have everything you need on your resume before applying for new positions. Be sure to have concise formatting that is easy for hiring managers and recruiters to read. This includes using one easily readable font and steering clear of templates. Additionally, be sure to have your contact information clearly listed—Name, email, address and the best phone number to reach you—at the top of your resume.
6. Proofread.
Last but not least, proofread your resume. This is the most overlooked step that job seekers make. Read your resume at least three times for accuracy and to assure that the language is concise and professional. Also, have at least one other person read through your resume. You don’t want to let a small typo or misspelling cost you a new position!
These are just a few of the ways to spruce up your resume this spring. Know of any other great tips? Comment below and let us know!