updating resume

Contact Information

Objective or Summary

  • Read your current statement carefully.
  • Identify areas that lack clarity or impact.
  • Rewrite sentences for improved flow and engagement.
  • Ensure it accurately reflects your current skills and experiences.
  • Research the company and its culture.
  • Identify the key skills and attributes desired for the role.
  • Modify your summary to align with the company's values.
  • Use industry-specific jargon where appropriate.
  • Avoid jargon and overly complex sentences.
  • Focus on clarity by using straightforward terms.
  • Ensure every word adds value to your statement.
  • Limit the use of filler words or phrases.
  • Select relevant achievements from your career.
  • Quantify accomplishments with specific metrics.
  • Match these achievements to the skills listed in the job description.
  • Keep the focus on results and impacts.
  • Identify keywords and phrases from the job listing.
  • Integrate these keywords naturally into your summary.
  • Avoid keyword stuffing; maintain readability.
  • Check for synonyms to enhance diversity.
  • Clarify your short-term and long-term career goals.
  • Align your aspirations with the job's opportunities.
  • Express enthusiasm for growth and contribution.
  • Make it personal and reflective of your ambitions.
  • Draft your summary in one or two sentences.
  • Be concise while covering essential points.
  • Edit ruthlessly to maintain brevity.
  • Aim for impactful rather than verbose statements.
  • Identify common phrases and avoid using them.
  • Create unique descriptions of your skills.
  • Focus on what makes you different.
  • Use specific examples to illustrate your points.
  • Use action verbs to start your sentences.
  • Eliminate passive structures for stronger impact.
  • Make statements assertive and direct.
  • Reflect a proactive attitude in your writing.
  • Choose metrics that highlight your success.
  • Integrate numbers or percentages into your summary.
  • Use examples that showcase your contributions.
  • Ensure metrics are relevant to the job.
  • Set reminders to review your summary regularly.
  • Update it after significant career changes.
  • Ensure it reflects your latest skills and achievements.
  • Keep it aligned with your current career goals.

Work Experience

  • List the job title, company name, and location.
  • Specify the start and end dates of employment.
  • Briefly describe the role and its relevance to your career.
  • Verify that job titles accurately reflect your role.
  • Adjust dates to ensure they are correct.
  • Maintain chronological order for clarity.
  • Identify primary duties and tasks performed.
  • Highlight significant accomplishments or projects.
  • Quantify results to demonstrate impact.
  • Choose strong action verbs to start each bullet point.
  • Include numbers, percentages, or other metrics.
  • Make achievements specific and measurable.
  • Review the job description for required skills.
  • Modify bullet points to reflect relevant experiences.
  • Focus on duties that match the prospective employer's needs.
  • Evaluate the relevance of each position.
  • Consider removing jobs older than 10-15 years.
  • Keep only roles that showcase pertinent skills.
  • Use the same font and size throughout.
  • Standardize bullet point styles and indentation.
  • Maintain uniform spacing between entries.
  • Identify keywords in the job listing.
  • Incorporate these terms organically in descriptions.
  • Avoid keyword stuffing; maintain natural language.
  • Clearly indicate promotions with dates.
  • Describe increased responsibilities or new roles.
  • Show how your skills evolved over time.
  • List the organization, role, and duration.
  • Include skills gained or contributions made.
  • Emphasize relevance to current career goals.
  • Choose simple, straightforward wording.
  • Eliminate unnecessary technical terms.
  • Aim for brevity while maintaining meaning.
  • Check for periods of unemployment or transitions.
  • Consider how to explain gaps positively.
  • Prepare to discuss these in interviews.
  • Share your resume draft for input.
  • Ask for specific suggestions on wording.
  • Incorporate feedback to improve clarity and impact.
  • Include URLs for LinkedIn or personal websites.
  • Verify that links are active and accessible.
  • Ensure profiles are up-to-date and professional.

Education

Skills

Additional Sections

Formatting and Design

Final Review