7 Ways to Update Your Resume

Posted by in Career Advice •



 
 
by Alex A. Kecskes
 
It’s a new year. Hopefully, the economy will turn around. Whether it does or doesn’t, you’re going to have to update your resume for a new, leaner economy to land a good job. Here are seven things you can do to freshen up the old CV:
 
Cut the Deadwood. If your resume is getting longer every year, it might be time to jettison some posts you held before, say, the Internet came into existence. Unless you were a super star or a rainmaker at a previous position, cut it out. Chances are, the supervisor you worked under is no longer there, or the company may even have changed owners and there will be little record of you ever having worked there.
 
Stress Lean & Mean. As companies struggle to rebound from the bad economy, they’ll be looking for employees that have a demonstrated ability to save them money. Stress your abilities to do just that—in each job you previously held and in the objective or summary part of your resume.
 
Learn a New Language. The economy is increasingly becoming an international one. So study a foreign language and include that in your resume. It can make a difference with so many people applying for the same job.
 
Add a New Skill Set. If you’re weak on the tech side, take an IT or computer class and add your new skill set to your resume. Tech competence is becoming a deal maker in many hiring decisions.
 
Expand Your Social Media. Join more professional social media organizations. Tag your increasing levels of participation at the end of your resume. Who knows, maybe your future employer belongs to one or more of those organizations.
 
Update Awards & Recognitions. That plaque you got from the company you worked for 10 years ago is passé. Add any new awards, recognitions and accolades and keep them current.
 
Check References. Make sure the contact information you have for your references is still current. Dump old references (anything over a decade is old) and replace them with new references that reflect your latest abilities and goals.
 
For an added perspective, check out this video:
 
Got any thoughts on updating your resume? Include your comments in the section below.
 
Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients. Please see more of his blogs and view additional job postings on Nexxt.
 
 
 
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  • Richard M
    Richard M •
    Re: Cutting the dead woodHow can one cover the time gap if a job is cut out?
  • Stephanie S
    Stephanie S •
    Thank you for your informative video and good nature.  Learning about doing free resumes with my own website or blog was very useful.  
  • Adrianna R
    Adrianna R •
    I took these 6 refreshers into consideration for my resume and even with minor changes it looks better! Thank you!
  • Antonia P
    Antonia P •
    The video was not very helpful. It was too broad and not understandable.
  • Adeline U
    Adeline U •
    The article is really motivating and it gives more knowledge about what to improve as individuals. Its truly inspiring. Thank you.
  • Veronica e
    Veronica e •
    Good information.
  • michelle m
    michelle m •
    going on 6 mo here so these tips and ideas might help me get that job this month!?!!
  • Jennifer u
    Jennifer u •
    I appreciate the tips that increase my interview skills and help my resume stand out..very effective and direct; exactly what employers seek for that winning position!
  • Roman P
    Roman P •
    Its amazing how we are catering to generation "Y"'s inability to read resumes...and as such generation "X" has difficulty communicating to a "me world" of generation Y where generation X we of a inclusive "we world", inspired by team work, transfer of skills knowledge, mentoring, developing with real life experiences rather than text book theory. Perhaps we need a lesson for generation Y is recognizing the value of employing generation X candidates who perhaps are not scholastic, acedemic's but practitioners who grew and built a flourishing economy with growth and job abundance unlike today...BACK TO THE BASIC's ....
  • James h
    James h •
    Very informative. I had allot of those ideas but I never got off the computer chair to implement them.Thank you verry muchRichard
  • Cheryl C.
    Cheryl C. •
    Karen B., has hit the "nails on the heads", with what she is saying.  I'm frustrated like she is.  I have an Associate degree, earned with honors and can't find simple office work.  I too, am stuck working a part time job with fewer than 20 hours a week.  From people I have talked with, you have to know somebody to get a job anywhere, be it a professional or minimum wage one!
  • Sheila M
    Sheila M •
    Great tips, I needed a couple of them.  Thank you.Sheila M
  • thomas s
    thomas s •
    Good points made, I will include these when I prepare my resume.U
  • Ellen C
    Ellen C •
    Taking a computer class is a good skill to have. Today employers for nurses are requiring excel classes. I don't have excel.
  • Parvin B
    Parvin B •
    That was good information and I will check my resume for million times to see if it should be cut again.   
  • john o
    john o •
    I need all the help I can get,Thank You
  • Marquita A
    Marquita A •
    Going forward I will be using all of the advice for making changes to my resume.
  • Samuel A
    Samuel A •
    Very useful informationThank you very much
  • Karen B
    Karen B •
    It would be nice if just once the "how to get a job"articles faced reality.  Some of us did not receive awards; not because we were not worthy but because that is not something our place of employment gave out.       It would also be nice if the articles would address the new reality : most of us competing for dead end minimum wage jobs.  It would also be less aggravating if , oh yeah, the articles would stop talking about going back to school.  A lot of us can't even pay for heat and we are going to go back to school?  With what?  Only to learn a new skill set and still be out a job?  Resume advice sites along with the media and the government  need to get a grip and report the truth.  Then, if they want to be helpful propose helpful sound legislation, or realistic job strategies for everyone...not just the soon to be re-employed professional.  By the way I am speaking as one who has my bachelors, a higher than average grade point average, and as one who pays taxes, abides by the laws, votes, and has 20 years of experience.  I am also one who does not want hand outs, I want to earn my way.  Finally, do you have any suggestions for negotiating a schedule with a min. wage employer?  Most refuse to give any set schedule or hours and if they find out that you are ambitious and landed more than one job they create a schedule that is so impossible  one has to chose between the jobs, only to work 14 hours one week and maybe 25 in the two weeks that follow?  I'm out of ideas, do you have any?  SERIOUSLY?!
  • David W
    David W •
    I like all the information that was talked about.  Thanks.
  • Rebecca B
    Rebecca B •
    I appreciate this article and will put this advice into practice. thank you
  • Justin W
    Justin W •
    If you're submitting a resume, cover letter & references, make sure they are ALL using the same layout, font and size. I print out multiple personnel resumes and attachments at once, it can be quite confusing when I have to match things up at the printer. Make sure your name is clearly visible at the top of every sheet of your resume.

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