Is It Time To Update Your Resume?

Now is the perfect time to reflect on what you have accomplished since the last time you updated your resume. Sometimes a resume is the only chance you get to show what you have to offer and make an impression. 

Here are a few tips if you don’t know where to start.

Remove Unnecessary Information 

Remove things that aren’t needed, such as your address or some things you did in high school if you are now in college. You want your resume to be concise and accurate while highlighting your most current and prominent work and skills. Old or unnecessary information can occupy space and cloud the most important information. 

Tailor Your Resume

Having a master list of jobs, volunteer opportunities, clubs and other things you have been involved in is an incredible hack to tailoring your resume. Different opportunities may call for different skills or experiences. Tailoring your resume to what the company needs helps to put you ahead of the game. Also, look on their website to help construct your resume and/or cover letter. Check out their About Us or Mission page to get to know exactly what they value as a company, then decide how you can incorporate some of those in your resume.  

Add Numbers 

Showing a company the numbers is a great way to stand out. For example, if you are a journalist and a post you wrote received 100+ likes or the podcast you curated was listened to by 100+ people, add that to your resume. This allows the company to see the impact that you have. 

Check for Errors

You should have another set of eyes look over your resume after you’ve run it through Grammarly. Make sure the font and text size are uniform throughout the entire page. Be sure that all of your verb tense (past, present or future) is consistent throughout. Be sure to add commas and periods where they are needed and make sure you put your best foot forward by taking your time.

Think Big

Optimize your words! Think about what you have done to the full extent. For example, if you are the president of a club or organization and pass out flyers on campus, you may want to say you have experience canvassing. If you lead group meetings, you communicate effectively in group settings. Words and how they are used matter, and you want to be somewhat descriptive.

Have Fun, When Applicable

Depending on what kind of job or internship you are applying to, have some fun with the template. Canva has some great free templates that can assist with this. Adding small details and even a little color can help you stand out in a crowd.