Are You Updating Your Resume? Here are 5 Reasons Why You Should…

Once you’ve entered the working world, your resume should never stay static. You don’t need to update it every day or even every month but glancing at it three to four times a year to make sure it is relevant can be a big time-saver for when you need to send it out fast.

If you’re a recent graduate or are preparing to graduate in 2022, now is an ideal time to look back at your resume and make sure it introduces the best possible version of you to prospective employers.

Here are five reasons why a polished resume matters (and check out these other helpful resume-building tips):

Keep an Eye on Your Most Important Achievements

If an achievement isn’t on your resume, did it happen? Whether you’re strengthening your skills, participating in new internships and experiences, completing certifications or being recognized at work, get the good stuff on that resume!

Regularly reviewing this document can help you quickly add new achievements and ensure nothing important gets missed.

Reflect on Accomplishments and Point to Areas of Growth

Prospective employers won’t hire you if they don’t know what you bring to the table. During your next resume review, make sure you note the accomplishments you’ve had in your professional career — and include clear, concise data and statistics to back it up. Don’t just say what you did or how you did it, explain how it helped through numbers and evidence. Examples of good metrics can include (but are not limited to): time saved, customers assisted, accounts managed, and revenue increased. 

You can also use your resume to showcase areas of growth. Did you take an exam to get that important certification? Are you in the midst of a training method that elevates your skills? Highlighting these key items will show the hiring team that you are motivated to keep growing and developing new tools for your skills toolbox.

New Career Opportunities are Around the Corner

Once you graduate, your focus will be on locating that next opportunity. Early in your career, you may find yourself moving from job to job or getting promoted or even switching specializations. As new opportunities arise, make sure your resume reflects the work experiences you have had. We’d recommend 3-8 bullet points of detailed information, backed by data, for each relevant job you’ve had with more focus on more recent roles.

Remain Relevant if Your Network Looks You Up

Networking can be difficult for those new to it, but it is an essential part of your professional life. Sometimes a job opportunity will come out of seemingly nowhere and sparked only because of the people you know. Whether it is your official resume or the unofficial LinkedIn version, making sure your resume is always accurate and on-point will ensure that if and when your network comes calling, you are ready.

Get Rid of the Outdated, Filler Content

Not everything needs to be on the resume. Volunteering in middle school was a great way to build your skills when you were younger, but once you are in/graduate college employers will be more interested in what you have achieved during and post-college.Take a critical, unbiased approach and review your resume for the outdated details that don’t tell the story you’re trying to tell an employer. Cut the fluff and leave the stuff that will wow them!

Your resume alone won’t get you the job of your dreams — cover letters, the interview, and your ability to back up words on paper with real-world skills will all come into play — but it can advance you to the next step in the hiring process. Make sure you are regularly checking your resume so that it reflects the best version of you. Herzing University’s Career Development department can help you along the way. Connect with us today to make sure you’re ready to start the next stage of your career!