Keeping an up-to-date resume is important so you are prepared to apply for a higher level position, find a new job or head down a new career path. But what resume updates should you be looking to do? When doing a review of your skills and tasks, what is worth including and what isn’t?

Start at the top

Update your resume with your new contact details. Have you moved, changed phone numbers or created a new email address? Make sure potential employers have your most recent contact information.

Skills and Tasks

If you have been in your recent or position for more than a year, it is likely you have picked up new skills, training, and/or awards or achievements. Be sure to update your skills in your most recent position. List any continuing education or new training you received with the title or company.

Relevance

If you are updating your resume because you are actively seeking employment, highlight the most relevant job experience first. Review the job description and/or job posting and make sure it is very clear to the potential employer that you have the skills they are looking for.

Keywords

With many resumes being submitted online, and with job recruiters searching through profiles, the use of keywords has never been more valuable. Include main words in your profile to help those looking for you and your skill set. For example, use specific terms such as “Customer Service Manager” rather than trying to be creative with phrases like “Chief Happiness Director” or the like.

Organized

Make sure your resume is easy to read and organized well. You may want to organize your resume by employment history, or another way to organize might be by experience. Avoid elaborate fonts or design elements that will detract from the content. Include information about all the components of your job history that will help the employer choose you for an interview, including job related certificates, software knowledge, specific achievement metrics and relevant licenses.

Unique

Without disclosing specific protected information (age, gender, race), let the employer understand what makes you different. Are you working on another degree? Are you volunteering in your free time? Do you have published works or awards you can mention that set you apart? Speak another language? Include them and you will likely be asked about them in your interview.

Truthful

When a potential employer is looking at your resume, overall, they want to see if your background will make you a good fit for the open position. They will be looking to see how long you did certain tasks, how long you spent in each job, how long any employment gaps were and potentially, the rate of pay you are used to.

Some people fabricate their rate of pay in order to justify making more money, or stretch beginning and end dates of employment in order to cover gaps. Be truthful and include an explanation for anything that seems odd or problematic in your resume, rather than trying to cover it up.

AimHire is a Denver employment agency looking to pair enthusiastic and knowledgeable candidates with quality employers. Are you looking for a new job in Denver? Learn more about how a staffing company can support your goals by pairing you with eager employers looking for top talent.