What A Resume Makeover Can Do For You

Has it been more than six months since you updated your resume? Do you even remember the last time you updated your resume? Or have you been diligently job-hunting but your resume is just not generating the responses that you would like? Then it is time to think about what a resume makeover can do for you.

Keep it current

One of the biggest mistakes most people make it to let their resumes become out of date. Even if you are happily employed and have no plans to change jobs in the near future, you should update your resume every six months. Updating does not necessarily mean putting your resume into a polished, finished form each time, but it does mean keeping a notes/additions page handy for adding information as it occurs.

Why? Because the best time to capture clear, concise information about your achievements and job responsibilities is while you are actually performing them. For example, you have just participated in a successful project for your employer and you are proud of the role you played. Capture that information now, while it is still fresh in your mind, and add it to your resume file. Include important dates, actions, results, and achievements associated with your participation.

Think of this process as sort of like keeping a `resume diary' for yourself. It is easy to keep, easy to reference later, and will be invaluable to you if you find yourself in the unfortunate position of being laid off, downsized, or otherwise out of a job.

Freshen it up

What if you have been looking for a job but have not found one so far? There could be many reasons why this is the case, but one of the most common reasons is a resume that does not effectively communicate to potential employers.

It is common for employers to receive a large number of resumes for each job posting, and even the best human resources person gets tired of looking at them after a while. What can you do to make your resume stand out and be noticed? Here are a few ideas:

Check the basics - It is easy for typographical, grammatical, or stylistic errors to slip by unnoticed by you, but you can bet that the potential employer will catch them right off the bat. Try reading your resume backwards - yes, backwards - one word at a time in order to catch spelling errors. Use grammar and style-checking software (included in most word processing programs) to look for things like passive verbs, wordiness, clichés, or other common problems.

Just ask - In many cases, the human resources professional who evaluated your resume and application may be willing to offer you some feedback. Call and ask him or her to give you their input on what they found lacking in your resume. Be prepared that some HR departments are very cautious about doing this for legal reasons, but quite often, you can find someone who will at least let you know if they spotted any glaring errors or omissions during their review of your resume.

Attend a class - Many local job placement services, chambers of commerce, or other professional organizations offer free or low-cost resume classes. It may be worth your time to attend one to get some fresh ideas for your resume.

Look for helpful resources - Your local library is bound to have numerous books on resume writing, plus the Internet abounds with web sites on the topic of resumes. Check with your local Small Business Administration office to see if they have any programs that could match you up with an experienced executive or human resources person who could offer you some insight and guidance.

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