Okay, I lied, maybe not in 7 minutes. But you can still get some good pointers here on how to update your resume quickly, efficiently, and methodically, so that you can meet a deadline to apply to an exciting job opening you just saw in Freshgigs.ca.
Below is a checklist you should follow when updating your resume:
Most job applicants have a section right at the top of their resumes which succinctly describes their professional profile. It’s the first thing that employers zero-in on, and it is, in my opinion, a critical aspect of your resume because it encapsulates who you are as a job applicant, and what you offer to the employer. It’s your “calling card,” if you will.
1. Make sure you have updated your current title.
If you’ve recently had a change in job title, make sure you use your current title. You will also need to refer to your promotion: Under the resume heading of “job responsibilities,” you can state that you were promoted from one position (e.g. Sales Representative) to another (e.g. Regional Sales Manager). Indicate the date that you were promoted.
If you’ve had multiple promotions, you can set them out in this way:
Job Responsibilities:
- Promoted from Sales Representative to Regional Sales Manager (Dec. 2013)
- Promoted from Assistant Sales Representative to Senior Sales Representative (March 2010)
2. Make sure you have updated your current job responsibilities.
If your department has given you more job responsibilities and duties, ensure this is reflected in your resume. Delete job responsibilities that you no longer handle.
If you’ve had a promotion, list out your most current job responsibilities and duties, and remove the jobs that you used to do in your former position.
3. Add in any recent training, certifications, and degrees you may have attained.
Job applicants often forget to update their training and professional development in their resume. But these things are important because they contribute to your credentials and qualifications. Even weekend and evening courses and in-house training seminars are important, especially if they cover a subject that’s relevant to the prospective employer’s business.
4. Add in any recent awards or recognitions that you may have obtained.
This can be awards or plaques that you’ve received from work, or from boards or committees on which you serve, or from any volunteer organization you belong to.
5. Include any new computer software skills and social media skills you’ve acquired.
Almost all employees – whether they’re a middle manager or corporate executive – operate some form of computer software that is critical to their job performance. Employers like to see that you’re conversant with the latest software systems that are used in their industry.
6. Re-word your “Career Profile” or “Career Objective” section.
Most job applicants have a section right at the top of their resumes which succinctly describes their professional profile. It’s the first thing that employers zero-in on, and it is, in my opinion, a critical aspect of your resume because it encapsulates who you are as a job applicant, and what you offer to the employer. It’s your “calling card,” if you will.
Obviously, if your title has recently changed, this will need to be reflected in your Career Profile. The same goes with your new job duties; your Career Profile will need to be updated to show greater job responsibilities.
Let’s say you have been promoted from Senior Sales Representative to Regional Sales Manager. As a sales rep, your current “Career Profile” might look like this:
Career Profile: Senior Sales Representative with over 10 years of experience in handling business-to-business sales in the enterprise software sector. Has increased sales by over 35 percent during the last two years, and has boosted corporate accounts from 120 accounts to 160 in Western Canada during the last three years. Winner of [company name]’s Outstanding Sales Achievement Awards for three years in row.
With your promotion from Senior Sales Representative to Regional Sales Manager, your “Career Profile” will now need to look something like this:
Career Profile: Regional Sales Manager with responsibility for corporate markets in Western Canada (B.C., Alberta, Manitoba) managing a team of over 35 sales representatives. Over 15 years of experience working in the enterprise software sector, and winner of [company name]’s Outstanding Sales Achievement Award for 5 consecutive years.
_______________________
Once you’ve made your updates, don’t forget to proofread your resume. In order to properly pick up on any typos, you must print out the resume, and go over the document line-by-line. In my experience, typos and errors are one of the most common mistakes I see in resumes. Even though you may have proofread your resume previously, do it again, because you have added new content. Each time you update your resume, you must do a round of proofreading.
One last point: Proofreading the document on your computer is not nearly as effective as printing the resume on paper, and reviewing the hard copy in front of you. As much as environmentalists hate me for saying this, when you proofread from hard copy, errors and typos become much more apparent. (I think this has to do with the manner in which we pick up visual information on computer screen versus on paper, the reasons for which go beyond the scope of this blog.)
Don’t forget to recycle the paper afterwards. Good luck in meeting your application deadline for that new job opening!
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Milton Kiang (B.A., LL.B.) is a professional resume writer and helps jobs applicants create powerful resumes and persuasive cover letters at his company www.resumeprofessional.net. He gives job searchers the advantage they need to stand above the crowd, and to land job interviews. Milton holds a law degree, and is a former executive recruiter with Major, Lindsey & Africa, the largest legal executive search firm in the world. He was a contributing writer for the “Business & Careers” section of The Lawyers Weekly, a national newspaper for Canadian lawyers.