5 Signs Your Resume Needs Updating

Have you been using the same tired resume since before you started your last job? Are you frustrated with the lack of response to your applications? Do you wonder if maybe the problem is your resume? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, it may be time to give your resume an overhaul. In today's job market, it is more important than ever to be sure that your resume expresses not only your qualifications for a job but also your ability to adjust and adapt to the more connected digital world we live in.

So how can you tell if your resume is a dinosaur? Here are 5 signs that your resume needs updating:

• It's just one page: Years ago, it was considered good form to keep your resume short and to the point. I am not sure why, but these days a one page resume looks like you forgot to send the other pages. If your work experience only takes one page, don't stretch it out, but don't be afraid to continue on to 2 pages.

• There is no social media contact information: It can't be stated enough that employers are looking for employees that are connected and up to date with the current trends. More and more, employers are looking to social media to find and recruit new talent and fill job openings. Social media accounts, such as Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook should be listed on your resume. Keep in mind that any employer that is considering your application will be looking at your accounts, so be sure to not post anything there that you wouldn't want them to see.

• You aren't using keywords: Changing your resume format around so that you can use keywords in the objective section and also include them in your previous job descriptions is the one thing you can do to make the most difference in how your resume is viewed. Many companies routinely scan resumes for keywords that apply to the job they are trying to fill in order to screen for the candidates that best match their needs. Resumes that don't come up in the keyword search will many times not even be read.

• You have included a photo or height, weight or marital status: I am not really sure where this started, but there are still many people who believe that it is standard practice to include and photo or include there personal statistics such as height, marital status or weight. This is just a bad idea. A hiring manager takes great pains to comply with the laws regarding discrimination based on most of these factors. When they are given information they haven't asked for, many times it is easier for them to just throw out the application rather than risk being influenced (either positively or negatively) by this information.

• Your file name is “resume”: It can seem petty at first, but it is a good idea to name your resume file something other than resume. Consider the trouble it can make for an HR staffer who receives hundreds of files all titled resume. It is always a safe bet to change the file name to your name so that it is easier find and process your document. Also, it just looks more professional.

Did any of this sound familiar? If so, there is no time better than today to give your resume a makeover. Keep in mind that your resume is the first thing a potential employer will see, and they will be making judgments about who you are and what you are capable of based on this paper. It's your job to make sure that it isn't the last thing.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a freelance writer and regular contributor to several websites and other publications, a volunteer, a full time mom and an active job seeker.