The First Three Things to Fix When Updating Your Old Resume

Most companies receive hundreds of resumes, and crafting a resume that stands out and speaks to the applicant's strengths as a worker and as a person is the most important step of any job application process. Updating a resume before applying to a new position is essential, and close attention must be paid to anything that might put the potential employer off from choosing a different applicant.

One should update his resume after an internal transfer the same company and, more importantly, when changing companies. A resume should be adapted to the position for which the applicant is applying and should be updated to include all relevant information that demonstrates compatibility between the applicant and the position. Besides updating the resume with any new contact information and new references, there are other steps that should be considered.

Firstly, when updating a resume, all old and irrelevant information should be eliminated. Start at the end of the resume, which should be the oldest work experience entry, and continue from there. A resume should be a maximum of two pages long, though many resume experts recommend no more than one. Eliminating old and irrelevant information leaves room to add more recent work details, awards and accomplishments that are related to the industry of the potential employer. This also ensures that the potential employer sees the applicant as an appropriate candidate rather than a random applicant applying for anything in a tough job market.

The second step is to pay attention to the most recent work experience. This entry should include a detailed summary of the applicant's job responsibilities, and it should demonstrate that the applicant has grown and is qualified for the new position. Before updating the resume, the applicant should do research on the company and the position offered. This gives the applicant an idea about what kind of skills the company needs and what the company values. This can serve as a good indicator of what to include and what to exclude from the resume.

The third step of updating a resume is to freshen it up and update its style. It's important that the resume is polished, easy to follow and appropriate to the industry and position. The design and the language of the resume should be simple, but relevant to the potential employer.

The job application process should not be taken lightly, and updating a resume demonstrates that the applicant is serious and understands the requirements of the new position. A good resume is an applicant's first impression on the potential employer, and it determines whether the applicant is even considered for an interview. Therefore, updating a resume and making it a good reflection of the applicant's capabilities is a must.

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