How Often Should You Revisit Your Resume?

One of the annoyances of the modern job market is deciding to update your resume. The decision isn't as simple as it seems at first glance. Many resumes are now kept online at sites such as LinkedIn, and it's a fair bet that your boss will at least occasionally check on yours. A sudden update could send the wrong message to your current employer. So, when is the best time to update your resume?

Most employers understand that you update your resume whenever something significant changes. While your work history remains constant, your experience and education are subject to revision with every class you take and with every project you oversee. Adding relevant details as they occur help you keep a running log of your accomplishments. The various job offers that come in, even when you aren't actively applying for work, are based on a realistic evaluation of your desirability to employers. Even if you're perfectly happy at your current job, this give and take helps you calibrate your ideal salary by showing you what others are willing to pay. Looked at in this way, it's in your interest to maintain a current resume, whether you're thinking about a change or not.

If you are looking for a change, of course, it's all the more important to update your resume as soon as you're ready for the world to know about your job search. Remember that your boss is likely to be keeping an eye on employees' online profiles, and you might have some explaining to do on Monday morning if you run through the updates over the weekend. A middle ground is to update the paper version of your work history first and start discreetly shopping it around. Save the online update for when you're ready to have "the talk" with your supervisor.

One way to avoid the appearance of impropriety with your online job search is to update your resume at regular intervals no matter what. Even if you don't have anything new to add to the resume, changing a few words around or rearranging paragraphs every three or six months keeps the document fresh and depending on the sites where it's posted, could help it appear in more employers' searches. Regular updates also ensure that you only have to have the awkward confrontation with a worried supervisor once. You can truthfully explain your policy of regular revisions and expect to hear no more about it from a suspicious boss.

Keeping a current resume attached to your name is an ideal way of staying on top of your career without actively campaigning for a new job. However, choosing when to update your resume isn't easy. Doing it whenever something new can be added, when you're genuinely looking for a change, or just at regular intervals keeps your resume fresh and accurate.

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