Six Effective ways to updating your Resume/CV

The Skills section 

It is always a good idea to review your resume at least once a year, even if you are not looking for new opportunities, and the best place to start your upgrade is the skills section.

Look at your skills section and make sure you have your most current professional skills listed. As we go through life, we consistently gain new skills and expand our areas of expertise. Consider replacing outdated skills with newer and more relevant ones. Remember, basic skills such as computer literacy or teamwork can be removed, as most recruiters assume all candidates have these in common.

Soft skills are universal skills not linked with any specific job or industry.

Examples of soft skills for your Resume 

• Teamwork

• Adaptability 

• Conflict resolution 

• Leadership 

• Problem-solving 

• Creativity 

• Excellent work-ethic 

• Interpersonal skills 

• Time management

You learn hard skills on the job through formal education or additional training.

Examples of hard skills for your resume (IT/ Engineering)

• Web, HTML, CSS, JavaScript

• Troubleshooting

• CRM Platforms

• Workflow development 

• Coding  

• Prototyping

Remove older and irrelevant positions (10-15 years)

If you have been working for 10 to 15 years, you might want to remove some entry-level positions from your resume. We recommend you review your resume and consider deleting any older positions you find irrelevant. 

Entry-level employment would be the lowest level of the employment hierarchy; these are typically meant for recent graduates and do not require prior work experience.

Update your keywords

Industry jargon changes so fast nowadays, and one needs can keep up with all of them. Having the latest keywords can help your resume stand out from the mountain on applications at any hiring manager's desk.

Update your formatting 

We recommend you keep working on your format to make it less generic. We know a good resume template can be heaven-sent. However, the last thing you need is for your resume to look like five other applications the hiring manager must look through. You do not need a total redesign, but you can do minor updates, such as using standard font and a good amount of white space.

Make sure your resume is saved correctly. 

Ensure your resume is saved as a PDF to preserve your content and format.  Additionally, avoid naming your resume as solely “resume” you might only have one document with that name on your computer, but the hiring manager will probably have 5 or 6 more. Do not let your resume get lost in the forgotten pill. An excellent way to name your resume is with your full name followed by your resume unless you were given specific instructions from the hiring manager.

Update your contact information when necessary 

Ensure your contact info is up to date. Start by using a professional email address for all your employment communication. We recommend you create an email address specifically for your job search. Do not forget to list your LinkedIn profile on your resume.