Have Your Résumé Always at the Ready
Keep a Current Résumé for Confidence and Clarity
The word résumé means summary in French, and that happens to be the most apt definition for the document that will be your foot in many doors. Your résumé is an ever-evolving overview of your accomplishments, education, experience, and work history. By keeping it fresh and up to date, you will be well prepared to explore new opportunities with confidence.
As a summary, your résumé does not provide in-depth coverage of your story, but it is also not a tedious list of facts. A well-crafted and balanced review will provoke the reader’s interest and act as a catalyst to invite further conversation. Your résumé should be organized, employ action verbs and language consistency, and convey a clear objective.
Why Do I Need an Updated Résumé?
By scheduling time to update your résumé on a regular basis, your achievements, objective, and goals will remain top of mind. This practice will serve to help you quickly evaluate new opportunities. When you discover growth opportunities that are in alignment with your experience and goals, your résumé will be ready for submission at the earliest possible moment.
Through the conscientious work of updating your résumé on a quarterly basis, you allow yourself to reflect on your recent achievements and document results with accuracy that is not often available after years have passed or in the crunch of an unexpected job search. By taking the time to review your document regularly, you will also notice trends about your experience and accomplishments. These discoveries may lead to new paths or fields of interest. This productive task will encourage ongoing self-reflection and aid you in your pursuit of meaningful work.
A quickly accessible and up to date résumé conveys to your networking contacts that you are prepared and proactive. When you forward a copy of your résumé to a new contact shortly after the initial conversation, you will confirm an impression that you are organized. Your timely action serves to endorse your reputation as a responsible and reliable individual.
Your ongoing review process will also help you refine the document to scale back on bullet points that are no longer applicable to your objective or rephrase line items for better impact. As you continue to build and cultivate your résumé, you will develop a crystal clear picture of your purpose.
An Effective Résumé Communicates Your Why
Your Why is the motivation behind your life choices. When you discover your Why you’ll have clarity of purpose that allows you to seek the right opportunities. Development of your Why will lead to a pattern of phrasing and language that truly represents who you are, what you want to accomplish, and how you intend to achieve your goals. By incorporating this consistency of self into your résumé, you will connect with people who share your values and opportunities that advance your objectives. Your authenticity will flow seamlessly from your résumé to your interview and beyond in your unique journey.
As you build your résumé for college interviews, job interviews, or internship and networking opportunities, consider a professional review with Hollenback Consulting. As a Certified Professional Résumé Writer and Career Coach, Linda Hollenback will help you craft your compelling and effective résumé.