Are you actively looking for a job? Are you secure (or think you are!) in a job in which you've been working for years, and have no intention of leaving? Are you bored of your job? Stuck in a rut? Is something in the corner of your mind telling you that it is time for a change? Whatever category you fall in, it is simply essential to keep your resume constantly updated.
Experts advise you to update your resume once every six months, or every time you complete a major project/deal/activity. But why is it so important to keep your resume up-to-date?
Here are some reasons:
For those who aren't really looking for a change, or are bogged down by inertia.
- Gets things moving. The very act of approaching your resume with a view of updating it leads to a subtle change in your attitude. It makes you view your job and career from the outside, and you tend to look at yourself with new eyes. It might set off an entirely unexpected chain reaction, and lead you to better and greener pastures.
- You'll know what you are lacking. The problem about being in a job for too long is that you are so comfortable that your professional growth suffers. Updating your resume is a great way to take account of what has been happening in your career so far, whether you or on track, and what you are lacking. It might expose gaps in your learning and skills, and it might urge you to do something to set it right.
- Taking charge of your own life. Updating your resume opens up new paths. New windows might open up, and you might discover potential opportunities in situations you never expected. And consequently, it might take you to places you never even dreamed you could reach. Updating your resume doesn't put you in a place that compels you to act on it. On the other hand, it puts you in a position where you have the upper hand, where you can act if you so wish. And that feeling is very empowering, and might have positive repercussions on the quality of your present job too!
For those who are aware that they might want to, or need to change jobs sometime in the future:
- The shaky economy. You might think you are safe in your job, but the economy now is not very stable. You can never know when you'll be out looking for a job. Even if you are excellent at your work, the truth is that layoffs are not necessarily based on the employee's worth, but rather on the cost to the company. So it is always good to be prepared.Let's hope that this won't happen, but if it does, it is inevitable that your self-esteem will suffer a blow. So if you start off updating your resume in that frame of mind, there is a possibility that an element of self-doubt will enter everyhting you do, and it will definitely reflect on your resume. And we don't want that, do we? It is always a good idea to work on the resume when you are on a high, and what better time to do it than when you've just finished a project, got an award, received an appreciation...?
- Opportunity doesn't knock twice. Whenever jobs open up, there is always a great hurry to fill it up quickly, since work cannot stop. Naturally, when headhunters are looking for potential candidates, you have to apply as quickly as possible. You cannot possibly sit down at that time and start working on your resume, can you? There is no time for that. And anything done in a hurry is sure to be shoddy and unimpressive. So, it pays to sit down, give it time and do up your resume well, and have it ready when you need it.It might also happen that even if you are not looking out for a job, something might crop up out of somewhere, an ex-colleague might tell you about an interesting opening at his company, you might meet the CEO of an exciting startup at a party, and he might ask for your resume – you never know what is around the corner! It will definitely be a shame if you have to let go of a golden opportunity just because your resume is not up-to-date.
- You'll forget details. You might feel that you're hardly likely to forget the details of a project that you've worked on. But it is a fact that the older something becomes, the more likely you are to forget the minutiae. So, as soon as you finish something, or achieve something, or complete a course, or finish a certification, or receive an award, note it down immediately in your resume. If you have emails of appreciation, make a note of them.
- It'll help in performance reviews. You'll definitely want to highlight your best achievements to your boss. She may remember the big things, but it is up to you to remind her of the little things you've achieved. If you forget them yourself, how can you expect others to remember them? Jotting down these little achievements helps you in these reviews.
- Resumes grow old, terms grow obsolete. You have to keep up with the times. Earlier, a Personal details section was the norm in resumes. Including those details in the present age might actually be detrimental to your chances. Also, there are some job titles which are not used any longer. Secretary, for example, is now something like Administrative Assistant. Even technology becomes obsolete. Saying that you did a course in BASIC is just laughable now.Also, if you have extensive experience, of more than say, 15 or 20 years, then it is time to start taking down your first few jobs, and retain only the latest few, because recruiters are more interested in what you've done in recent times.
- It'll improve your self-esteem. If you look at a list of your achievements and accomplishments, I'm sure you'll feel a sudden flush of pride and happiness. A well done, updated resume will do just that for you. And we don't have to tell you that a feeling of self-worth can do wonders for your job and even for the quality of your life!
So, if you haven't done so yet, stop reading this and go and update your resume. And of course, if you need expert help, our experienced resume writers will do it for you!
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