The Importance Of Keeping Your Resume Updated

W hether or not you're on        and accomplishments to use when    the hunt for a new job,       you finally sit down at the        keeping your resume           computer. This may be as simple    up-to-date is important. There's      as keeping a log, or storing       nothing worse than scrambling to      emails from superiors that praise  come up with an accurate and          you for a 'job well done' or       interesting resume when you have      which detail your role in a new    two days to make the submission       project. However you want to keep  deadline for a job opening.           your information organized is up                                         to you, but here's what you        It's Essential to Be Prepared         should keep track of:                                                                                       Since you never know when you         Your Accomplishments               might need to submit it, you                                             should regularly update your          These set you apart, demonstrate   resume with relevant                  your prowess and skill — and are   accomplishments, new job duties,      one of the single most difficult   recently achieved certifications,     things for an individual to        and other similar achievements        write. Why? Many people feel that  instead of trying to remember         an accomplishment has to be        critical information days,            monumental in order to matter,     months, or even years after the       but the reality is that many of    fact. This is especially true of      the things you do on a regular     smaller but equally important         basis can be seen as               achievements that may fade in         accomplishments, particularly if   memory as time passes.                you phrase them the right way.                                                                              Even if you don't edit your           Quantifiable examples are best     resume regularly, you should keep     when it comes to proving what      good records of your benchmarks       you've done through the use of     dollar amounts, numbers, quotas,      and implementation by 34 percent,  percentages, etc. Perhaps you         through processes that enabled     made a lot of money for a former      rapid deployment of software       employer — or maybe saved someone     solutions without increasing       a lot of money. Doing three jobs      costs.                             for the price of one? You're so       • Boosted outlet sales 63 percent  efficient at what you do that         by creating new menu items         you're saving your employer the                                          cost of two other employees…with      Other, less quantifiable           benefits! That's what belongs in      accomplishments may also be        an interview-winning resume.          included, such as major accounts                                         you landed, customer service       Examples of accomplishments might     satisfaction ratings, mergers and  include increasing a company's        acquisitions, positive publicity,  bottom line, promotions, special      promotions…and anything else you   projects, decreasing costs, or        can think of that's appropriate    company- or industry-sponsored        to list under accomplishments.     awards. What you list should be                                          items that stand apart from your      Licenses, Degrees, Awards, and     day-to-day duties; tangible,          Certificates                       quantifiable items that really                                           put your accomplishments into         List only those which are most     perspective. Take a look at these     relevant to your career field.     examples:                             Include titles, dates, locations,                                        and the sponsors of any training   • Achieved a $2,500 monthly           you completed to receive           savings for XYZ Company within        certificates or licensure.         three months of hire by               Remember, stay on point. A hiring  streamlining procedures.              manager only wants to see what's   • Reduced lag time between sales      relevant to the position you're    applying for.                         Super Skills                                                                                                Conferences and Additional            Technical skills should be         Education                             included in your list, unless                                            you're an Executive with           Sticking with the idea of what's      administrative staff. Tech skills  relevant, conferences can be an       can include knowing how to put     important boost to your selling       together an effective spreadsheet  power, particularly if they           in Excel or being a whiz in the    helped you earn continuing            use of proprietary software that   education credits or are              you used at a specific job.        substantial enough to have given      Other, non-computer-related        you an unique skill, such as          skills, such as operating a cash   specialization in a certain area      register, or using equipment such  of knowledge…or less obviously,       as fax and copy machines can make  the unspoken power that comes         a difference in getting a job,     with having made high-end             particularly if you're just        powerful contacts through a           entering the job market.           variety of conferences. (There's                                         something to be said about who        If you're having difficulty        you know.) Don't forget to make       coming up with accomplishments or  note of any in-services or            even in trying to list your hard   trainings you may have conducted      skills, you may want to consider   with others as a result of            using a resume design service.     attending conferences, as these       Most people have a hard time       are notable accomplishments that      marketing themselves and someone   highlight certain skill sets,         who writes resumes professionally  such as leadership and public         can help you identify your         speaking abilities.                   strengths and accomplishments.                                           You may find that you've           accomplished far more than you        border-color: #FFFFFF;             give yourself credit for!             background-color: #F5F7FB;                                               border-left: #BAC9FF 1px solid;                                          border-right: #BAC9FF 1px solid;   border-style: solid;                  align="center">                About the Author: http://ResumeEdge.com is one of the nations leading resume writing service providers, offering professional resume writing, editing, and guidance. For additional resume writing resources, including free sample resumes, visit http://www.resumeedge.com today! Published At: www.Isnare.com