Do’s and Don’ts to follow before Updating your Resume

By Parul Kumar | Times Ascent

While editing a resume, there are a lot of factors to be considered. And the most brain-scratching part is what to keep in the resume and what to discard in that limited space. There are different types of resumes. 

You progress as you move from the basic undergrad and fresher level to the skilled and professional level. Depending upon your stage, you must carefully make additions and subtractions while pacing forward in your career. 

Here are a few hacks to help you out with your resume:

• Do not think of your resume as an extremely professional document while writing. Think of it as a platform where you can tell your business story or your job role behind the curtain. This way, you can create some stirring content that will not bore the recruiters out. Let your recruiters know who you are as a working individual and what great milestones you have achieved in a zesty way. 

• Play the number game. When you write a resume and have to stick to one page, you cannot use long sentences to describe your achievements. Talk in numbers instead. Lay it out directly by mentioning how much growth you brought to your previous companies regarding metrics. 

• Do not just write your job description in the short description column. Rather, treat it as a story where you emerge as the protagonist and pass each challenge with flying colours. 

• Do not feel undermined and underestimated while resume writing. Believe in yourself and write with confidence. For example, if you are a fresher at this point and are updating your resume, you wish to add about some small volunteering role that you did, do not feel that it is some minor feat that does not look good on a professional resume. Rather it is one of the many things that can set you apart from other candidates. 

• While updating, prepare your resume according to the job role you are preparing for and not for what you already have. Even though you will be writing about your previous work experience, dress it in a way that can help recruiters judge you accordingly for the next role you want to achieve. Thus, edit your resume from a broad mindset and futuristic point of view. 

When you effectively utilise these tips, you will see how updating a resume is not as challenging as it seems. The next time you are looking forward to updating your resume, follow these quick Do’s and Don’ts to keep a lead in the job market!