5 Reasons Update Your Resume This Month
If you haven’t updated your resume all year, or in years, now is your time. As we head into the last quarter of 2020, there’s no better time to update your resume than right now.
Despite over 20.6 million jobs being lost due to COVID-19, some industries will begin to bounce back towards the end of the year and the beginning of next year. And when new roles become open, you’ll want to make sure you’re able to send your resume ASAP.
In addition to this, plenty of brand new positions that have been created or are now in demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic will become available as well. Lastly, who knows - you may even want to leave your current job or go for a promotion.
Regardless of the next step you want to take in your career, your resume will be needed for critical first steps like sending it to the hiring manager, applying online, and listing your accomplishments. Continue reading for more reasons why you need to update your resume this month.
WHEN YOU SHOULD UPDATE YOUR RESUME
We hate to say it, but at Thompson Resume Writing Co., nearly 80% of the resumes we receive are outdated. Many professionals fail to maintain their resume over time. So what are some instances when you should update your resume? Here are a few:
When you get a new job
When your current job ends
When you get a new phone number
When you get a new address
When you get a new email address
When you complete a degree program, certification, or training
When you get a promotion
When you receive an award
When you have a monumental achievement at work
When you add new experience to your career history like landing an internship, joining a board, or starting a side-hustle
Basically, anytime a change or update in your professional life is made, you need to update your resume to keep it current.
THE BENEFITS OF HAVING AN UPDATED RESUME
Maintaining good “resume” hygiene has its perks. For one, it means that you’re ready for whatever whenever.
If you get laid off, you can start applying to roles right away. If a recruiter on LinkedIn looks at your profile and messages you for it, you can send it with a quickness. When your boss wants to take a look at your contributions over the last year to see if you’re eligible for a salary increase, you can forward it to him on the spot.
Keeping your resume updated keeps you are prepared for anything that comes your way. It also means that you’re not scrambling last minute to put something together. Doing that can actually hurt your chances because it may be missing information, not be as thorough or detailed, or not be as quality of a document as it could be if you took the time to keep it updated.
Also, you waste precious time in your job search looking for a resume writer to update it. Most resume writers have a turnaround time of 5 to 10 business days, which means that’s up to two weeks of opportunities passing you by. And if you have someone waiting for the document, it could be off-putting.
WHY YOU SHOULD UPDATE YOUR RESUME THIS MONTH
Technically you should update your resume any time of the year, but September is prime time for a few reasons. Read below to find out why updating your resume should be high on your to-do list.
September is National Update Your Resume Month
Did you know that September is National Update Your Resume Month? If you didn’t, now you do! You have a whole 30 days to either update your resume yourself or reach out to a resume writer to revamp your resume for you. Hiring a resume writer is an option to consider if you lack the time, if writing isn’t your strength, or if you aren’t sure what your resume needs to say to get you past ATS systems.
Prepare for EOY / BOY Job Openings and Opportunities
Even though COVID-19 delivered a devastating blow to the job market, there are still plenty of new jobs that will be up for grabs at the end of this year and the beginning of next year.
If you’ve been using this time to invest in yourself by taking classes, networking, learning new skills, and getting certifications, this could be the perfect time to put all of that new knowledge on your resume to secure a new role. In normal times, September is usually the best time of the year to look for a job, followed by January.
Updating your resume now to prepare for job openings keeps you ahead of the competition and ready to open the door when opportunity knocks.
Be ready in case someone asks for it
Let’s say your boss, manager, or a friend finds out about this amazing job that is perfect for you. The job is yours if you can send your resume over to them within 24 hours. Would you get the job? Or would you miss out because your resume isn’t updated, isn’t polished, or doesn’t properly represent you?
It’s not uncommon for the average professional to have an outdated resume stored in their files. Your resume is a representation of your professional brand and career and it’s going to be the first thing someone asks for when they are recommending you for something.
Whether it's a promotion, a job that hasn’t been posted just yet, or a speaking engagement, your resume is going to be requested. Don’t miss once-in-a-lifetime chances simply because your resume is missing information.
In case you want to quit your job
You and your boss aren’t seeing eye to eye. You’re feeling unfulfilled and maybe even taken for granted. You haven't had a raise or a promotion even though you’ve been going above and beyond for the company. You’ve crushed your KPIs and met tough expectations and haven’t received any reward or recognition. A toxic work environment is becoming too much to bear.
These are a few signs that you’ll probably be on the job hunt sooner rather than later. In order to prepare for your upcoming job search, you’ll need to make sure your resume is updated, targeted, keyword optimized, and showcases your value. Keeping your resume updated can save you weeks of lost time and allows you to start applying to jobs right away.
But keep in mind, there are several steps you’ll need to do before you begin your job search like creating a targeted company list, developing a brand statement, reaching out to your network, updating your LinkedIn, and more. Thompson Resume Writing Co’s Complete Pre-Job Search Checklist can help you strategize your job search from start to finish.
Or in case you lose your job
Let’s say your company:
Is looking to cut spending
Is re-branding or restructuring
Isn’t performing well
Reported less than stellar numbers
These are all signs that a round of layoffs could be on the way. But there are other reasons you may lose your job which include discrimination, making a mistake, or not hitting your goals or KPIs.
Sometimes you can see a layoff or termination coming, but sometimes you can’t. Either way you need to make sure you keep your resume updated in case this happens. This can save you weeks of crucial job search time.
We can’t tell you how many times people have come to us after unexpectedly being fired or let go and they need a resume ASAP. Given that it takes us 2 weeks to complete a resume, you could be missing out on dozens of jobs that you can’t even apply to.
You want to go for a promotion or a salary increase
On a lighter note, let’s say someone who has your dream job accepts a new role. Or a brand new role opens up at your company and you’re a perfect fit. Or you’ve been impacting your company by bringing in revenue, overseeing major projects, cutting spending, or reallocating budget dollars.
When it comes to going for promotions and asking for more money, your resume needs to communicate your value, successes, and answer the question, “why you?”. 9 times out of 10 your boss, manager, or supervisor is going to want to see your resume. They can give you tips on what to include on it to increase your chances of landing the opportunity.
If you’re trying to go for any of these things without having an updated resume, you’ll more than likely get passed over. Keeping them waiting while you hurriedly throw one together could turn them off and make you appear unprofessional or unprepared - neither of which are good.
UPDATE YOUR D*** RESUME!
Granted this is a list of “coulda, shoulda, woulda’s”, but any one of these things can happen, and others that aren’t listed. You can stay ahead of the curve and one step ahead by:
Keeping your resume as current as possible.
Reviewing your resume once a quarter to add information.
Having a loyal resume writer to update your resume as things transpire in your professional life.
Don’t wait until something happens to dust off your resume because it could be too late. Normally when an opportunity presents itself, it doesn’t wait around for long. Be ready to seize anything that comes your way by maintaining your resume’s health with:
Current contact information
Your current/most recent job
Accomplishments
Education and training
It’ll be worth it!