Whether you have already spotted a new career opportunity or you have just begun your job search, we’ve got some quick tips on how you can easily update your resume. Dedicating a small amount of time to these updates can pay off big when you land that new career! Here’s how you can be prepared to hit “apply” when you find the perfect job during your search.

Step 1 – Search for roles that interest you to see what employers are looking for. Use this research to update keywords on your resume.

Once you find a few jobs that are of interest, do some research by reviewing and reading through the job postings to identify what employers might be looking for. The job descriptions and qualification sections should provide these details. The qualifications and skills required may have changed since the last time that you applied for a job so this should give you some insight on how your skillset matches the role.

Step 2 – Update your experience, keywords and skills to reflect what you found in your research.

Based on your findings in step 1, insert common keywords that you found across the job descriptions. Common keywords could point to transferrable skills, software programs, and proficiency in specific skills and should be updated to show relevance to the role you are applying to. Update your work experience, this is likely going to be adding your most recent role(s) with your current employer. What additional degrees, education and/or certifications have you acquired since last updating your resume? Add these updates.

Step 3 – Make sure your contact information is correct.

Imagine the recruiter reading through your resume and thinking, “I’ve finally found the perfect candidate!”. You, of course. They dial your number just to find out it’s not your number anymore. Don’t let this happen to you. Review your email address, phone number and LinkedIn profile link and update if necessary.

Step 4 – Showcase your volunteer and community experience.

Giving back to communities is a key focus for many organizations. Including extracurricular volunteer and community activities that you participate in allows you to show that your values align with the values of the organization. Keep your volunteer and community experience separate from your work experience.

Here’s an example of how you might do this:

Secretary, Community Kids Club
Jan 2022-Present
Active volunteer member and secretary of Community Kids Club, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing positive athletic and learning activities for children in the community.

It’s Your Time to Shine!

Your resume got the refresh that it needed and is now ready for use. Apply for that dream job or go into your job search with peace of mind, knowing that your resume is current and relevant to the job that you are interested in. One last tip is to network and let people know that you are on the search. The next opportunity is waiting for you, seize it!