Has it been more than 90 days since you last updated your résumé?
If so that is a business quarter and you should update it. Why? You always need a current résumé to help you leverage opportunities. Take a look at your LinkedIn profile, too – does it need to be updated?
Your résumé and your LinkedIn profile are vehicles for your marketing message. Your marketing message is your connection to the marketplace. The marketing message you deliver needs to be clear and compelling, if it is not you will not get the results you want.
Read your résumé and your LinkedIn profile. Then ask yourself these questions.
What does this person do and for who (the target audience)?
People read résumés that are targeted to them. If they must stop and figure out, who you are talking to and what you can do, your résumé will be put aside. Who is the summary speaking to? Would the reader believe you are speaking or writing directly to her? Does it clearly define your industry experience, what you can do and the level of work you perform?
What problems do you solve and what do you offer?
Managers hire people to solve their problems. Be clear about the problems that you solve and be sure they are relevant to the reader of your résumé. If you are a manager, think about the needs of the person who will hire you. What do they need, want and what is important to them?
How do you solve the problem or meet the needs?
Do you explain or provide enough information to help someone believe you can meet the need? Create interest and provide proof, without these elements you will not land a conversation. What have you done and what where the results of your actions.
Why should someone read your résumé and call you?
If you are posting or sending out your résumé, it must appeal to those you will read it. It must make them want to take action. Most résumés don’t do this. I suggest you never use your résumé as the first connection people have with you when you can avoid it. When you must do this, at least add a cover letter with a call to action and your follow up action.
Your résumé is not to land you a job. Its goal is to open a door, start a conversation or encourage someone to learn more about you and what you can do for the organization.
Is your résumé up to date and working for you? If not, maybe it is time to take a hard look at it and update or redo your résumé.
no comment until now