How to Refresh Your Resume in 3 Simple Steps

Whether you’re actively job hunting or not, I recommend refreshing your resume on a quarterly to semi-annual basis. In case ChatGPT is at capacity, here are 3 steps you should remember 😃

Step 1: Find a good resume template

What good means to me:

  • Allows you to fit your relevant skills and experiences onto 1 page

Step 2: Use strong action verbs and tailored keywords

Every bullet needs to start with a strong action verb. Avoid lines like “Responsible for XYZ” because this does not show if you actually added any value to the team or company. I recommend bookmarking this post from The Muse if you want a list of action verbs that you can use for your resume.

I also like using tools like Jobscan to compare my resume to job postings and identify gaps in keywords. I believe keywords are important because recruiters can use them to filter out and sort through the huge volume of applications. Hence, to increase your chances of landing in the “shortlist”, you should try to use similar language to the job posting. But, remember that you still need to show results and value add!

Step 3: Read it out loud to yourself

Sometimes, a phrase looks good on paper but ends up being awkward or incorrect. An effective way to check if your resume makes sense is to read every line out loud and hear it out for yourself. You may notice certain words can be simplified or certain lines can be made more concise. Try to look for opportunities to use active language instead of passive language.

Bonus: Get some feedback before you hit submit!

As the resume’s owner, you are biased! You may think that you NEED a particular line on your resume when you really don’t. It’s important to get a second opinion from a trusted friend, mentor, or Resume Rescuer so you can identify blind spots and even little grammatical or spelling errors. Here are some questions you can ask:

  • Does this fit the job posting that I am applying for?
  • What do you think is missing?
  • What do you think is not necessary?
  • Does this resume make me stand out as the best candidate?

These are the steps I recommend taking at the bare minimum when it comes to refreshing your resume. You can find more tips and resources at kkarenism.com/resumerescue which has helped 190+ people around the world land jobs at companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Salesforce, and Shopify!

You’re not alone on the job hunting journey!

There’s a lot of inspiration and resources out there when it comes to job hunting. Check these out: