12 Reasons Why Updating Your Resume Is Necessary

Your resume is the first mode of interaction you will have with the hiring manager. The same is why it is quintessential to create a resume that speaks directly to the recruiter. To transform the same resume to outwit the rest of the candidates, updating your resume is important.  Moreover, resumes are not a one-time document, but one that must be updated with every turning point in your professional life.

So, what real-life-cues signal you to update the resume?

12 Reasons Why You Should Update your Resume

From confidence to pushing down age-bias, a well-updated resume format is a landmine that attracts hiring managers. Updating a resume requires no time if you regularly add, modify and alter the entries according to the happenings in your professional life.

A mandatory advice for landing the dream job out of the job seekers’ maze, a good resume must have relevant and necessary details of one’s professional record.

1. You did Something Amazing

Resumes are not a tool to use only when you need new work or a job. In fact, resumes are a gist of your entire career graph and professional goals. If you recently achieved an exceptional feat in your profession, it is best to update your resume to include the same accolades to boost the technical worth of your profile.

2. Career Change

For candidates with a history of switching careers, resume updates are important to eliminate irrelevant and redundant work experience as well as technical skills. In addition, job switching also leaves your resume blank in case your choice of career is different from your past profession. Moreover, updating your resume after your first job allows you to enlist transferable skills in a professional manner.

3. Job-Hopping

Another important reason to update your resume is if you have a history of too many short-term jobs.

Also called job-hopping, updating the resume by changing its format such as functional format helps in hiding the red flag. Changing jobs too fast proves lack of dedication and commitment on part of the employee.  To avoid it, upgrade your resume right away!

4. Brand New Skill

For those of you who acquired new skills, thanks to a recent job or project, it is important to update the resume to include the new skill as well. If you update your skills section in the resume just as soon as you learn the soft or hard skill, it will prove easier to include technical terminologies in the resume. Moreover, you can create a skill-based resume for highlighting the brand new skill in the resume.

5. Goal Change

Candidates who recently had a change of aim or goals in their job sector find updating the resume crucial to accommodate the new interests. For example, if you were focused on improving your own abilities as a fresher or graduate until now, and have decided it’s time to step up into an individual professional; this is the best time to update your resume.

6. Part-Time Job Search

Updating the resume also helps employees indulge in a passive job search to support their current employment. From seeking freelancing opportunities to exploring new options and skills, many other reasons also add value to your resume, once you update it.

7. New Educational Qualification

Hiring Managers are interested in candidates who never stop learning. In fact, kaizen or continuous improvement is a part and parcel of most jobs today. In case you attended a new course or attained a new degree course, you must list it in the beginning of your resume educational section for maximum attention. It is important to ensure that your most recent certification or professional course is also relevant to the job you’re applying to.

8. Always Eveready

Right now, you have time to research and give your 100% to create an updated resume sample. Tomorrow, you might be in the middle of a professional crisis to spend time updating the resume. In case you were wrongfully terminated or suffered a personal loss, an updated resume can help you dive right into the job market. There is no better time than now to update the profile as it keeps you perpetually ready for job hunting, in case of emergencies.

9. If you’re Fired

Every candidate must prepare for the worst, along with the best to ensure success and prevent failure or financial breakdown. In case your employer suddenly terminates you, it is important to be ready with new updated resume model to avoid losing balance in life.

Moreover, jobs are all temporary. You must actively keep adding skills and achievements as well as responsibilities to your resume to avoid forgetting important points or waiting for the eleventh hour to update the resume.

10. For a Quick Send

If a colleague or prospective employer takes interest in your LinkedIn profile and wants to know about your professional history, you need an updated resume ASAP, before the opportunity vanishes. Hence, it is ideal to keep your most updated resume format always on you, to send to colleagues as well as for job inquiries whenever in need.

11. To Prepare for a Promotion

Often, hiring managers request employees to submit their resumes annually or monthly to add professional credits or nominating for promotion. If you keep the resume updated, not only will you be able to send it right away, but also prove your superior list of skills and achievements unlike the rest of the employees with outdated resumes.

12. Pass ATS Evaluations

Yet another important aspect of updating your resume for a new job is using technically relevant keywords within it. As a good majority of employers use applicant and resume tracking robots such as ATS, it is impossible to customize your resume for the same. To be specific to the job application, candidates must include at least 50% keywords directly from the job description. In addition, adding up to 90% keywords in the resume identical to the job advertisement is subject to disqualification too.

Conclusion

Updating your resume means the career check-up and must not be taken lightly. By keeping your resume updated with a vertical progression of achievements, skills and industrial experience, you also grow confidence in your expertise. Moreover, the same help you quote your professional credentials without stuttering or fabricating during a job interview!