September is International Update Your Resume Month, sponsored by Career Directors International. I encourage you to follow CDI on Twitter for 75 days of resume tips.
While I know updating your resume is not on everyone’s list of favorite activities, here are 5 reasons why you should consider updating your own:
- Job opportunities don’t always announce themselves. You don’t want to get caught unprepared when an ideal job unexpectedly comes your way, and updating your resume under a tight time constraint is far from ideal.
- Social networking isn’t going to wait. Keeping your resume updated helps keep your LinkedIn profile up to date and rich in key words – which is the way to be included in more search results for recruiters (which could lead to point #1…).
- Resumes aren’t just for job searching. You may need to attach your resume to an application, submit it internally, use it at a networking event or within a professional association.
- Golden opportunity for an internal performance review. The process of identifying your accomplishments provides a great opportunity for self assessment, performance review, and skills development. Where are you in your career? What have you done this past year? What your goals for the coming year?
- Make it easy on yourself. Let’s face it – it’s hard to remember accurate details from three years ago! Why do that to yourself? It’s much more effective to tackle it once a year in manageable bites while you can still remember the finer points.
Professional resume writers are here to help, too. Consider using a member of Career Directors International or the Professional Association of Resume Writers.
