Compelling Reasons for Keeping the Resume Updated
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Very few professionals these days have the luxury of staying with the same company, much less job, for more than 5 years. Considering the statistics are stacked against you, I advise updating your resume annually if not every six months. The biggest mistake that many professionals make today is thinking that they only need a resume when they are in a job search. If you’re one of those professionals, here are some compelling reasons to keep your resume updated on an annual or more frequent basis.



1. You may not be looking for a job, but other people are looking at you.



Let’s face it, if you have any online presence what-so-ever other people, including recruiters and prospective employers are looking at you. Recruiters prefer to seek out knowledgeable professionals to fill vacancies. If they can woo you from one company to another, they prefer that over being inundated with countless unemployed job seekers who may not be the right fit. For recruiters, there’s “fun in the chase.” If you are active in online group discussions, posing thoughtful questions or answering questions, recruiters will take notice and will look at your profile. LinkedIn profiles are another component of job search. Keep yours updated, interesting, and noteworthy. Maybe next time, I’ll provide some tips on that topic.



2. Shake-ups and/or reorganizations can occur at any time.



Typically you may see the writing on the wall due to a company buy out, reorganization, or new CEO or sometimes doors get shuttered overnight with little warning. Either way be prepared to start shopping the resume around in the event that something unexpected happens. The biggest mistake many job seekers make is waiting until the last minute to start looking for a new job or career. In a day and age where many job searches can exceed six months, having the resume constantly updated can help expedite your job search.



3. Failure to plan on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.



Too often I get calls from job seekers needing a resume within 2-3 days. I can write a resume two of three ways; great, fast, or cheap. (that’s a joke by the way and actually I don’t work cheaply) You’ve seen several posts about how to work with a professional credentialed resume writer. Let me just say fast and cheap is definitely not the way to go, nor will anyone be doing you any favors by providing a 24 hour, cheap turnaround on your resume. My real point here is that if someone needs/wants your resume in 48 hours or less for a job that you’re perfect for, it’s going to be much more impressive if you can say, “Sure, I keep my resume updated for just such an occasion.” This will ensure that when that perfect job opportunity lands in your lap, you’re ready. So essentially BE READY and don’t get upset when a credentialed professional resume writer says that they require a significant rush fee or can’t accommodate a rapid turnaround. We’re professional writers; not genies.



4. Negotiate a pay raise or change in job title.



If you have been fortunate enough to be in the same company for several years, keeping your resume updated can help you negotiate a better pay raise or even be used to negotiate a new job title that is more reflective of the work that you do. Realistically, if you stay with the same company for several years, your job duties can expand substantially but your title may stay the same. This can cause some confusion when it IS time to leave and you realize that the job title you now have to put on the resume reflects a more junior role than the one you are now seeking. By keeping the resume up to date, you can approach your supervisor and have something on paper to help prove your case for a pay raise, title change, or maybe even both.



5. It’s a reminder of your accomplishments from year to year.



We all have bad days or if you’re in sales, maybe you’ve had some bad years. By keeping the resume up to date, it can be a reminder of how much value you really do bring to the company, especially if you have felt like a dog’s chew toy lately. It also helps to keep the performance numbers current and realistic. Too many times job seekers just want me to “make up” numbers for the resume that make them look good. Nope, sorry; I don’t do that. If you can’t validate a number, then leave it out of your resume. Without solid, legitimate performance statistics, the resume will be a much weaker document. Updating regularly will help to improve the accuracy in the resume as well as ensuring that the accomplishments you do include on your resume are recent and compelling. Who cares if you made “President’s Club” 12 years ago, what have you done in the last 3 years? That’s what employers and recruiters want to know.