Your resume should be accurate in all its details, but it also should be tailored for each job application. This is because of the screening process that every resume goes through. That screening process looks for clues that the applicant will fit the job opening, and keywords like “operational management” may be one of the clues they look for. Because of the need to individualize your resume for every new application, there ends up being a lot of revisions and details you must keep track of.
1. Keep the information up to date on your resume. New phone? New email address? Update your contact information now, before you forget. While you are at it, make sure the links you have for social media work. Have a LinkedIn Profile? Add the link to your resume.
2. Keep a list of every skill you are developing, along with all the training you have. Every name of a software program you got certified in is a keyword in a resume for a job that needs someone who knows that program. Having a consistently updated list makes it easy to pull specifics for a particular job. Any professional development or new certification (e.g. “Six Sigma Certification”) should be added.
3. Keep a list of quantitative proof of any specific statements. “Saved a bunch on copy expenses” is not like “Saved the company $1,596.70 in the last quarter of 2013 by resolving copier malfunctions”. Which one would an employer pick? Think percentage increases or decreases and numbers of people impacted. If you don’t have the numbers, do not make them up.
4. Save each resume with the date it was revised and keep folders for each industry. This way a generic “accounting” resume can be easily tailored for an accounting manager position, while your generic “manager” resume could be tailored for a retail manager opening. Keep your main resume separate, but copy and paste it on to a new page. Tweak that new resume to meet other positions you may be interested in. Add keywords to that resume. Have various versions of your resume ready to go at a moment’s notice.
5. Take the time to understand your computer and be an expert on doing tasks. Toggling between screens and copy/paste for filling out job applications should be familiar. Learn to use a spreadsheet for keeping track of where you sent resumes and the date of a response or interview. Not only will this make your job search efficient, it will make your next job less intimidating because you know how to do simple tasks on a computer. The computer is a good tool for keeping track of details when used correctly.
6. Proofread every resume revision. Don’t assume it all is correct, make sure. This will help you catch computer glitches and previous typos that you somehow missed. Better yet, have a friend do it for you. A second set of eyes is better than one. Keep in mind, many words are not caught by spellcheck, e.g. “Manger” versus “Manager”. An executive resume writer is trained in finding those kinds of typos. Proofread, proofread, proofread!
7. Save your data in more than one place. Back up your hard drive and keep your resume-related information secure in case something happens. One power surge or coffee spill can do bad things to computers. Paper can get ruined, too, by fire or other damage. It isn’t hard to develop a habit of backing up your detailed records, and you’ll be glad you did when the inevitable happens.
