Resume Update -- Refresh Your Retro Resume in Six Steps

Resume Update -- Refresh Your vergangenheitsverliebt Resume in Six Steps Refresh Your Retro Resume in Six StepsRefresh Your Retro Resume in Six Steps Many people are facing the prospect of finding a new job. And some are even contemplating a complete career change. If it has been years since you last updated your resume, you may be wondering where to start. Follow these six steps to turn your dusty retro resume into a high-powered personal marketing tool for winning interviews in todays competitive job market.1. Find Your Resumes FocusBefore you start refreshing your old resume, clarify your job target. Without a clear vision of your career direction, your resume wont do a good job of selling you to potential employers. If you have more than one career interest, youll be much better off developing different versions of your resume rather than trying to construct a one-size-fits-all document.Having trouble finding your focus? You might want to start with some self-assess ment tests or by speaking to a career counselor.2. Research Your Target JobThoroughly research your job target before writing the first draft of your resume, especially if its been awhile since youve been in the job market. Talk to people in your target industry, and scour job postings on Monster to get a good idea of the qualifications employers are looking for. If you are changing careers, your research may prompt you to enroll in continuing-education classes to gain new skills.Look for keywords that continually crop up in different ads. If you see terms used frequently, they should probably be in your resume whenever applicable. Pay attention to skills that arent mentioned in these ads as well, and remove items from your old resume that will make you seem outdated.3. Develop Your Career Profile/Objective Now youre ready to begin writing. If youre a career changer, youll need a clearly stated objective to open your resume. Dont expect busy hiring managers to figure out what you wa nt to do. Use this section to explain key skills you can leverage from your prior career into your new job target. Emphasize how you can help the organization, rather than what you want in a job.Heres a before-and-after exampleBefore Seeking a challenging position with a future-oriented company offering opportunities for growth and advancement.After Dynamic public speaker/presenter with advanced technical knowledge, seeking to leverage these strengths as an award-winning computer instructor into an entry-level software sales position.If youre looking for a new position within your current field, use the Objective section onMonsters Resume Builderto write a compelling career summary. This is the perfect distributionspolitik to write a few hard-hitting sentences emphasizing the breadth of your experience and the value you bring to the table.4. Zero in on Your AchievementsYour resume must have an accomplishments-driven focus to compete in todays job market and maximize calls for interv iews. Avoid simply rehashing boring job descriptions. Instead, detail the results and outcomes of your efforts.If you were a hiring manager, which would you find more compelling?Before Responsible for troubleshooting and maintaining workstations and systems.After Improved systems uptime from 91% to 99.9% for 350 corporate and remote users through expert, cross-platform (Windows/Unix) troubleshooting/maintenance.For each of the positions youve held, use action verbs and phrases to describe how you contributed to your employers, such as cut costs, generated revenue, improved service, enhanced processes, solved problems and saved time. Use numbers, percentages, dollar amounts, comparisons or other key details to back up your claims. Be sure not to reveal facts that disclose proprietary or confidential company information.5. Design Your ResumeDoes your retro resume resemble a typing job circa 1977? To stand out from the crowd, use your word-processing programs advanced formatting featur es, such as bold, italics, line draw, industry icons, attractive fonts, etc. -- without going overboard -- to give your resume a distinctive look. If you are not confident in your konzeption capabilities, seek assistance from a resume writer or talented friend.6. Proofread and Test-DriveYour resume must be perfect. Carefully proofread your resume to ensure proper grammar, punctuation and word use. If you are changing careers, ask for feedback from hiring managers in your targeted field for valuable input on how your resume stands up to the competition. After its complete, post your resumeon Monsterwhere thousands of employers will see it, and you can apply for jobs easily.Articles in This FeatureA Healthy Job Search homeFive Threats to Your Job-Hunting StaminaHow to Keep Your Spirits Up During a Job SearchIs Your Job-Seeking Behavior Proactive or Just Plain Desperate?Refresh Your Retro Resume in Six StepsPractice Makes Perfect How to Rehearse for Your Next Job InterviewHow Healthy I s Your Network?