Microsoft Resume Template

The Importance of Keeping Your Resume Updated

Whether or not you're on the hunt for a new job, keeping your resume up-to-date is important. There's nothing worse than scrambling to come up with an accurate and interesting resume when you have two days to make the submission deadline for a job opening.

It's Essential to Be Prepared Since you never know when you might need to submit it, you should regularly update your resume with relevant accomplishments, new job duties, recently achieved certifications, and other similar achievements instead of trying to remember critical information days, months, or even years after the fact. This is especially true of smaller but equally important achievements that may fade in memory as time passes.

Even if you don't edit your resume regularly, you should keep good records of your benchmarks and accomplishments to use when you finally sit down at the computer. This may be as simple as keeping a log, or storing emails from superiors that praise you for a 'job well done' or which detail your role in a new project. However you want to keep your information organized is up to you, but here's what you should keep track of: Your Accomplishments

These set you apart, demonstrate your prowess and skill ? and are one of the single most difficult things for an individual to write. Why? Many people feel that an accomplishment has to be monumental in order to matter, but the reality is that many of the things you do on a regular basis can be seen as accomplishments, particularly if you phrase them the right way.

Quantifiable examples are best when it comes to proving what you've done through the use of dollar amounts, numbers, quotas, percentages, etc. Perhaps you made a lot of money for a former employer ? or maybe saved someone a lot of money. Doing three jobs for the price of one? You're so efficient at what you do that you're saving your employer the cost of two other employees?with benefits! That's what belongs in an interview-winning resume.

Examples of accomplishments might include increasing a company's bottom line, promotions, special projects, decreasing costs, or company- or industry-sponsored awards. What you list should be items that stand apart from your day-to-day duties; tangible, quantifiable items that really put your accomplishments into perspective. Take a look at these examples:

? Achieved a $2,500 monthly savings for XYZ Company within three months of hire by streamlining procedures. ? Reduced lag time between sales and implementation by 34 percent, through processes that enabled rapid deployment of software solutions without increasing costs. ? Boosted outlet sales 63 percent by creating new menu items

Other, less quantifiable accomplishments may also be included, such as major accounts you landed, customer service satisfaction ratings, mergers and acquisitions, positive publicity, promotions?and anything else you can think of that's appropriate to list under accomplishments.

Licenses, Degrees, Awards, and Certificates List only those which are most relevant to your career field. Include titles, dates, locations, and the sponsors of any training you completed to receive certificates or licensure. Remember, stay on point. A hiring manager only wants to see what's relevant to the position you're applying for.

Conferences and Additional Education Sticking with the idea of what's relevant, conferences can be an important boost to your selling power, particularly if they helped you earn continuing education credits or are substantial enough to have given you an unique skill, such as specialization in a certain area of knowledge?or less obviously, the unspoken power that comes with having made high-end powerful contacts through a variety of conferences. (There's something to be said about who you know.) Don't forget to make note of any in-services or trainings you may have conducted with others as a result of attending conferences, as these are notable accomplishments that highlight certain skill sets, such as leadership and public speaking abilities.

Super Skills Technical skills should be included in your list, unless you're an Executive with administrative staff. Tech skills can include knowing how to put together an effective spreadsheet in Excel or being a whiz in the use of proprietary software that you used at a specific job. Other, non-computer-related skills, such as operating a cash register, or using equipment such as fax and copy machines can make a difference in getting a job, particularly if you're just entering the job market.

If you're having difficulty coming up with accomplishments or even in trying to list your hard skills, you may want to consider using a resume design service. Most people have a hard time marketing themselves and someone who writes resumes professionally can help you identify your strengths and accomplishments. You may find that you've accomplished far more than you give yourself credit for!

ResumeEdge.com is one of the nations leading resume writing service providers, offering professional resume writing, editing, and guidance. For additional resume writing resources, including free sample resumes, visit http://www.resumeedge.com today!

MORE ARTICLES:

What You Need To Know Before Writing A Resume
Before you even begin writing a resume or updating your old resume there are somethings you need to know and do.

Resume Success Factors--What Exactly Is A Resume Anyway?
You know you're good..

MatchHire Streamlines Applicant Tracking with Resume Parser
Avidweb Technologies Inc., the foremost online recruitment company, introduced its much anticipated Resume Parsing Solution to their clients. The resume parser built into MatchHire's Recruiting Solution allows recruiters and HR departments to accurately and automatically capture candidates contact details and other information directly into their database.

Writing An Effective Legal Resume
Law school taught you plenty, but it probably didn?t teach you how to write a resume that will secure you an interview with the firm of your dreams It can be daunting to create or even update a resume because there?s so much pressure to be unique

"Have Guitar, Will Travel" Staind Frontman Aaron Lewis Hits The Road To Resume His First Ever National Solo Acoustic Tour - "Have Guit
Grammy nominated Staind frontman Aaron Lewis hits the road for his first, ever national solo acoustic tour "Have Guitar, Will Travel."

Free Resume Template: The ONLY One Youll Ever Need
WARNING: This article is likely to make you mad.In fact, I'm pretty sure it will.

Resume Tips For Career Fairs And Online Job Banks
If you?re all set to attend a career fair ? or are looking to post your resume on an online job bank ? and are concerned about how to create a resume for companies you have yet to meet, you are not alone Fortunately, there are ways to create great resumes capable of catching the eyes of potential recruiters no matter what venue you?re working with

Developing the Right Resume and Attitude For an Uncertain Economy
There is no doubt that our current economy is a little scary to say the least Companies are laying off in mass numbers while gas, food, and energy costs are reaching record highs

How NOT to Write a Resume
You can learn a lot about how to do something right by first learning what NOT to do.Take resumes, for example.

What A Former Stay At Home Mom Knows About Creating A Stunning Resume That You Dont
Recently I was asked to touch up a friend's resume. Her challenge was simple.

Sample Resume Objectives: Good, But Summaries Are Smokin!
Since college I've been told that a resume ought to have an "objective statement" at the top. Maybe you've been told the same.

Useless Resume Objectives
What's wrong with an objective on a resume? The problem with objectives on resumes is that a typical objective is self-centered and self-serving; therefore, it is useless. Instead of an objective, use a power statement.

TalentDrive Brings Together the Art and Science of Online Resume Sourcing
Proprietary technology combined with expert analyst review fills a recruiting gap to deliver quality talent more efficiently.

Writing a killer resume-3 Tips
When deciding to look for a new job and putting together a resume there are a couple things you need to consider, the first thing you need to do is to think about what type of job you want to acquire and use this to write your objective.