International Update Your Resume Month
If a recruiter or an employer called you tomorrow, and presented a wonderful opportunity, would your resume be ready?!
Too often job seekers avoid the task of updating their resume and find themselves overwhelmed when asked to produce a quality and updated document in a short time frame.
September marks the 12th annual International Update Your Resume Month (founded by Career Directors International) – an excellent opportunity to reflect on your career achievements over the past year and have them added to your career portfolio. Taking the time to reevaluate your value and update your documents now will ensure they will be ready when opportunity comes knocking!“September is the perfect time to start a new approach to career care-taking”, says Laura DeCarlo, CDI President. “While children are embarking on starting the new school year, adults should also be taking stock of their professional attributes and career value by updating their resumes.”Some recommended tips to help you with this process:
- Get ready, right now. Do not wait for the perfect opportunity to present itself before taking action. Application times may be short; if you rush getting your materials together you risk the chance of getting sloppy and being overlooked.
- Reevaluate your personal worth and take inventory of accomplishments achieved over the past year, which you can now add to your resume.
- Update all of your career documents, not just your resume. A complete personal marketing kit includes a customized cover letter, a tailored resume, an updated references list, an active and complete LinkedIn profile, a thank you letter, and possibly even an executive biography.
- Brush up on your interview skills. Again, do this before the dream job calls you in. Identify current interviewing trends and practice conveying your value proposition in person. 30-60 minutes of preparation (for each interview) can significantly increase your chances of securing a job offer.
- Line up your references. Speak with these people in advance and know what they are going to say about you. If the person seems nervous or not forthcoming on their opinions of your work, it is probably best to ask someone else.
- Hire professional assistance if you are struggling. Professional resume writers, interview coaches or career coaches can reduce your workload and anxiety. Keep in mind that these professionals will likely also experience a peak in service demand during the Fall season, so book early.
