Executives Why a New Year = New Resume!

Executives Why a New Year = New Resume! It  happens every January â€" professionals and top leaders assess their situations, make short and long-term goals, and vow to make big changes in the upcoming year. Many will decide its time to seek out a new job or even tackle an entirely different career. Even if you are not seeking new employment in the near future it is strongly recommended that you resolve to spend some time on your executive resume! The reasons? First, updating your resume each year will ensure it is fresh and current. You never know when you may stumble across the perfect executive job opportunity, be approached to apply for a role that will advance your career, or have your work situation suddenly change. Having your resume ready will eliminate the stress of updating and preparing it in a pinch. You can apply without pressure to review current resume trends and modify your document accordingly. Secondly, re-evaluating your resume gives you the opportunity to further assess your skills and ensure your unique value proposition and personal brand are on track with future career goals.   You have to know yourself and your value in order to sell yourself during a job search. Keeping your brand honed, your notable skills present, and your resume polished will make a future job search easierand faster! Even top executives find updating their resume a daunting task. Here are a few simple tips to help you stay on task and get it done right: 1. Capture big business impacts   made over the past year and make note of supporting metrics (revenue growth, sales expansion, etc).   These hard-hitting achievements and skills will help you better understand your personal value and add rich detail to your resume. 2. Add relevant achievements, awards, skills, and employment details to the resume, keeping in mind the way they are displayed throughout the document is important. The most important information should appear at the top of the first page. Only your best points need to be included. 2.  Remove dated or irrelevant information to make room for new details. The resume should not change in length, only in content.   Think quality of content versus quantity.   Executive resumes are typically between 2 to 3 pages and no more. 3. Make certain the resume reflects appropriate keywords and current industry jargon.  Keyword-rich resumes are critical.   Not sure what keywords to include?   Research job postings similar to the roles you covet which include many clues. 4. Finally, keep the resume fluid and revisit it each time an opportunity is pursued.   An executive resume is a living document that must be tailored for every role.   One stagnant or unfocused resume will not speak to diverse audiences and role requirements. You want your resume to show progression and growth, no matter your current role or title. If you find that you are unable to add much to your resume at the start of each year; resolve to find ways to make yourself more marketable. Expand your skill sets both inside and outside the workplace by joining professional associations, attending conferences, participating on a board, enrolling in skill booster courses, or volunteering within the community. This New Year, resolve to invest in your future.