| With the doldrums of Summer hiring behind us, Fall | | | | Additionally, check your accomplishments from |
| is a great time to update your resume. Labor Day | | | | earlier years. If they do not support your career |
| to Thanksgiving is typically an active interview | | | | objection either delete or adjust them to relate. |
| season. Don't be late when opportunity knocks. If | | | | You might even need to take off your earliest |
| you haven't updated your resume in the past | | | | employment entries if they represent a |
| year the following four steps will help you bring | | | | completely different career path. |
| your resume up to date with new focus and | | | | 3. Add your most recent employment entry. |
| polish. | | | | Write your current employment entry in light of |
| 1. Identify your new career objection. | | | | your new career focus. Do not include |
| If you're dissatisfied with your current job this is | | | | responsibilities that you do not wish to perform in |
| the time to ask why. Before making any changes | | | | your next job. Include only what you want to |
| to your resume ask yourself the following | | | | continue to do. Use job postings as a guide for |
| questions: | | | | key words that you'll need to use as verbiage. |
| * What part of my job would you rather not do | | | | Job postings also provide clues to transferable |
| in my next position? | | | | skills, technology and education that you'll want to |
| * What skills, tasks or responsibilities would I like | | | | include. |
| to continue in my next job? | | | | 4. Add the final touch, accomplishments. |
| * What other industry might I use my skills? | | | | No resume is complete without accomplishments. |
| * What other occupation might I apply my skills? | | | | They are the talking points of your resume. Even |
| Your response to these questions will shed light | | | | if the past year hasn't been as productive or |
| on the changes in your career path. Write out | | | | positive as the past, find something to brag about. |
| your answers and do a reality check to see how | | | | Think back on the challenges of the past year and |
| likely you are to obtain your new career direction. | | | | how you solved them. Did you find a way to |
| 2. Get rid of the old to make room for the new | | | | save time, cut costs or improve performance? |
| information. | | | | Those are your accomplishments. They tell |
| Your new resume should reflect your current | | | | perspective employers that you are a problem |
| career direction. The first resume rule says that | | | | solver for today's difficult business environment. If |
| everything within your resume should relate to | | | | your goal is an internal promotion your |
| your career direction. This means you may need | | | | accomplishments remind your employer of the |
| to delete information about outdated technology. | | | | value you bring to the organization. |
| You may also need to weed out old | | | | Once you've updated your resume you'll be ready |
| responsibilities that you no longer want to | | | | for any opportunity that comes your way. This |
| perform. If your resume includes special training | | | | may be your season for advancement, change or |
| or certifications that are no longer needed take | | | | transition-get ready for it! |
| them off as well. | | | | |