Your resume is your foothold into the business world. A good resume helps potential employers know who you are, what your work experience is, and what your skills are. In fact, most white-collar jobs require you to submit a resume along with an application. And while blue-collar, retail, and trade jobs might not expect you to provide a resume, it can increase your chances of getting the job you want.
Whether you’re content working at your current place of employment, or you’re desperate for something new, you need to update your resume regularly. Learn exactly why you should adjust your professional biography.
In Case of Emergency
Like most people, you probably feel confident in your current position. You hope you won’t ever experience layoffs, but it’s best to prepare for the worst.
By updating your resume regularly, you can easily and quickly apply for new jobs should you lose your current one. And the sooner you can apply for work and get hired at a new company, the less stress you’ll feel in the process.
In Case You Want to Start a Side Hustle
If you want to pick up some extra work on the side, you’ll need an up-to-date resume to help you land a gig. Again, the sooner you can submit a resume, the better.
Dozens of candidates are likely also looking at the same freelance or part-time work you are. But because you have a current document that lists your most recent skills and responsibilities, you give yourself a better chance at getting the side hustle you want.
In Case You Want to See How Far You’ve Come
Sometimes, it’s nice to look back on your years in the workforce and see how much you’ve improved. Maybe you received commendations for spectacular communication skills at your first job. Perhaps you worked on a project with a company director and helped them avoid a professional faux pas that would have drastically lowered their authority in your industry.
Every time you add to your resume, you can review what you’ve done in the past and feel more confident in your current skills and abilities.
In Case You Need to Recall Previous Projects or Responsibilities
When you update your resume frequently, it lets you see what projects you’ve worked on in the past.
Let’s say your current company wants to start a new project and your supervisor needs someone in your department to spearhead the task. You’ve been given a list of requirements and limitations for this initiative, and despite these details, you know you’re perfect for the job and that you have the credentials to prove your value.
If you have a current resume (either a one-page document or a master resume that lists everything you’ve done since you began working), you can print off a copy or email a digital file to your supervisor. This list of previous projects could help you take over this new campaign, ensuring its success.
In Case You’re Aiming for a Promotion
One of the best career moves you can make is to apply for a promotion. When you provide your boss or a hiring manager with your most recent resume that shows them why you deserve that new position. If you have an updated resume ready to go, that means you can submit it quickly, putting you ahead of other applicants. If you want to show your initiative, this is a great idea.
If you need any help updating your resume, contact the pros at Tulsa’s Green Country Staffing. We’ll review your resume and offer suggestions for improvement so that you can be confident.