Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Does your resume tell your story?

Whether you are actively searching for a new job or satisfied with your current position, it's always good to keep your resume or CV updated and polished so that it is ready.  Opportunities can happen very quickly -- an impromptu conversation with a senior colleague at a conference or event, often when you're not "in the market" -- and it's so easy to let accomplishments go by without being noted in your professional record.  You don't want to be scrambling to update and refine when you get an unexpected, "Hey, send me your resume and we'll talk more!" request.  January is a good time to do that update and, as you do, a question to ask yourself is whether your resume says enough about who you are, your values, and what you bring to prospective employers.  We've all been told to keep our descriptions brief but it's important not to edit so much that you lose context.  Check out this interesting piece with an example of a resume makeover that better tells a candidate's story.