Employment Evergreen

Five Reasons To Update Your Resume Chronically

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Written by Richard White

Are you well settled in your existing job? Do you see a bright future in your present organization? So you have no intention moving anytime soon? You may never need to think about revisiting your boring resume again. Well, if you are thinking that, let me tell you that, unfortunately, it is all myth. In fact, it is very important to review your resume and keep it up-to-date no matter where you stand in your career. The resume is a crucial tool, irrespective of whether you are looking for your first job, seeking for better career opportunity or are currently unemployed.

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A polished resume is as valuable to you now as when you are in the middle of a job search. Read on the following reasons as why you should always keep your resume up-to-date.

1. To get a better understanding of oneself

One of the keys to career development is to understand oneself.  Your resume is not only the blueprint of your skills and achievements, but it also reflects your values, preferences and passion. The skills may include professional activities you have participated in, certifications you have acquired or any new courses you have undertaken at your workplace.

Every role you’ve ever had is a reflection of who you are.

[ALSO SEE: How to Write a Good First CV if You Are a Student or a First-Time Job Hunter]

2. To present yourself as an expert

Whether you are contributing articles to publications or achieving a senior manager designation from your current job role, do keep such progresses and promotions included within your resume. All these key achievements happened for a reason. So what did you learn from them? How have you moved forward? Research shows that the more you work towards your strength, skills and achievements, the better you present yourself as an expert in front of employers.

3. To give your resume a fresh feel and look

If you are not preparing your resume for a segmented profile, it is best to modify it according to the company’s requirement. Always try to make a match between your skills and the desired competencies. This will showcase your attitude and sincerity towards progress. A resume is not just for listing job titles. It is a record of your body of work. A clear sense of your career journey helps to make both short-term and long-term plans for your career.

[ALSO SEE: Best Practice When Following Up After An Interview]

4. To enhance your self-confidence

It is easy to forget how far you have come in your career and which areas you have developed. Therefore, revisiting your endeavours periodically will enable you to track your own professional progress. If you update your resume only when you are looking for a job change, there is a high chance that you might completely forget about new skills you have gained as you have mastered them a long time ago.

Keeping your CV up-to-date will help you understand how well you have gradually grown as a professional.

5. To prepare for the worst situation

No matter how much you love your job or how settled you are into it, a situation may arise where you can get laid off. If that does happen, your updated CV will help you hit the ground running when you need to look for alternative work. Your up-to-date CV can be sent out quickly when you are actually in need of alternative work. You should always be prepared for the worst situation to overcome it swiftly.

The more frequently you update your resume, the less work it really is later. Most importantly, revisiting achievements in your career journey will develop confidence and positive direction in your career.

About the author

Richard White

Richard White works as an editor at Yellow Brick Path. He enjoys varying his work and researching new and different approaches to his work. He shares an interest in career counseling and recruitment. Follow him on Twitter