Making the Updates

So you’ve finished your resume and polished off your LinkedIn profile! Curating a highlight reel of your professional accomplishments is no quick, simple feat, and you should be very proud. However, it is important to acknowledge that as you move through stages of your college and career, your written accomplishments should reflect the professional development you’re constantly accumulating. There are no hard and fast rules regarding how often to update your resume, Linkedin, cover letter, etc. However, by following some general guidelines and establishing a routine, you can ensure that you’ll always be set up for success.

You should make the update when…

You’re applying for new jobs. Officially set your LinkedIn profile to “Open to Work”? Recruiters often scout for and reach out to potential candidates for open jobs through LinkedIn. Beyond the basic qualifiers such as location, experience, and area of study, recruiters identify people of interest through an advanced search of specific skills and buzzwords that align with the descriptions of the jobs they’re looking to fill. Tailoring your resume and cover letter to each job you apply to is crucial as well, as you want to demonstrate with close detail how you align with what qualifications the employer is seeking. Your chances of securing the interest of your company(ies) of choice and getting a leg up during recruitment season are impacted by your awareness of these processes and how well you adhere to them.

When you’ve ended a job and/or started a new job. As a Housekeeping item, when you end a position in real time, this change should also be reflected on paper. If you’re adding a position and it’s particularly new or the key responsibilities aren’t clear yet, reach out to your hiring manager or any connections you’ve established with the organization thus far for clarification. You can also utilize LinkedIn to cross reference information with individuals who have, are, or will be in the position you are to ensure you’re listing your responsibilities as authentically as possible.

When desirable qualifications or industry standards shift. Pay attention to trends happening in your industry. Is there a growing need for certain experiences and skills that you possess? Demonstrate your alignment and ability to dynamically adapt by acquiring and listing new skills.

Every 3-6 months. Even if you have not experienced any major shifts in your work life or greater industry, it is still crucial to consistently revisit your various social profiles and general resume and cover letter. Your primary job responsibilities in your role may have changed, perhaps you’ve made it on the Dean’s List for another quarter, or maybe you’ve acquired a new certification to add to the list. The insights and preferences you harbor towards your own experiences and the type of employment you’re looking for are certainly not stagnant either. You never know when you’ll need an updated resume, but making a habit of reevaluating your information prepares you to put your best foot forward no matter what.

So you’ve got your “when” down… but what actions should you be taking?

Remember, efficiency and being straightforward is key. Your professional profiles, snapshots, and tangibles should reflect you and your development closer and closer as time goes on.

Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

Reflect on what positions you want to draw the most attention to. This might look different than it did the last time you updated your resume. You may choose to add or remove different experiences, develop a new bullet point, or focus more on industry-specific experiences over other work experiences. Consider keeping multiple versions of the resumes, cover letters. Or general experiences you want to demonstrate in your back pocket in case you choose to highlight them again later!

Add or emphasize new and polished skills along with experiences. Whether these are intertwining desirable soft skills into your job functions, selecting your top 5 skills on your LinkedIn experiences, or listing a new LinkedIn certification, don’t leave anything on the table!

Update the formats, aesthetics, and headshot you use as needed. Not feeling the resume design anymore? Want your banner to display your company logo or quote you live by? Maybe you want to try LinkedIn’s Creator Mode. Keeping your professional persona current and reflective of your personal brand is an opportunity to make unique updates which help you stand out. If your headshot is outdated time wise or no longer correlates with the image you want to put out, take a new one (this can be your LinkedIn profile as well). Make sure to use a clear image with a simple yet attractive background. P.S. OCOB hosts a free drop-in headshot service!

Go the extra mile. If you’re in the job market, build out your “About” section on LinkedIn more than you normally would. Pay extra attention to what skills you’re highlighting. Feature your resume or a post that had high impressions on your profile. Discuss class or work projects, display the most relevant courses you’ve taken recently, and give and request recommendations from trusted colleagues.