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Upgrade Your Resume With These Easy Strategies

June 17, 2024

7–10 minutes

Maybe you are about to graduate high school. Perhaps you are a fresh graduate looking to secure your first big job. Irrespective of where you are at along your career journey keeping that resume fresh and ready is important. We walk you through how to do that!

Your Cliff Notes

Explore why a yearly resume refresh is necessary to stay competitive in the job market and showcase your latest skills and experiences.
Keeping track of your life stats to enhance your resume and stand out.
Navigating AI in the job market to understand how technology influences the application process.
Learn how to tailor your resume to match job descriptions.
Refine your image by polishing your presentation.

To all the aspiring professionals out there! Are you ready to give your resume a much-needed makeover? In today’s competitive job market, standing out is essential, and that starts with a refreshed resume. But fear not, because we are introducing you to a game-changing ally: powerful strategies and generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

Explore why it’s crucial to give your resume a refresh and how AI can help you do just that. From identifying your unique strengths and achievements to tailoring your resume for specific job opportunities, we’ll cover it all. Plus, we’ll dive into the importance of proofreading to ensure your resume is flawless before sending it off into the world.

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Why a Yearly Resume Refresh is Necessary

Exploring potential careers can feel like moving through a maze, but within the twists, turns, and dead ends lies a world of opportunities just waiting to be uncovered. Whether you’re dreaming of a job in the latest tech craze or are more interested in serving up delicious food or helping in an office, your resume will always need a yearly refresh.

Why? Well, think of it as updating your favorite social media profile. Just as you would add new pictures and information to show what you have been up to, updating your resume lets employers see all the awesome skills and experiences you’ve gained recently.

Tracking Your Life Stats

Catching a win, whether it’s acing a test or securing a new opportunity, feels like unlocking a new level in your own life game. When you are crafting your resume or gearing up for that big interview, those wins are your secret weapon. They show off all the amazing accomplishments you have achieved and make you stand out from the crowd. To simplify your resume refresh process for next year, we suggest that throughout the year, you document or write down your wins in your notes app or a place where you will not lose track of this information.

If you haven’t started the process of keeping track of such information, now is the time to start! Here are three questions to help you kickstart this process:

What Have You Achieved That Must Be Shared With The World?

Think back to those moments where you’ve absolutely nailed it. Whether it’s acing a test, winning a debate, or leading a project, these are the wins that deserve recognition. Now is the time to show off those achievements and share with others.

What Skills Have You Picked Up Along the Way?

Maybe you have become a whiz at coding, a pro at public speaking, or a master at multitasking. Whatever skills you have honed, make sure to highlight them – these are the skills that make you stand out!
Do not forget about the skills you are learning (or have learned) in the classroom. Consider the critical thinking skills used to write that research paper. Think about the analytical skills required to study science data trends. Sometimes, thinking outside the box when it comes to brainstorming the skills you have learned so far is a good resume writing strategy!

What Makes You, Well, You?

Take a moment to think about what sets you apart from the crowd. Maybe it’s your passion for helping others, your creative thinking, or your ability to adapt to any situation. Whatever it is, embrace it and let it shine!

Navigating AI in the job market

After you submit your job application, your resume does not always end up in a person’s inbox right away. Sometimes, companies elaborate computer systems called Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to sort through all the applications. Not every company does this, but it’s becoming more commonplace in big companies. So, why not get ready for both AI and human eyes?

It is good to keep in mind that some ATS and hiring managers work like gatekeepers, scanning resumes for specific keywords, skills, and experiences outlined in your job descriptions. Here are some tips to keep in mind when refreshing your resume to make it to the next step beyond the ATS and hiring management screening:

Each job listing is packed with powerful words and phrases perfectly tailored to the position. Try scattering them strategically throughout, just like you would with curated posts on your social media feed. This way, you will impress both the AI bots and the hiring team, bringing you one step closer to snagging that dream job interview.
- For example, if they’re looking for someone with ‘leadership skills’ or a ‘customer-focused attitude,’ make sure to include those buzzwords in your job descriptions.
Remain authentic in your resume. Your resume needs to clearly show who you are, convey your personality, and give the hiring manager an idea of just how much added value you will bring to the company. This is where those “buzz” words may be useful. If communication speaks to your authenticity, make sure to have this stand out throughout your resume (from your background section to your extracurricular activities)

Tailoring Your Resume for Success

Creating a top-notch resume is not just about listing what you have done—it’s about making it fit the job you want. Check out some easy ways to tweak your resume and make it shine using AI:

Role Matching: Making sure your resume matches what the employer is looking for is crucial. That means using the same words they used in the job ad. So, if they are after a “Customer Service Representative,” but your previous title was “Sales Representative,” consider updating it to match. Speaking their language shows you get what the hiring manager is after and makes you stand out big time!
- Quick Tip: To help AI match your job descriptions to the role, try the prompt: ‘Provide recommendations for optimizing my resume to match the job role.’
Customizing Your Resume: It’s all about highlighting the skills and experiences that matter most to the employer. If you’re a pro at helping customers, handling cash, or keeping things organized, make sure to clearly explain this in your resume. And if the hiring manager is after someone with really strong skills in organizing tasks, this is your time to let them know you are the right person for the job.
- Quick Tip: To get some AI feedback, try the prompt: ‘Suggest additional keywords or phrases to include in my resume based on a given job description’.

Polishing Your Presentation

To optimize your resume for maximum impact, consider the following tips to enhance its visual appeal and professionalism:

Choose fonts and layouts wisely: Select fonts and layouts that reflect a modern aesthetic while maintaining readability.
- Opt for clean, professional fonts like Calibri or Helvetica and simple layouts that are well-organized and easy to navigate.
- A simple layout allows the content of your resume to take center stage. It ensures that your skills, experiences, and achievements are the focus, rather than being overshadowed by distracting design elements.
Prioritize readability: Ensure that your resume is easy to read by using appropriate font sizes and spacing. Avoid overcrowding the page with text; try using bullet points to highlight key information. Remember, recruiters often have limited time to review each resume, so make it easy for them to quickly scan and understand your qualifications.
- For AI feedback, try the prompt: ‘Please analyze my resume for readability and offer suggestions to enhance it.’
Pay Attention to Detail: Give your resume a thorough once-over and use AI-powered feedback tools to catch any errors or inconsistencies. You can also try using prompts from AI to guide your review process and make sure you haven’t missed anything important. Do not hesitate to ask a friend or someone you trust to look at your resume and offer constructive criticism to improve what you have.
- For AI feedback, try the prompt: ‘Review my resume for any grammatical errors and provide recommendations for improvement.

Let’s Recap

To keep up with the ever-changing job market and showcase your latest skills and experiences, it’s essential to refresh your resume yearly.
Keeping track of your achievements and skills throughout the year is essential for crafting a standout resume.
By strategically incorporating relevant buzzwords, you can increase your chances of catching the attention of both AI bots and hiring managers.
Maximize your resume’s potential with AI-driven strategies for role matching and customization.
Craft a visually appealing and easily readable resume using clean fonts, simple layouts, and AI tools for proofreading and feedback.

Resources We Trust and Like

Columbia University, Optimizing Your Resume for Applicant Tracking Systems: https://www.careereducation.columbia.edu/resources/optimizing-your-resume-applicant-tracking-systems , [Why we like this: Columbia University Center for Career Education departments discusses strategies for optimizing resumes to pass through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).]
American Psychological Association, What employers seek in job applicants: You’ve got the skills they want: https://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/psn/2013/09/job-applicants , [Why we like this: Discusses importance of specific skills popular for employers to want.]