Several weeks ago, a client I have not heard from in some time called to ask me for a resume rewrite. He has been with his organization for nearly 20 years and in his current role for four years. But he wants a change. Specifically, he wants a transfer, preferably with a promotion to an assignment that better matches his skills.
The decision we had to make at this point was whether we should do a full rewrite or just add a few new accomplishments. It is a challenge to pick the correct strategy.
What are the criteria for deciding whether or not to update your resume, anyway? Here are some questions I ask jobseekers to help them decide whether to invest in an update or an entirely new resume:
- How long ago was your resume created?
- How long ago was your resume last updated?
- Are you seeking a new role in the same profession, or are you changing careers?
- Are you using a functional resume format?
- Is your resume font Times New Roman – or does the resume have Comic Sans anywhere on it?
- Has your resume gotten too long?
- Does your resume have a “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” appearance?
How long ago was your resume created?
If your resume was created within the last year to 18 months, and you’re seeking a similar role to your current position, the answer is easy: Update your existing document. Add your new position if you were promoted or reassigned, and your recent and relevant accomplishments.
If the resume was created 18 months ago up to 3 years ago, and you’re seeking a similar role, the right answer is probably to update the existing resume.
The more difficult choice is if you created the resume three to five years ago. Then, examine the resume format. If the structure is still modern in appearance, and adding the new information doesn’t substantially affect the format, refreshing is most likely the right choice.
If the resume was created more than five years ago, 99 times out of 100, the right answer is to start over. Trends change — for example, the use of color on resumes, or removing physical addresses. Neither of those things alone makes a document look outdated, but a fresh format can make the resume even more effective.
How long ago was your resume last updated?
If your resume was updated in the last 12 months, refreshing it is probably appropriate. There usually is not a lot that has changed in terms of format or technology. You may need only add an accomplishment bullet or two, with small format adjustments so the resume fits within its current page length.
Has it been up to three years since your most recent update? The answer whether to refresh or start fresh will depend. Like with a new resume, consider whether the format is still relevant and whether the new content you plan to add fits into the existing structure.
If it’s been more than three years since your resume was last updated, consider an overhaul. A resume you created three years ago will often be substantially more modern in content and appearance than one that was simply updated three years ago. Thus, starting fresh is usually the right approach.
Are you seeking a new role in the same profession, or are you changing professions?
When you are pursuing a new role in a different field, whether to refresh or start from scratch depends on if the industry you are targeting has different standards for resumes than your current industry. If you are a management analyst at the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and you are pursuing opportunities in the financial services industry, you will want to take a fresh approach to your resume’s format and appearance. If, however, you are an accountant for a large public company and now seek an accounting position for a midsize privately-held company, you may be able to adjust the content to emphasize relevant accounting skills while keeping much of your format.
The decision will depend on your specific job target and your current role. There is no hard-and-fast rule.
Is there an “objective” statement at the top of your resume?
If your resume opens with an objective statement, you need an overhaul. This is one of the few “hard-and-fast” rules we support.
Even removing the objective statement won’t be enough to meet the standards of a modern resume. That is because the content in the top 1/3 of a resume is critical to your career marketing campaign. The objective should be replaced with branding statements and a career summary that showcases your qualifications. The top of your resume should, in short, tell hiring teams what you will deliver for them rather than what you want to yourself.
Is your resume font Times New Roman – or does the resume have Comic Sans anywhere on it?
While both of these might indicate a “dated” look, the answer may be as simple as selecting all the text and choosing a more modern body font (Calibri, Tahoma). But having one of these fonts on your resume may also be a sign that the whole document needs a fresh approach.
Are you using a functional resume format?
Functional resumes — which use a format that focuses more on skills than on chronological work experience — have lost favor in recent years. They are not compatible with how ATS software parse (or organize) data because the format often omits employment dates — and may not even list specific jobs or employers — the resume data cannot populate the fields correctly in ATS software. In addition, many recruiters and hiring managers dislike functional formats.
Even a hybrid or combination format will not work with ATS software. There are more appropriate ways to highlight skills and accomplishments even when the work history may not be very appealing in a strictly chronological sense.
Has your resume gotten too long?
Resume length isn’t sacrosanct. If your business resume is three pages because it includes 25 years of work experience in excruciating detail, it is time to start completely from scratch. The reason is: If you’ve just constantly added new positions without thinking through the strategy of what you’re including on your resume, it may be best to reinvent it.
Your resume may be much longer than two or three pages if you are leaving the Federal Government or academia. A rewrite should be a priority in that case.
Does your resume have a “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” appearance?
This is common if you had your resume professionally written and designed, but you have since tried to keep it up to date yourself. Especially for beautiful, modern designs, it can be difficult to add information without affecting the formatting. In this case, you may only need a simple update, but you should consider returning to the original creator to ensure that the integrity of the content and formatting remain intact.
Another possibility is to simplify the format. Content is king, so a simpler text format is fine in most cases unless you are in a creative arts-related field.
An HR manager once told me “It’s not the candidate’s age, it’s the experience that matters.” The same thing is true about the job seeker’s resume. I have seen resumes that are several years old which needed only minor content fixes, while I’ve seen resumes written last year that should be rewritten because of changes in the person’s career situation. With regard to the gentleman that asked for an update a few weeks ago, we added a few new accomplishments, and emphasized experience related to the kind of assignment he wants next. The bottom line is that every update situation is unique. Professional judgement must be applied to choose the best strategy.
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