Even if you're not planning a career or job change in the near future, you'd be wise to give your résumé an annual review as the New Year begins. Highlighting your most recent accomplishments and documenting your skills can help you rethink your roles and responsibilities and assess how you've approached your work.
If you are not part of a well-executed performance review program, you can easily discount, forget or dismiss the important tasks you completed during the year. As a result, you might take for granted your contributions and end up doubting your marketable skills and demonstrated talents.
Refreshing your résumé not only can improve your awareness of your accomplishments, it can also increase the likelihood of your making a transition when you're ready.
Some people feel overwhelmed and discouraged about the idea of a job change before they've even begun to explore possibilities. Often, it's the task of refining their résumé that stalls their process.
Having a template that works for you is a first step. While you can find résumé wizards on most word processing programs, consider creating your own template to best present your background and relevant skills. My favorite résumé format is the functional resume, that allows you to outline your accomplishments in categories of skills.
Once you decide to take on the task of tweaking your résumé or revamping it entirely, set a timeframe for completion and stick to it. Keep in mind that most résumés have about 30 seconds to make an impression—so the more concise and clear the better.
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