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Most of my clients
start their job hunt in the hole.
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They haven't networked. They don't know
how to interview. They don't know how to dig up job leads. They
spend all of their time on the Internet, scouring the various job
boards.
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These are easy fixes, though. They can be
rectified in just a day or two.
Their biggest problem? They haven't kept
their resumes up-to-date. When I ask if they have a resume, they will
say, "yes, but it's not updated" (translation: my resume is
worthless). Sometimes they'll tell me that, in their occupation,
resumes aren't needed (which is incorrect - even dishwashers need resumes
now). Other times, they'll say they've been using the same resume for
the last TEN YEARS and gotten
every job for which they've applied (you can imagine the jobs they've
gotten with a ten-year-old resume), so why should they bother updating now?
If my clients remember nothing else from our job
hunt collaborations, I make sure they remember to update their resumes
every month. Why?
It cuts
the pain. Most people hate writing their own
resumes. It takes a long time to remember what you did during that
two-year position you held eight years ago. Most forget key
accomplishments as time passes - key accomplishments that could be the
deciding factor in scoring an interview or not. Keeping the resume
updated is painless; as you do, so you update.
It
slashes ramp-up time. If
your resume is up-to-date, then you can immediately enter the job
hunt. If you get canned at 10 a.m., then your resume can be sent to
22 employers before noon. If you're involved in a mass
layoff, you'll beat your former co-workers (who are now your competitors)
to the punch.
It
keeps formatting current. Resume
formats evolve due to technology and employers' tastes. Using an
old-school resume can prevent obtaining interviews. Updating your
format occasionally doesn't take much time - and can save you time when you
need it.
IN THE CARAVAN: Keeping your resume updated is easier and more
efficient than making major overhauls when you can least afford
the time to do it.
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bSafari.c
The Lion’s Pride: Resumes
