When searching for a new position, knowing how to update your resume can help you provide information relevant to the skills and qualifications listed in the job posting. You can update your resume to reflect new work experience, education, certifications or skills you’ve gained since you wrote your resume. Updating your resume can help you describe your qualifications to show hiring managers you have the credentials to be successful in a new role. In this article, we discuss when and how to update your resume so you can keep it current when searching for a new job.

How often can you update your resume?

Refresh the information on your resume periodically to keep it updated, even if you don’t plan to apply for a new job soon. Updating your resume whenever you gain new qualifications, such as a new job, a certification or a hard skill, is a good idea. Updating your resume to reflect your current and most relevant qualifications can help you save time when you’re ready to apply for a new job. It can also help you be prepared to pursue a new opportunity you may not have expected, such as a promotion.

How to update your resume

You can update your resume to highlight the new skills and qualifications you’ve gained in your previous positions. Below are ways you can update your resume to attract the attention of hiring managers:

1. List your current contact information

Review the contact information on your resume and ensure your phone number and email address are up-to-date. You can also remove some information that employers may have required in the past, such as a physical address. Unless you’re applying for a position where your appearance may be relevant, such as an acting or modelling job, you can also remove a headshot from your resume header. Typically, most modern resume headers include your name, phone number, email, city and state. You can also include links to a professional networking profile or an online portfolio if you have them.

2. Write a new summary

When searching for a new position, your experience level, skills or achievements have likely changed since you last created your resume. To reflect this change, write an updated professional summary detailing your qualifications for the new job. Consider the duties you’ve performed in past positions and your accomplishments in those roles when writing your professional summary .For example, if you want to transition into a management role, describe some relevant duties you’ve performed in your current job, such as supervising other employees or providing development training. You may also highlight one or two achievements in a recent role, such as creating a new work process to improve a team’s efficiency.

3. Add resume keywords

A great way to update your resume is by reviewing the job posting and using similar keywords on your resume. You can also search online for industry-specific keywords to add to your resume. Many recruiters and hiring managers use applicant tracking system (ATS) software to scan resumes for keywords matching their preferred skills and qualifications. Including those keywords can help your resume pass this test, which may increase your chances of receiving an interview.

4. Highlight relevant work experience

Use bullet points in the work experience section to describe your duties and achievements in each job. This formatting allows hiring managers to quickly review your resume and determine if your experience matches the position. Start each bullet point with a strong verb and use concise wording to describe the impacts of your work. As you gain work experience, some responsibilities in older jobs may become less relevant to the new positions you seek. Review the duties and achievements listed in your experience section to determine if they resemble the responsibilities stated in the job posting. If they share few similarities, you can either write new bullet points that more closely relate to the position or delete this experience from your resume, especially if it’s older than 10 years.

5. Add new skills

Add any skills you’ve gained since you last updated your resume in the skills section. Add skills relevant to the position you’re applying for and list skills you have that match what’s mentioned in the job posting. For example, if you’re applying to be a graphic designer, list all technical skills in the job posting, such as specific software, typography and user design. You can also delete skills that are no longer relevant to the position or skills that many people also have. For example, typing skills used to be impressive to include on a resume but are now less relevant since more people, especially those in office environments, use computers to complete their daily tasks. Instead, include skills that may distinguish you from other candidates, such as programming languages.

6. Include your most recent education

If you’ve completed additional education since last updating your resume, list it in the education section. Be sure to include the name of the degree and the institution where you received it. You can include your graduation date if you earned the degree less than three years ago. List your education chronologically, starting with your most recent degree. If you have your high school diploma listed in this section, you can remove it unless the employer specifically requests it. Many recruiters and hiring managers prefer to know about degrees or certificates you’ve earned from educational institutions like universities or trade schools.

7. Feature additional information

If you’ve earned a certification related to the new position, include it on your resume. Having certifications listed on your resume can show employers your commitment to advancing your skill set and knowledge of the industry. Create a section on your resume for certifications and list the full name of the credential, the certifying organization and the year you earned or renewed it. Additionally, you can include a separate section on your resume for other optional information, such as awards, continued education or professional organizations. This additional information can show recruiters you’re dedicated to excelling in your industry and advancing your career.

8. Review the formatting and content

Depending on how long ago you created your resume, you may choose to update the formatting so it matches employers’ current preferences. Search online for a resume template you can use to showcase your qualifications. Here are some general formatting tips for modern resumes:

• Use a professional font, such as Arial or Calibri, in a 10- or 12-point size so employers can read your resume easily.
• Set 1-inch margins on all sides and use white space to ensure your resume appears neatly formatted.
• Bold your name and section headers so employers can skim your resume content quickly.
• Keep your resume to one page in most cases, or use two pages if you have relevant work experience spanning more than 10 years.

Once you’ve reviewed the formatting, carefully proofread your resume for grammatical or spelling issues. Also, ensure all your information is clear and relevant to the position you seek. Having friends, colleagues or former supervisors review your resume to ensure it accurately describes your relevant qualifications can be helpful.

9. Save your resume properly

When you first built your resume, you may have submitted it by printing it and handing it to employers. Though you may still have the option to give your resume to employers during an interview, most employers ask you to submit your resume digitally. Save your resume in a PDF format so it appears clean and professional to the hiring manager. Choose a file name employers can easily understand and locate for future reference. For example, you may choose to name your file using your first and last name, followed by the word “resume.”

Why it’s important to update your resume

As you gain new skills and experience, updating your resume can help highlight your qualifications. Adding to the list of skills you’ve gained may qualify you for more senior-level positions. An updated resume can also explain your new career goals and expand on your experience so a hiring manager can better understand how well you may fit into a new role with their company.