10 Compelling Reasons to Update Your Résumé

1. You’ve been promoted or accepted a new job recently.
Congratulations! This is a great reason for taking another look at your résumé. Doing so now will help you absorb and focus on the unfamiliar and perhaps more challenging aspects of the new position. It will make you consider the scope of the new job, identify what’s important to accomplish, and help you to make the right decisions for success.

2. Your job responsibilities have changed. Your title hasn’t changed and perhaps your salary hasn’t changed either but your job has grown. Revising your résumé will make you aware of the work you actually do versus the job as it is described in the company literature. If the job has changed significantly this can be the basis for requesting an early performance appraisal, mid-year salary increase, or change in title.

3. You’ve been laid off. The company went through a downsizing, rightsizing, or reduction in force and you were laid off as a result. This is a great time to take a good, hard look at your résumé. Rather than just adding a couple of lines about your last position take time to really evaluate your skills, recent contributions, and career direction. Then create an accomplishment-focused résumé that identifies the value you bring to an organization.      

4. It’s time for your performance review. You annual review is just around the corner and you want a raise, one that actually reflects your contributions. Now is definitely the time to go through your accomplishment file. You do have an accomplishment file, don’t you? Identify specific examples of when and how you’ve contributed to the bottom line. While it definitely makes sense to update your résumé you may choose to share a list of accomplishments, rather than your résumé, with your supervisor.

5. You’ve got a new boss. Your old boss was promoted, accepted another position, or was fired. There is a new manager in town. It is time to update your marketing tools – especially your résumé. Analyze your recent achievements, quantify them, and share them with your new boss. Make sure he or she knows how much value you add to the organization. This could be an opportunity for you to earn a promotion, take on a plum assignment, or take your career in a new direction. If you are not proactive your boss may decide to bring his or her old team on board.

6. The company was just purchased.
Regardless of what is said, expect any and everything to change over the course of the next 12-18 months. This can be a plus or a minus; either way you are on notice. You should recognize that the company will be evaluating all aspects of the business including your job performance. Updating your résumé can help you position yourself in the new corporate structure. Knowing what you have to offer can help you make the best decision about whether to go or to stay with the company.

7. The company downsized and you stayed.The company recently went through a downsizing and you were asked to stay. On one hand, you kept your source of income but now you get to do the work of two or three people. On the other hand, it is also possible that the downsizing created vacancies that enable you to move up in the organization. Your updated résumé or list of recent accomplishments can position you for success in this new company structure.

8. You have had a phenomenal success, completed a major project, or otherwise earned recognition for a job well-done. Before you move on and forget this achievement take time to document it on your résumé while the details are still fresh in your mind. This will also serve as a reminder to you when it is time to discuss your performance during an annual or semi-annual performance appraisal. Analyzing and writing about this achievement could also be the impetus to schedule an early performance evaluation with your manager.

9. They reorganized the department.
Any time there is major change in the organization is a good time to review your work situation and update your résumé. Chances are if the department was reorganized your job changed. Notice and document the changes on your résumé. Company job descriptions offer a generic picture of the work while you perform the job in a distinct manner. Be sure to capture that uniqueness on your résumé. 

10. There is no upward movement for you in the company for the foreseeable future. You have your eye the next step in your career ladder but your boss loves her job and doesn’t plan to retire for another ten years. Carefully document your recent successes before you are totally bored or frustrated with your current position. Offer to take on additional tasks or responsibilities while you polish and build your résumé so you are ready when opportunity presents itself.