6 Things to Do to Your Resume before the New Year

6 Things to Do to Your Resume before the New Year6 Things to Do to Your Resume before the New YearA lot of people think the holiday season is a bad time to look for a new job. With the year winding down, offices closing, and people going on vacation, its not difficult to see why you might table your job search until the New Year. But jobs open up year-round, and a companys hiring process depends more on its needs than on the season.Sure, things might slow down around the holidays for some companies, but this is in no way a blanket statement. In fact, the holiday season presents some fantastic networking opportunities to jumpstart your job search.Even if youre not ready to look right now, you can take advantage of the downtime the holidays bring so that when January rolls around, you hit the ground running. For instance, this is a great time to reevaluate and revamp your resume. Here are six things you can do to your resume to get a head start on your New Years job search.Take Invento ry of your Skills and AchievementsThe holidays are a time to reflect, and as the year draws to a close, its helpful to ruminate on everything thats happened this year. What did you learn in 2018? What interests did you pursue? What skills did you develop?Take a look at the Skills section of your resume and update it to reflect anything new that happened this year. Did you learn a new software program? Were you certified in anything? If you have a separate section for awards or recognitions, update this as well. Think of your resume as a snapshot of your professional journey, and use this opportunity to make aya it reflects where you currently are.Update your Projects and ResponsibilitiesIf you worked this year, its important that the projects and responsibilities you list are up to date. Think about some of the highlights of your year- major things you worked on, projects that demonstrate new skills. If something was particularly impactful to your employer, or is relevant to the job s youll be applying to, make sure its front and center.Try to quantify your results if you can. Sales numbers, website traffic, social media engagement- whatever your KPIs (key performance indicators) are. Including any pertinent data you have access to shows that you are results-oriented and accountable.Change Up Your FormatFormatting can make or break a resume. If you havent been hearing back from hiring managers, or if your resume feels a little stale, consider changing things up a bit. Youd be surprised what a difference a few simple changes can make. Font, spacing, paragraph brakes- even bullet styles- can make all the difference in your resumes presentation.If youre in a creative industry, like fashion or graphic design, your resume may call for something visually engaging (side note this is a great time to update your portfolio). This is very job-specific, however use discretion when pushing the envelope. Generally, a resume should be clear and concise, neatly formatted with a simple font and proper headings. Play around with our collection of resume samples to find one that works for you.Consider a Functional ResumeResumes are traditionally organized in reverse chronological order, starting with your current or most recent employer and job title. Some people, however, find it useful to create a functional, or skills-based resume. A functional resume is organized by specific transferable skills, emphasizing the projects in which you developed and applied those skills.A functional resume shifts the focus to your talents and capabilities rather than the specific positions youve held. Your employment history is included, but insofar as each job serves as an example of how you used the skills youre presenting.You might consider this kind of resume if youre a recent graduate without much work experience, or if your experience isnt directly related to the job youre applying for. Skills-based resumes are also good for people who have had a lot of internships, temporary assignments, or done a lot of freelancing. A functional resume isnt for everyone, and some employers are skeptical of resumes that prioritize skills over concrete experience, so you should carefully evaluate whether this is the right type for you.Get a Second Pair of Eyes to Look at ItTheres nothing more helpful than having somebody provide feedback on your resume. A second pair of eyes is an excellent way to get another rolles perspective- to see how your resume comes across to someone else, and what a hiring manager might take away from it. Its hard to look at your own resume objectively. No matter how many times you proofread or revise, youre bound to overlook something.Ask a friend or trusted colleague to review your resume, or get a professional resume critique. They may offer insight into your wording, formatting, grammar, and the strongest aspects of your resume- whats working and what you can build upon. Be mindful of the fact that people are busy during the holida ys, so give them ample time to review.Update Your Online ResumeIf you post your resume online- either to job sites like Indeed or Monster, or to a social network like LinkedIn- this version of your resume must also be up to date. Chances are that if you post your resume digitally, these are the platforms through which you want hiring managers and recruiters to see you.Once youve updated your resume, make those same changes to any digital channel where you showcase your professional experience. This ensures that the first impression people in your network have of you is current and accurate. Itll save time and confusion if the resume you send a hiring manager who reached out to you through LinkedIn mirrors the information in your profile.For more helpful resume advice, be sure to check out Vaults resume resources at vault.com/resumes.