3 Easy Ways To Spring Clean Your Resume

Popular 3 Easy Ways To Spring Clean Your Resume Jenna Arcand April 06, 2022 {"adCodes": [{"desktop": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "display": true, "mobile": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "new_amp": "\u003camp-ad width=336 height=280\n type=\"doubleclick\"\n data-slot=\"/22278042776,22664312254/wit/wit_content\"\n data-multi-size=\"300x250\"\u003e\n\u003c/amp-ad\u003e", "order": 0, "tablet": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"}, {"desktop": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "display": true, "mobile": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "new_amp": "\u003camp-ad width=336 height=280\n type=\"doubleclick\"\n data-slot=\"/22278042776,22664312254/wit/wit_content\"\n data-multi-size=\"300x250\"\u003e\n\u003c/amp-ad\u003e", "order": 1, "tablet": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"}, {"desktop": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "display": true, "mobile": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "new_amp": "\u003camp-ad width=336 height=280\n type=\"doubleclick\"\n data-slot=\"/22278042776,22664312254/wit/wit_content\"\n data-multi-size=\"300x250\"\u003e\n\u003c/amp-ad\u003e", "order": 2, "tablet": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"}], "adsOrder": [2]}

The concept of "spring cleaning" also extends to your career. In fact, it's the perfect time to take a look at your resume and see what needs updating and what you can get rid of entirely. When was the last time you cleaned up your resume?

If it's been a while since you've updated your resume, don't wait any longer! Here are three easy ways you can spring clean your resume so it's ready for your next job search.

1. Update Your Skills (And Get Rid Of Irrelevant Ones)

One of the most important parts of your resume is the experience summary, which is a list of 6-8 skills at the top of your resume. (You can find resume templates inside Work It Daily's FREE community.) This helps your resume get past the ATS and stand out from the competition, allowing hiring managers to quickly see how you're qualified for the job.

When spring cleaning your resume, it's a good idea to update your list of skills, adding new ones and removing irrelevant ones. What skills have you developed? Which skills do you want to highlight in your job search? What skills do you need for the jobs you want to apply for, and how many of those do you currently have? Which skills are no longer relevant in your career or aligned with your career goals? Think about these questions as you decide which skills to include on your updated resume.

2. Quantify New (And Old!) Accomplishments

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If you haven't done so already, when you clean up your resume, you should also quantify your accomplishments. In the bullet points under each position you've held, you don't just want to list your job duties. You need to talk about your accomplishments, what you achieved on the job. You need to quantify your work experience so employers can see exactly how you add value as a business-of-one. Each bullet point should include at least one number. For example, a car salesperson might write: "Sold an average of 12 cars per week."

Once you've quantified your accomplishments on your resume for your previous positions, it's time to think about your current job. What have you accomplished lately at your current job? Are there any past accomplishments you haven't quantified yet? Have you completed a certificate or received any awards? Whatever you achieved, chances are it can be quantified, and it definitely belongs on your resume.

3. Clean Up Your Formatting

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The easiest way to spring clean your resume is to simply clean up your formatting. A resume with an updated, simple format will be easier to read and have a higher chance of getting past the ATS. A resume with an outdated format will likely get tossed by hiring managers because it gives them the impression that you're old and/or out of touch.

Your resume should have a simple, clean format with consistent styling throughout the document. Bullet points and white space are also important. Choose a clean-line font like Arial or Calibri (11pt.), not a script font like Times New Roman. Also, make sure you have one-inch margins and no bold, italics, or underlining except in very specific places where you want to focus the hiring manager's eyes. When in doubt, a simple resume is the most effective.

We hope these tips help you spring clean your resume so it's ready for your next job search! If you need more help with your resume or with anything else in your job search, we're here for you.

We'd love it if you joined our FREE community. It’s a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades.

It's time to find work that makes you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled. Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!

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resume {"customDimensions": {"1":"Jenna Arcand","2":"popular","3":"resume, resume tips, resume advice, spring cleaning, resume writing, resume help, clean up resume, job search, how to clean up your resume, spring clean, spring clean resume, job seekers, professionals, career advice, updating resume, update resume, career, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:29645351, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:29645313, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:29645361, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:29645371","4":"04/06/2022"}, "post": {"split_testing": {}, "providerId": 0, "sections": [0, 370480899, 543270555, 376490053, 473333499, 479660731, 473310813], "buckets": [], "authors": [19836096]} } Get Some LeverageSign up for The Work It Daily NewsletterEnter emailSubscribeFollow window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.defineSlot('/22278042776,22664312254/wit/wit_multiplex', ['fluid'], 'wit_multiplex').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.enableServices(); googletag.display('wit_multiplex'); }); Blog How To Maximize Your Expensive IT Investment Debra Shannon April 05, 2022 {"adCodes": [{"desktop": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "display": true, "mobile": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "new_amp": "\u003camp-ad width=336 height=280\n type=\"doubleclick\"\n data-slot=\"/22278042776,22664312254/wit/wit_content\"\n data-multi-size=\"300x250\"\u003e\n\u003c/amp-ad\u003e", "order": 0, "tablet": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"}, {"desktop": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "display": true, "mobile": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "new_amp": "\u003camp-ad width=336 height=280\n type=\"doubleclick\"\n data-slot=\"/22278042776,22664312254/wit/wit_content\"\n data-multi-size=\"300x250\"\u003e\n\u003c/amp-ad\u003e", "order": 1, "tablet": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"}, {"desktop": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "display": true, "mobile": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "new_amp": "\u003camp-ad width=336 height=280\n type=\"doubleclick\"\n data-slot=\"/22278042776,22664312254/wit/wit_content\"\n data-multi-size=\"300x250\"\u003e\n\u003c/amp-ad\u003e", "order": 2, "tablet": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"}], "adsOrder": [2]}

Besides payroll, your organization’s next largest spend is probably for technology. Businesses are continually expanding their capabilities to keep up with their customers’ expectations and make employees more efficient. Organizations typically accomplish this with some type of technology. But does the organization have a process to ensure that technology meets the organization’s strategy and is being fully utilized?

This is especially important if each department has the authority to purchase its own technology (potentially in a silo). Was there sufficient consideration and communication with groups such as information security, internal audit, risk/compliance, and legal?

4 Steps To Maximizing Your Technology Investment

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Here are four steps you can take to help make sure you’re maximizing your technology spend:

1. Make an inventory of all of the technology (both on-premise and in the cloud) being used/paid for throughout the entire organization.

• Compile a list of software installed on servers and desktops/laptops; also cloud-based software
• Check "Accounts Payable" records to see what technology is being paid for; ensure the amounts are valid and correct
• Review the operating expense (OpEx) budget to see what technology expenses and subscriptions are planned for

2. Now that you have a good inventory, reconcile across departments.

• Eliminate duplicate software – for example, if two departments are using different learning management systems (LMS), could they both be using the same LMS?
• Eliminate unused software – if the business stopped using the software (and started using something else), then return the license. This will eliminate the cloud-based subscription cost, or the ~20% maintenance fee for on-premise software
• Reconcile licenses (e.g. Microsoft 365, Adobe) with a list of active employees; no licenses for terminated employees, and verify for employees who transferred and whose access has changed
• Combine individual licenses for tiered/volume pricing – departments may have purchased individual licenses, but the organization will normally get better tiered/volume pricing if the licenses are consolidated together

3. Next, make sure the organization is using the software.

• Fully utilize software – for example, don’t just use your customer relationship management (CRM) as a very expensive Rolodex
• If you own commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software and want additional functionality, talk with the vendor about options:
  • If it benefits other clients and gets added to the base software, there should be no additional cost, but need to determine the timeline of when this could be completed
  • If it gets added as custom code, the timeline should be quicker, but there will normally be a maintenance cost of ~20%
  • Make sure there is updated user/system documentation (especially if custom code)
• Keep the software current with upgrades and patches
• Ensure there are various forms of training for employees so they know how to use software; some ideas are in my "Beyond The User Manual" article

4. For future technology purchases (especially if departments have the authority to purchase their own software)...

• Review the capital expense (CapEx) budget to see what major technology expenditures/projects are planned for
• Have a central request process for software over a certain dollar amount to be vetted by a steering committee to ensure it meets the organization’s strategy/plan
• Involve IT – infrastructure requirements, configuration settings, etc.
• Keep information security, internal audit, risk/compliance, and legal in the loop; it’s better to have their input upfront rather than afterward when an incident occurs; it’s cheaper to add internal controls during the planning stage rather than after implementation.
• Once implemented, be sure to add the new software to the inventory list.

For more information on maximizing your IT investment, follow me on LinkedIn!

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