4 Ways You Can Improve Your Resume in 5 Minutes or Less

Your resume is an evolving document that is constantly changing to reflect your life and career. This is both exciting and frustrating for those who need to keep it updated for their job hunt journey. Fret not! There are four simple things you can do to change your resume in five minutes or less. Let’s discuss! 

1. Double check for typos.

If you want to get your resume in tip-top shape, one of the best things you can do is to make sure you are saying what you need to say with the approval of the grammar police. Clear communication on your resume makes it that much easier for anyone reading it to decide if they want to speak with you. Make sure your first impression is your best impression! 

2. Double check that your resume answers these questions.

Storytelling is such an important skillset to master. Whether you are sharing your story in an interview or presenting it on a resume, it is important to be able to share the who, what, when, where, why, and how of you. Make sure you answer these questions on your resume:  

• Who: Who are you? What drives you? What part of your history made you choose your current career? 

• What:  What is next for you? What are you excited to do in the future? 

• When: When did you realize something valuable about yourself? When did you make a change or transition in your career? 

• Where: Where are you going now? Why is this new direction for the next chapter of your life? 

• Why: Why are you in front of this person? Why will you benefit their company?

• How: How have you accomplished X,Y and Z? The mechanisms of your struggles and triumphs is how you differentiate yourself from others.

When you breakdown your educational background, career experience and interests on your resume, are you presenting a story? Does every sentence stand on its own? If not, it is up to you to make the necessary changes to tell your story in every line on your resume. 

3. Pick a template that matches your application.

Picture it: you have an important meeting with someone you really want to collaborate with. In your gut, you know working with this person will be pure magic. So, are you going to wear just any outfit for that meeting? Absolutely not. Similarly, when sharing your resume, can you use just any template? NO. Some templates present your story in a much cleaner and easier way to consume. Guess what? Getting strategic with the template can go a long way with making the impression you want. Plus, it doesn’t take long to pick a new template that will take your resume to new heights. 

4. Involve your support system.

If you want to make changes in your resume in five minutes or less, why should you be the only person to review it? Why wouldn’t you identify five people in your personal and professional network to look and give you helpful constructive feedback that will elevate your resume with very little effort (thanks to your support system)? It takes a village to produce a quality resume.  

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Natasha Nurse is a speaker, coach, podcaster, and content creator. She started Dressing Room 8 to provide a web-based resource where women can gain personal and professional empowerment through her fashion and lifestyle focused blog. Dressing Room 8 helps women learn how to think with clarity, dress with confidence, and live with purpose. She is the Lifestyle Editor for Plus Model Magazine and she co-hosts a podcast with her husband called WokeNFree. Follow Natasha on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube. Don’t forget to join her Dressing Room 8 and WokeNFree groups on FGB.