Update Your Resume Using Free Software Tools

The best time to update your resume is when you receive a promotion, are searching for a new job, are learning a new skill, or have completed a degree or certification.  Keeping your resume up-to-date, including when you accept a new job, is an excellent reminder of all the experiences and skills that matter to employers and will prepare you to take advantage of new job opportunities.  Regularly updating and revisiting what employers crave in potential employees can also give you an edge over other candidates for future jobs.

The typical resume we view at the Christian Career Center's resume bank doesn't fully showcase the person's skills and experiences for the job they are applying for.  Sadly, this can result in delayed employment and underemployment.  If you feel this may be the case for you, the ONET Online and Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) can help you to update your resume in a way that results in more interviews.

Using the ONET Online and the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) to Update Your Resume

Using the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) and the ONET Online database can be incredibly beneficial when it comes to successful resume writing and job search activities.  Not only do the OOH and ONET provide an overview of typical job duties associated with particular occupations, positions, and industries, but they also offer wages, educational requirements, job outlook information, and other valuable resources.  As a result, by researching these two sources for your job target before preparing resumes or interviewing for jobs, individuals have a better chance of putting their best foot forward.  Furthermore, having access to comprehensive information about a potential occupation or industry can help job seekers make more informed decisions about their chosen career path.  Start by using the search functions to view your job target.

Both of these resources describe the tasks that are needed to do the job successfully.  Here is a sample of tasks for Personal Financial Advisors taken from ONET Online's description of tasks:

-Interview clients to determine their current income, expenses, insurance coverage, tax status, financial objectives, risk tolerance, or other information needed to develop a financial plan.

-Recommend to client’s strategies in cash management, insurance coverage, investment planning, or other areas to help them achieve their financial goals.

-Manage client portfolios, keeping client plans up-to-date.

-Implement financial planning recommendations, or refer clients to someone who can assist them with plan implementation.

-Analyze financial information obtained from clients to determine strategies for meeting clients' financial objectives.

Those applying for personal financial advisor jobs can use these tasks in their resume to describe their skills and experiences needed for the job.  And while you don’t want to use the exact phrase from the ONET or OOH, you can use parts of it to describe your skills and experiences more effectively.

In addition to the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) and the ONET Online, online job boards, such as Indeed, Glassdoor, LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter, and others, can be used to find the skills, experiences, and education needed for jobs of interest.  By reading the requirements of a few personal financial advisor job openings, a job seeker will find consistent tasks, education, and requirements for the job.  This knowledge can help the job hunter update their resume with key skill names and other requirements.  This research may also identify credentials or additional education they may pursue to be more marketable.

Your Resume and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

Using the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH), the ONET Online, and researching current jobs on job boards will also help you get through the barrier of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).  Recruiters and employers use Applicant Tracking Systems to search for keyword phrases to get a list of resumes that best match the qualification the employer seeks.

Using similar keyword phrases in your resume helps ensure that the ATS places your resume into the "yes" pile for the employer or recruiter as they search for suitable candidates to interview.  In addition to this strategy, as you update your resume, be sure to avoid abbreviations, use standard fonts (such as Arial, Cambria, Calibri, Verdana, and Times New Roman), and use the Word document spell and grammar check to make sure you do not have any spelling and grammar mistakes.

Need to Rewrite Your Resume – Use This Resource

Many organizations receive hundreds of resumes daily; therefore, most interviewers spend only 6-30 seconds skimming over the average resume.  In that brief time, your resume will make either a positive or a negative impression on the employer.  Also, as you read, these days, employers can collect resumes electronically and review them with the aid of ATS software that scans for the needed skills or experiences.  For your resume to be considered, it must "hit home" immediately by including the keywords for which the software is programmed to search.

If you need to rewrite your resume, we recommend purchasing the Career Fit Test.  This tool will help you not only write an excellent resume with the best templates but will also help you develop the other big six job search marketing tools (such as cover letters, LinkedIn Profile, Strengths Summary, and others); better identify your motivated strengths; find occupations that best fit your God-given design; and how to find your dream job.