When you think of spring, you think of decluttering and starting fresh. This renewal doesn’t only apply to your closet or the clutter in your home  – it’s the perfect opportunity to give your resume a little ‘spring cleaning’ boost, too!  

You could be looking for a new job or building your case for a promotion or simply staying updated for future opportunities. In any case, a resume that is sharp, up to date and tailored for your industry will always be valuable and help you stay prepared for new opportunities. 

Spring Clean Your Resume with 8 Tips 

Here are eight simple yet effective tips to help you dust off your resume and make it shine for your next opportunity. 

Tip #1: Clear the clutter 

A resume filled with outdated information can feel overwhelming and cluttered. As you work on your resume, remove old and irrelevant information.  

Work experience over 10 years won’t necessarily be relevant to your current career goals, so consider summarizing it or removing it altogether and replacing it with your most recent, relevant experience. You want to create a clean, concise and impactful document. 

Tip #2: Refresh formatting 

Use a clear and professional font like Arial or Calibri and ensure there is ample white space for readability. Keep fonts consistent and be aware of spacing and alignment to keep your resume sharp and well-formatted.  

Make sure to use bold headings and bullet points to make the information as easy to ready as possible, highlighting the most important information you want the hiring manager to be aware of.  

Tip #3: Update key information 

Information such as your contact details should be current. Update any links that include your LinkedIn profile, portfolio, and social media. Please check for any broken links as they look sloppy and leave a bad impression from the start. Polish your professional summary and write it in an engaging tone. Avoid generic statements and highlight what you will bring to the table. 

Example: “Results-driven marketing specialist with 9+ years of experience in digital strategy, content creation, and brand management. Passionate about driving engagement and increasing brand awareness through data-driven campaigns.” 

Tip #4: Optimize keywords 

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) have become very popular with companies to scan resumes for keywords before a hiring manager looks at them. You need to make sure your resume has the important keywords needed for the role to be picked up for the next round of interviews.  

For example, if you’re applying for a tech role, include terms used in the job description, such as “Python programming,” “cloud computing,” or “data security,” where applicable. This small change can make a big difference in getting noticed. 

Tip #5: Strengthen the experience section 

Your work experience is your way of showing the hiring manager how you will perform in the new role. Instead of simply listing your job duties, you need to demonstrate the impact you made in your role and showcase what you’ve accomplished in addition to your responsibilities. Use strong action verbs and quantify or measure your achievements whenever possible.  

Pro tip: The more specific you can be about your contributions, the more compelling your resume will be. Consider the following comparison to get an idea: 

Weak: Responsible for customer service. 
Strong: Resolved 95% of customer inquiries within 24 hours, improving overall satisfaction ratings by 20%. 

Tip #6: Update skills and certifications 

As mentioned, you want to update everything on your resume, including skills and certifications. For example, if you work in marketing, skills like “SEO optimization” and “email marketing automation” might be more relevant than generic terms like “team player” or “hardworking.”  

Additionally, if you have taken any relevant courses recently, make sure they are reflected on your resume. You can also consider enrolling in an online course to refresh your skills and boost your resume. 

Tip #7: Tailor resume for target role 

Your resume cannot be a one-size-fits-all resume if you are trying to stand out. Especially if you are currently job searching, you need to tailor and customize your resume for each role you apply to, to match the job description and skills required.

As you apply for jobs, make small tweaks like adjusting keywords, emphasizing certain relevant experiences and highlighting the skills required to truly show that you are the right fit for the role. 

Tip #8: Proofread 

Typos and other small mistakes should definitely be avoided when you submit your resume. While mistakes happen, when you are looking for a new job, these small mistakes will make it seem like you are careless and not serious about the job.  

Ask your friends to proofread and check your resume for you. Be open to feedback and suggestions to sharpen your resume even more!