How to shift your mindset to help you update your resume

How to shift your mindset to help you update your resumeHow to shift your mindset to help you update your resumeVery few people enjoy writing or updating their rsum, but it is necessary. The best way to dive into this task is to shift your mindset so you view it as a positive experience.Have you ever stumbled upon an opportunity too great to pass up, only to find out that you need to apply for it as quick as possible? People find themselves in this situation more often that one might expect, and if you dont have your rsum updated and on hand, it could create a big problem. Instead of thinking of updating your rsum as a necessary evil, think of updating your rsum as your opportunity to look back at your accomplishments and pat yourself on the back.Think of it Like ThisIn zu sich new book,Your Twenties No one ever teaches you how to grow up, you know?career coachJessica Smithtells readers to think of updating your rsum as a special time to admire all youve accomplished. Shifting your m indset and taking this perspective when updating or writing your resume helps to create a more positive experience, and also helps you accept credit and acknowledge all that youve accomplished. The biggest challenge people face when writing their rsums, and on the job search in general, isselling themselves shortand underestimating their value. Think about this when you update your resume. Be proud of your accomplishments, take credit where you deserve it, and highlight all that you can bring to the table.Here are some guidelines on how to highlight your accomplishments and write an effective resume.Decide How You Want to Portray YourselfMost people dont think much about it, butyou are a walking billboard, and you have the power to give off whatever perception you want through your rsum. The first step to writing a great rsum is tofigure out what kind of jobs youre interested in applying to, and then figure out how you want to portray yourself for those positions.Perhaps you want to focus on one area of expertise to highlight on your rsum, or maybe you want to present yourself as an expert in the field as a whole. Figure out what you want to your rsum to say about you, and stick to it. If you want to focus on one area of expertise, ensure that it is visible throughout your document. On the other hand, if youre going to present yourself as knowledgeable in different areas, make sure that you touch on each of those specialties in every job description.Make a list of your strengthsA key factor in any resume is a skills matrix at the top. This ensures that someone can look at your document and quickly tell what skills you possess. If you know that you arent great or could use some work in a specific area, dont include it. You want this list to highlight only your strongest areas, so that employer or hiring manager focuses on your strengths and not your weaknesses.By omitting areas that you need to work on, you will only draw attention to what youre good at.Make a list of your accomplishmentsAnyone can claim that they are a great employee, but very few people can actually show it. Your rsum is your opportunity to present the best version of yourself, so show potential employers all of your accomplishments and achievements.Provide evidence to your claims so that they can see what you bring to the table and how you will be beneficial if hired.Have you increased sales?Have you been recognized for your success?Have you implemented process improvements or cost-cutting techniques?Whatever you have done to improve your company and/or department, you want to show it on your rsum. Dont be afraid to calculate numbers from your own data. As long as you can prove your calculations, you can use them on your resume.Want more data to use? Ask your manager. Phrase it in a way which shows that youre trying to improve, not potentially leave the company. A good way to ask is something like thisIm trying to compile some data to measure my progress in this role a nd see how I can continue to improve. Is there anything that you feel Ive been particularly successful with or an area you feel I excel at?This will give your manager an opportunity to give you praise and potentially give you some constructive criticism as well, both of which will be useful when writing a rsum. That being said, phrasing your question like this will provide you with some information without giving away that youre looking at other job opportunities.When it comes to updating your rsum, its important to shift your mindset to position the experience in a positive light. Its your opportunity to pat yourself on the back and acknowledge all the amazing work youve done This is your time to be proud of yourself and articulate all that you have to offer Highlight all of your skills and achievements, do the research, and put forth the best document possible. Your rsum is your opportunity to present the best version of yourself, so take advantage of that and show people what you want them to seeThis article was originally posted on Create Cultivate.