How to Update Your Resume
A resume you wrote 3 years ago will not perform well in today's job market. Here is how to bring it up to date without starting from scratch.
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Step-by-Step Guide
Start with your contact section and remove outdated information
Remove your full mailing address — city and state is sufficient. Remove any objective statement (replace with a professional summary). Add your LinkedIn URL and, if relevant, a portfolio or GitHub URL. Check that your email address is professional.
Rewrite your professional summary for your current target
Your summary should reflect where you are going, not just where you have been. Write it as if you are already the candidate the job description is looking for: your years of relevant experience, your 2-3 most valuable skills, and the specific value you bring.
Add all new experience and quantify your achievements
Add every role you have held since your last update. For existing roles, add any new achievements — promotions, major projects, measurable improvements. Apply the "so what?" test to every bullet: does it prove impact? If not, either add a metric or cut it.
Update your skills section to match the current job market
Remove outdated tools that are no longer relevant (older software versions, deprecated platforms). Add current tools, frameworks, and platforms you now use. Mirror the exact skill keywords from your target job descriptions — ATS systems rank resumes by keyword match.
Remove experience older than 15 years unless it is uniquely relevant
Experience from 15+ years ago rarely adds value and takes space away from your more recent, relevant work. If early career experience is genuinely distinctive (founding a company, a rare credential), keep a condensed version. Otherwise, cut it.
Modernize the formatting
If your resume was built in Word in 2015, it shows. Use a clean single-column layout with modern typography. Ensure it exports cleanly as a PDF. Check that it is readable on a mobile screen — many recruiters first review resumes on their phones.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I update my resume?+
Should I keep my old resume or start fresh?+
How do I explain a promotion on my resume?+
Should I remove old jobs from my resume?+
How do I update my resume if I have been at the same company for 10 years?+
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