In today’s job market, your resume and LinkedIn profile show the world who you are professionally. Whether you’re actively job hunting, thinking about a career change, or just staying ready for new opportunities, keeping these up-to-date can make a huge difference. A strong LinkedIn profile helps recruiters find you, while a polished resume makes sure you stand out to hiring managers and get past those pesky applicant tracking systems.
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Step 1: Refreshing Your Resume

‍Your resume is much more than just a list of past jobs but should tell a compelling story about your professional journey. It is your first impression made to potential recruiters and hiring manager.

Optimize for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
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Many companies use ATS to filter resumes before they reach human recruiters. To ensure your resume gets through:
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- Use industry-specific keywords from job descriptions. These are words that ATS will flag as a possible best match for a job posting.
- Avoid using images, graphics, or complex formatting. ATS might not recognize these elements and will negatively impact the chances of your resume being selected by the system.
- Save your resume as a Word document so that you can easily make updates as they occur AND as a plain PDF to upload to online platforms to maintain readability.

‍Update Your Work Experience
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Hiring managers want to see measurable achievements reached in each position, not just job responsibilities. Consider these elements when updating your work experience:
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- Use action verbs like “developed,” “implemented,” and “led.” Start each bullet point with an action word and continuously use new action words throughout your resume.
- Quantify your success when possible (i.e: "Increased sales by 30%" or "Managed a $500K budget"). These data points demonstrate your ability to effectively complete the responsibilities of the position while also showing what you are capable of bringing to a new position.
- Tailor each past job description to the position you’re applying for. This does not mean lie about your past work responsibilities but rather highlight the responsibilities that align with the job description.

Keep Your Resume Concise
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- Limit your resume to one or two pages. A longer resume does not mean preferential standing.
- Remove outdated experience (i.e., internships from over 10 years ago unless specifically relevant or starter jobs that do not align with present career moves).
- Focus on the last 10-15 years of experience, unless earlier roles add significant value. This will help highlight your current skills and downsize your resume.

Modernize Your Format
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Recruiters spend an average of 7 seconds scanning a resume. Use a clean, professional layout with clear sections and bullet points for easy readability. Template ideas can be found in software like CANVA and are easily fillable with your specific resume and language.

Avoid using a resume generated by platforms like Indeed. These resumes appear very words and difficult to read when downloaded. Instead, upload your new, clean resume (in PDF format) to your profiles and submit via your uploaded resume.

Step 2: Enhancing Your LinkedIn Profile

Unlike a resume, LinkedIn allows you to showcase more personality and context behind your career story.

Optimize Your Headline and Summary
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Make your headline compelling and eye-catching! Instead of labeling yourself as a “Marketing Manager,” try:
“Results-Driven Marketing Manager | Specializing in Digital Strategy & Brand Growth”

Your summary (About section) should:
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- Be conversational but professional. Make sure people can get a sense of who you are and avoid using AI generated content. Recruiters and hiring managers are looking to hire a person, not a machine.
- Highlight your unique strengths and career achievements. Don't be afraid to really share about your accomplishments. By sharing your achievements, you will be showing potential managers the range of your skillsets and outcomes.
- Include relevant keywords for searchability. Keywords are how recruiters and hiring managers can find your profile without having to dig through thousands of profiles to find the right candidate. Keywords not only make their job easier but helps you stand out from the crowd.

Update Your Profile Picture and Banner
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Profiles with photos receive 21 times more views and 36 times more messages than those without.

Use a high-quality, professional-looking headshot and avoid using an AI generated headshot. While these headshots can be fast and easy to download, they do not provide a realistic representation of you like a digital photo can do. Additionally, a customized LinkedIn banner can reinforce your personal brand while highlighting your personality and goals.

Showcase Your Experience and Skills
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- Write detailed descriptions for each role, similar to a resume but with more narrative. On Linkedin, you can provide additional details that may not have made the cut for your two page resume.
- Use media like images, links, and videos to showcase completed projects, awards, and/or achievements.
- List at least 5 key skills. Profiles with skills get 13 times more views than those without.

Request and Give Recommendations
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Endorsements and recommendations increase your credibility as a candidate. Request personalized recommendations from colleagues and supervisors who can speak to your strengths and have these accessible on your profile.

Engage and Network
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- Follow industry leaders, engage with their content and share posts or write articles to showcase your expertise. When you come across articles or posts that resonate with you, comment. This will provide recruiters and managers with a sense of how you may fit within a company's mission/atmosphere/goals before engaging in an interview while also showing your continued interest and interaction within the field.
- Connect with recruiters and professionals. Don't be afraid to send a direct message introducing yourself to a recruiter or hiring manager once you have connected with them. You'll be demonstrating gumption and ability to take charge of your career.
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Final Thoughts: Keep It Fresh

Your resume and LinkedIn profile should be living documents, not static ones. Set a reminder to update them at least every six months, even if you're not job hunting. Keeping them polished ensures you’re always ready for new opportunities and gives you the confidence to navigate career changes with ease. At Talmo & Associates, we’re here to help professionals find their next great opportunity, so reach out to our expert recruiters today!

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