Resume editor: Keep your resume current

To update an old resume, start with your newest job and its dates, then refresh your skills and summary, cut what no longer helps and check your contact details. An old resume usually needs less work than a new one, and most refreshes take far less time than starting over. Work down this list and stop when your resume reads as current.

How do I add my newest job?

Add your current or most recent job at the top of your work history, with its start date, then give the job before it an end date. Lead with two or three bullet points about what you've achieved there so far, even if the role is new. Dates are quick to scan, so make sure they show where you are now.

Which skills should I cut or add?

Cut software and tools you no longer use, and add the ones your target jobs ask for. Check a few current postings for the role to see which skills keep coming up. A skill you picked up in the last year or two often matters more than one from a decade ago. Keep them under a plain heading such as Skills, with the ones the posting names listed first.

How do I update my accomplishments?

Replace duties with results wherever you can. "Responsible for scheduling" becomes "Built the weekly schedule for a team of 12", which shows what you did and how much of it. Start with your two most recent jobs, since those are the ones a recruiter reads closely.

How do I rewrite my summary?

Aim the first line of your summary at your next role rather than your last one. Name the role, your strongest result and the kind of work you want to do. Two or three sentences is plenty.

For example, "Retail team lead with four years of scheduling and training experience, moving into store management" tells a recruiter far more than a list of personality traits.

What should I remove from an old resume?

Shrink older jobs that don't relate to the role to a single line, or remove them. After a few years in the workforce, your school details can shrink too, unless the job asks for them.

An objective statement can go as well, since a short summary does that job better. So can the "references available on request" line, since employers will ask for references once you reach that stage.

Edit My Resume

How do I edit my resume for a new job?

Read the posting, then move the experience that matches it toward the top of each section and use its terms where they truthfully describe your work. Swap tired verbs for sharper ones; our guide to strong action verbs has a quick test for spotting passive wording. Keep the facts the same in every version; what changes is the order, the emphasis and the words you choose.

Should I change the design too?

If your resume still uses a layout you made years ago, a fresh template is the quickest way to make it look current. With Rocket Resume you can switch designs at any time and keep everything you've typed, so comparing two or three takes a few clicks.

Are my contact details still right?

Check that your phone number works, your email goes to an inbox you read and your city is current. It's the smallest fix and the easiest one to forget.

Then make a copy for each job

Once the refresh is done, duplicate the resume in My Library and tailor one copy per application, so the original stays ready for the next one. For what belongs on a resume today, read what to put on a resume, and if you are wondering whether a refresh is worth the time, here is what the research says about updating your resume.