6 Tips to update your resume in only 30 minutes

So get your CV ready, because Fed Finance, our recruitment agency in finance, gives you 6 tips to make it the most beautiful pearl in only 30 minutes!

Bonus tip: Review the order in which you list information in your resume

To be most effective, a resume should present information in order of relevance. Generally, recruiters prefer finding the work history first, followed by education, and then a list of technical and soft skills. Applicants who have won honours and awards can also list them in a final section at the end of the resume.

1. Check your personal information - 1 min

We don't always think about it, but our personal situation may have changed. This is the first information to review. Have you moved, changed your email address or phone number?

You don't have to write down your complete mailing address. Your postal code and your city are enough: recruiters or employers can reach you by other means today than by sending you a letter.

Do you have a LinkedIn profile? Add its URL! It is important to improve your LinkedIn profile because even if you don't put it in your resume, recruiters almost always check your presence on the Web.

2. Adapt your resume title - 3 min

When applying for a job in finance in Quebec or elsewhere, adapt the title of your resume to your career objective.

Looking for an accounting job? Make sure the title of your resume matches. Whether it's for a specific application or a spontaneous application, the title of your target position is essential. Add a quality, a skill or a subsection that makes you stand out from the crowd.

For example: "Accountant - Bilingual French/English", or "Accounting Technician - ERP Expert", are two titles that indicate to recruiters your skills. Adapt each title to the position you are applying for! Because depending on the ad and the requirements, you will have to specify different assets.

3. Review your work experiences - 10 min

If you've moved your work experiences up on your resume, that's a good thing. Now it's time to choose them well! The goal is not to list all your experiences, but to suggest the ones that are relevant to your professional project.

If you want to work in the accounting firm sector, there is no point in mentioning the six months you spent working at Tim Hortons: this occupies space on a paper where every piece of information matters and where you must prioritize everything that can benefit the recruiter.

Once you've isolated the important work experiences, remember to elaborate on them as best you can. This includes:

• A summary of your responsibilities
• Key skills you have developed or demonstrated for this position
• One or more affiliated achievement(s) to demonstrate your expertise

4. Update your skills – 6 min

Did you add the key skills based on your experiences? Good for you.

Now you need to summarize your greatest strengths in the remaining tabs of your resume. Check your language skills, your computer skills and highlight your main soft skills. You must have improved since the last update of your resume. Take a few minutes to think about it and show your progress.

The same principle can be applied: state the skills that will make you stand out in relation to the job you are applying for. The qualities required to be an accountant are different from those of a finance director.

5. Air out the content of your resume – 6 min

A CV that is easy to read always has a better chance of getting an interview. Therefore it is recommended to add blank spaces to enhance readability and avoid overwhelming the reader.

Another tactic that helps to air out the content of a resume is to select a font that is a little narrower. In just a few seconds, this can breathe new life into a written document.

Remember the three key concepts of a resume that works:

• Sober
• Succinct
• Aesthetic

Keeping your resume concise is another way for a candidate to avoid wasting the recruiter's time. Currently, the trend is to leave out sections such as hobbies, education and work experience that are not directly related to the job posting. In any case, if these topics are of interest to the employer, he or she can ask the candidate about them during an interview.

To allow a recruiter to quickly find the information he or she is looking for, it is important to use titles and subtitles wisely. Of course, they must be inserted sparingly so as not to create the opposite effect. Adding bulleted lists can also help guide the reader's eyes to the most relevant information.

6. Make sure your resume is free of spelling mistakes – 4 min

The time has come for proof-reading! Even candidates applying for a job in finance and accounting should be wary of spelling mistakes on their resumes. The impression left by a sloppy document full of mistakes is often negative and suggests that the author doesn't pay much attention to detail.

So now that you've updated your resume, be sure to reread your document and correct any errors that may have crept in. Having a friend proofread it can also be a good solution: he or she will have more perspective on your text and will be able to notice details that you may have missed!

After updating your resume, send it to the right recruiters

Now you know how to update your resume. Take the time to update yours regularly. That way, you'll always be ready to submit it if you see an attractive job offer!

That said, if you're looking for expert advice and assistance with a job search in the finance industry, contact Fed Finance today. These recruiting specialists will be able to support you in your quest for your dream job and even accept unsolicited applications.