Improve Your Resume Every Year

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Best advice for 2011. Excellent way to develop yourself, professional and personally. A tool I hardly look at, except when looking for a job. But, never for my own development.

Posted: 07 Jan 2011 11:39 AM PST
One of the best piece of advice I've ever received was "improve your personal resume every year."  
Why? Because no matter how successful you are now, disruption happens.  Besides, whatever fuels your current success will likely be commoditized.  The New Kid On The Block is coming for your title belt.  One friend, Jeremy Ring, told me, "Adding a year to your tenure @ work is not an improvement to your resume.  Just ask a 30 year vet at Kodak.  Wider resumes lead to longer success runs."  He's right too.  So now, this is my top priority in January.  Change is now my friend, novelty is now interesting and not threatening.  Besides, it's nice to think that I'm still growing as a professional and a person.  Here's how you can do it too: 
1 - Create Three Resumes.  Start with 2000, creating a resume that highlights your educational background, work experience, hobbies and interests and achievements.  Next, update it through 2006.  Finally bring your resume to current date.  See how much has changed -- or hasn't?  Now you have a good frame of reference. 
2 - Declare Your Resume Add For 2011.  Start with your interests: What are you curious or passionate about?  Is it possibly synergistic with your career or family life?  Look at how the world has changed, and what new needs you have in the skills/experience/knowledge area.  For me, given the fact that I'm giving more talks in South America (eg. Bogota, etc.), learning Level 1 Spanish is a good candidate for 2011.  Good for my mind, makes me better at work.  Music, an interest of mine, will be a hobby - meaning: Learning spanish guitar isn't my selection for this year. 
3 -Review progress.  Don't let March arrive without initializing your project.  After Labor Day, make a push to finish your project before Thanksgiving, so you can add it to your resume this time next year. 
If you do this, you'll spend more time asking, "What's next" with a sparkle in your voice instead of a whimper.  You'll be ready for anything that comes your/our way. 

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