Let’s make one thing clear – there is never a bad time to spruce up your resume. Whether you’re actively looking for a job or comfortably in your ideal career, keeping an updated account of your jobs, responsibilities, and accomplishments is an important part in keeping yourself on track and your record ready for any opportunities that might come your way.
While many think of a resume as a simple list of the jobs you’ve had throughout your career, the reality is that the jobs you’ve worked and the titles you’ve held don’t matter nearly as much as the skills you’ve learned and the experiences that you’ve had.
Every Job Matters 
We all started from somewhere – from cashiers to grill cooks, every person has had or will have a first job. When the time comes to start searching for larger career opportunities, don’t write these jobs off as a loss just because they may not be in the industry you’re longing to be a part of.
Early in college, I took a job as a barista running a coffee kiosk in a grocery store. Unlike a standalone location I was a one-man band. I took orders, brewed coffee, blended frappes, and sold merchandise (not to mention struck up small talk with the customers in the meantime). At that time, I originally thought the main point of this job was “serving coffee”, the reality was far from it.
Customer service, attention to detail, working under pressure, high accuracy, sales expertise – each of these skills is useful in a variety of industries, adding to an important toolkit of skills guaranteed to be a draw to any future employer.
Focus on the Skills, Not the Job
Remember: A resume is more than a list; it’s a living document designed to grow and evolve as you gain more experience and earn more accolades throughout your career. Here is the most important tip to remember when searching for a job and creating your perfect resume:
It’s not about what you’ve done, it’s about what you can do.
Instead of a bulleted list of positions you’ve held, focus on your training and experience in a broader sense. You weren’t “placing sales calls”, you were “providing client-focused customer service” and “working directly with clients to identify problems and implement customized solutions”.
Prepare to Tell a Story 
Every element on your resume is a conversation starter for a potential employer. For every detail that you provide, prepare to provide more details and share a story about that experience.
For instance, if a prior position as a Technical Support Specialist taught you to identify solutions and provide courteous care to clients, have an instance in mind where those skills came in handy. Being able to paint a picture and show the value that you provide allows employers to better visualize how well you’re going to fit in the role and within their organization.
Ultimately, creating a resume is itself like a sales job – your consumer is a potential employer and you are the product. Being able to identify your standout skills, showcase prior experience, and elaborate on past successes helps strengthen your potential and highlight your qualifications that get you one step closer to the career of your dreams.
