[K-Women Talk] The Secret to an Attractive Resume: 'Update'

As a headhunter, I review many resumes for work. Some are easy to understand and attractive, but others are difficult to comprehend and even unpleasant to read. So, what exactly makes a resume stand out and get 'attention'? In my case, I try to see what competitive edge and appeal a candidate has compared to others. In other words, it means that a resume that is not ordinary (履歷書) but different (差異) ? an ‘i(異) resume’ ? is attractive to others.

A resume is a candidate’s biography. It is basic to list past careers through the resume, but it should clearly show how well the candidate performed those tasks. What people want to understand is how well the candidate did the job and what contributions they can make to our company and organization.

We often think resumes are only used when changing jobs or seeking employment, but I recommend regularly ‘updating’ your resume as if you were keeping a household ledger or asset management notebook.

So, when should you update it? Of course, when changing jobs or companies, but also whenever you take on a new position or role within the same company, achieve results or success through new products or projects, acquire new skills and training, or have new creative activities and awards. It is good to develop a habit of updating immediately whenever an opportunity to differentiate yourself arises.

Generally, it is hard to remember events from several years ago, and even harder to sift through memories to select important achievements. Recording your key accomplishments as they happen while working on numerous tasks at your job greatly helps your memory. (Of course, if you have achieved significant results that others remember, it might be different, but many achievements that are not recorded can easily be forgotten.)

Another advantage of updating your resume is that it gives you a chance to think about which areas you need to improve or develop further. Even if you stay in the same company and position, you can acquire new skills, gain tangible and intangible achievements through new activities, and even increase your influence in the industry. Each time, updating your resume provides an opportunity to organize your thoughts.

If you have nothing to update on your resume for 2 to 3 years, it is time to reflect on your current work and workplace. You need to identify whether the problem lies with you or your company. If it is you, then change yourself; if it is the company, seriously consider making changes there as well.

Good companies care about employee development and provide opportunities for growth. However, honestly, personal growth and development are the individual’s responsibility. It is more accurate to say that companies do not provide training unconditionally.

What should you be careful about when writing a resume? First, avoid overly long resumes. Long resumes reduce readability and are not attractive. Simply listing job skills like a technical specification is also not good. Companies want to know not only what tasks the candidate performed but also the results (including lessons learned from failures).

Here are some tips for writing a resume. First, quantify your achievements specifically. Second, focus on recent experience. Third, clearly state your role within the organization. Lastly, use keywords related to the field you are applying for to highlight your career. We live in a world where ‘attention’ is increasingly necessary. Now is the time to update your resume.

Moon Seon-kyung, Executive Director, Unico Search