Your resume works as a marketing tool and your professional identity on paper.
It is your first chance to let the recruiter know about yourself.
But as your career grows, so does the need to update your CV arise.
However, many professionals fall into these common time-consuming traps of rewriting their resumes.
The truth is, you don’t always need to start fresh and rewrite your resume.
Depending on your career story and goals, making some relevant changes is enough to land your next dream career.
And maybe, a CV editing service is what you need by your side right now.
So if you are confused between rewriting and editing, this blog will help you with it! Keep reading to learn the right scenario for each approach.
Editing And Rewriting- What Is The Main Difference Between These Two?
Before choosing any one approach, you need to be sure of both actions. Here is what each of them focuses on,
Editing
Editing focuses on making relevant changes to your resume without significantly altering its tone or structure.
The whole document isn’t changed; instead, you update information, refine language, and improve the tone.
Here is what a professional resume editing service does on your document
- Adds any new job roles or achievements
- Updates your skill section
- Improves formatting with bullet points
- Polishes language
- Eliminates typos and grammatical errors
Rewriting
Rewriting comes with a complete start over. It comes as another chance for rebranding your professional image.
For rewriting, you need to sit down and think about your career again.
Here is what a rewrite typically includes,
- Eliminating the outdated content from your resume
- Writing a new description or professional summary
- Focusing on new industries
- Rebuilding the narrative about yourself
- Changing the layout of your resume
A rewrite is usually required when you are changing your field and career. In other scenarios, a CV editing service is all you need.
When Editing Is An Efficient Choice For Your Resume
Especially when there is no major shift in your career objectives, this is one of the most efficient techniques.
So, when should you choose to edit instead of a complete rewrite? Let’s take a look at some of the scenarios where editing is sufficient.
When You Are Not Changing Your Industry
If you are seeking a job role within the same industry, you don’t need to change the tone and structure of your resume.
For instance, if you are a marketing expert, switching to another position, you need to edit your resume only.
If you have no idea regarding how to edit or even rewrite, consulting a professional and reputable CV writing service NZ would be a better option.
Editing technique,
- Mention the most recent project you have completed
- Add the metrics from your performance
- Highlight any new certifications relevant to the industry
- You Are Applying For A Senior Position
If you are planning to get promoted, editing your resume will work in this case.
The experience mentioned doesn’t need to be changed; you just need to highlight your leadership capabilities.
Here is how you can show your impact by editing the resume
- Demonstrate your role in the team’s success
- Add measurable results
- Edit your personal summary to show that you are prepared for growth opportunities.
Your Experience Aligns With Your Job Role
If your experience is relevant to the role you have applied for, there is no need to rewrite the whole resume.
For instance, you have been writing for 10 years, and you are applying for another writing role.
The experience mentioned in your resume would be relevant; you just need to optimize the presentation.
According to professional CV writers, here is how to edit this part,
- Polish your job description
- Eliminate old roles that have no value
- Mention new accomplishments
You Have Limited Time
When you don’t want to miss out on a job posting, there is no need to create your resume from scratch. Just open the resume you have and start editing it.
- Bring the most relevant sections to the top.
- Edit your summary and skills according to the role.
- Remove extra details to keep the resume concise.
A well-edited, clean resume can still grab the attention of the recruiter without overwhelming them.
Your Current Resume Has Helped You Land Roles
If your current resume has opened interview opportunities for you, it is likely to work in the long run! Just make sure to make a few changes, and you are good to go!
Just make sure to ask yourself,
- Did I get a positive response to my resume?
- Does it represent your professional identity?
- Is there any latest experience I need to add?
How To Edit Your Resume? The Perfect Secret To Polishing Your Document
This is what you should keep in mind while editing your resume.
Choose An Appropriate Resume Format
Depending on your work history or objectives, you need to choose from the following formats,
- Chronological
- Functional
- Combination
Analyze the style that will reflect your skills and experiences in the best possible manner.
Improve The Fonts And Margins
Research shows that resumes with poor formatting can lead to instant rejection. This is why clean, professional formatting is mandatory in your documents.
Focus on
- Using consistent spacing
- Aligning margins and indents
- Using an easy-to-read font
- Keeping your font size between 10 to 12 points
Match The Job Description
This is one of the most significant tips suggested by a CV editing service!
While editing your resume, you need to ensure that your information meets the job description you have applied for.
So focus on avoiding generic content and add accomplishments that are strictly tailored to the job role.
Integrate Keywords In Your Resume
Keywords are a highly important aspect of your resume. What may look like a bunch of letters together is a powerful asset that helps you pass the ATS filters!
So make sure to add relevant keywords throughout your resume. However, you need to ensure that you avoid overstuffing them.
Pro tip: The Majority of them are present in the job descriptions.
Write a compelling summary statement
A summary statement is usually present at the top of your resume. It talks about how your skills and experiences align with the job role. However, you don’t need to keep it vague.
Edit it and turn it into an attention-grabbing sentence that sets you apart from other candidates.
Quantify your achievements
Any part of your resume that talks about your accomplishments without quantifying them will have no impact!
This is the reason you need to add numbers and tell the value you bring with your performance.
Use Powerful Action Verbs
While editing your resume, you need to eliminate passive verbs from your resume. Try to integrate active verbs, which will make your resume more dynamic and impressive.
Proofread Your Resume
While editing, don’t forget to proofread your resume as well. Focusing on these important aspects shows your attention to detail.
If you are proofreading the resume yourself, then you need to
- Read your resume yourself
- Keep your resume aside, read it after a few days
- Work with a professional resume writer and take their feedback
- Ask a friend to read the document for you
Add Your Skills
The skill section is one of the most important components of your resume. Many candidates struggle to present their skills the right way.
Make sure to,
- Use bullet points
- Be specific
- Create a separate section
Editing Efforts That You Don’t Need To Make
While editing your resume, there are some things that you don’t need to put unnecessary effort into.
These are,
Sharing Private Information
While editing your resume, you have to avoid adding confidential information. From marital status to religion, any extra piece of information would just occupy extra space on your resume, nothing else.
Expressing Negativity In Your Resume
Your resume is a professional document. Make sure to avoid the use of any negative remarks or emotions regarding your previous job role. While editing the content of your resume, remember to use a neutral tone consistently.
Convert Your Resume Into A Lengthy Document
According to research, 17% of hiring managers do not accept resumes that are longer than two pages.
So whenever you are editing, remember one thing: add only valuable content that matters for the job role.
Something Related To Your Routine
Read the job description carefully. If it asks for any of your hobbies, you can mention them.
Otherwise, you need to edit and remove any information that is outside the professional environment.
Listing Basic Skills
Depending on your job role, you need to edit a few skills as well.
If your resume heavily focuses on common skills such as computer literacy and communication, they should be edited as well.
Instead, you should mention job-specific skills that represent you as an ideal candidate.
Wrapping Up
Your resume communicates your value confidently and clearly. So, only rewrite it when you need to redirect and you feel unfocused in a particular industry. But if your experience aligns with the current role, editing is the top choice for opening new doors at every stage of your journey. Remember, always rewriting your resume isn’t the solution. Editing can do the job perfectly as well! And if you are still confused, there is nothing wrong with contacting a CV editing service!