What factors are most important to consider as I update my resume?

Question:

I have been practicing law for the last three years and am getting ready to begin a new job search. I have not revised my resume since law school and was wondering what I should focus on/what factors are most important to consider as I update my resume?


Answer:

A great resume can make the difference between landing a job interview and not landing one. The best resumes will be concisely and efficiently drafted, will thoroughly describe all relevant experience, will answer as many questions as possible about your work history and will contain as little extraneous or irrelevant information as possible.

There are many factors to consider when updating or revising a resume and you will be well-served to consider your audience when making your revisions.For law firm applications, you will want to focus on highlighting your legal and related professional experience, educational credentials, bar admissions, any relevant publications and all additional information that highlights your legal achievements. Relatedly, you should highlight some relevant transactions or engagements to give a prospective employer a better sense of your clients, the industry sectors you service and your level of responsibility on matters.

When updating your resume, it is important to use effective formatting so that the reader’s eye easily travels down the page and quickly recognizes important highlights, such as law school and university names, current and former employers, languages spoken and bar admissions. You should make use of bolding, italicizing and underlining to highlight this information. Avoid clutter and fonts that are too small or difficult to read.

When explaining your work experience, keep in mind that often the first person to review your resume is not a lawyer or may not be well-versed in every form of legalese. Thus it pays to explain your experience clearly and to reference all relevant keywords, statutes, practice specialties and other information that will assist a reader in discerning your breadth of experience. If you are applying for a specific position, pay close attention to the skill set required for the position and make sure you address each component of the job requirement so that the reader can readily see the correlation between what they are seeking and what you have done.

The components of a resume will differ depending on your experience level, your title (i.e., associate, counsel or partner), your practice area and the type of position you are applying for. While the above is not intended to be all-inclusive, it will hopefully serve as a good starting point for you!
 

• See 6 Things Attorneys and Law Students Need to Remove from Their Resumes ASAP If They Want to Get Jobs with the Most Prestigious Law Firms for more information.