Whether you are digging out from yet another snowstorm or already fighting the urge to hit the golf course, spring is a great time to focus on new beginnings, starting fresh, and of course, cleaning up your resume. Take some time over the next few weeks to do a little spring cleaning with your resume—even if you think you will not be looking for a job this year.

• Clean out the jargon. Read over your resume and make sure that it is a good reflection of YOU. While you want to show how well you understand your industry, your resume should be a reflection of what makes you stand above the competition. Replacing overly-used words and unnecessary jargon with phrases that promote your personal brand is an important step to keeping a polished resume.
• Dust off the cover. Take some time to change the colors or font—while keeping it professional—and check for consistency in alignment and spacing. Read over your resume to make sure there are no typos or grammatical errors.
• Fill in the holes. If your resume has been sitting unused for a while, it probably has some holes that need to be filled in. Take some time to revise your skills and accomplishments, add recent volunteer experiences or professional accomplishments, and update your contact information.
• Add some new accessories. While you are cleaning out your resume, take a few minutes to modify your LinkedIn profile. This is becoming an increasingly popular resource for job seekers and hiring managers alike; be sure your profile looks as good as possible! Along with updating the resume portion of your profile, consider adding some new terms into the “Skills and Expertise” section.

Now that you have polished up your resume, consider putting it to use! Let spring become a chance for you to find a new beginning in your career or job search.