The New Year ushers in the feeling of starting anew, with a clean slate. Though some of the most popular New Year’s resolutions predictably include losing weight, improving diet, spending more time with family, and adopting a new hobby, did you know that pursuing a career ambition rounded out the top five resolutions? That’s according to data from a Statista survey of 1,500 Americans. 

If you’re reading this, you probably fall into the same group of individuals who plan to kick this year off with new career goals. Whether you want to get a promotion, make a lateral career move, or change careers altogether, the first step should involve building a new resume. According to Zippia, a professionally written resume increases earning potential and accelerates how quickly people land new jobs.

But there are other reasons a new resume will help you meet your career goals in 2023. 

A New Year, A New Resume 

The start of a new year is an opportune time for you to reconsider your career. In fact, The Wilbanks Consulting Group typically experiences an influx of activity during the first quarter of the year as individuals rev up their career momentum, often with a request for support in building a new resume. The level of excitement and pace of inquiries for fresh resumes this time of year is similar to that experienced by fitness facilities and gyms. 

Just as going to a gym can improve your health, physique, and self-esteem, a re-envisioned resume is an apt foundation for advancing your career goals. 2023 offers no better time to jumpstart the process. As the adage goes, there is no better time than the present. 

How a Resume Propels Career Goals

A new resume clarifies and activates strategic career action planning. Here are a few examples that building a new resume this year will propel you to achieve your career goals:

A new resume is a reminder of what you don’t want. The resume redevelopment process requires you to reflect on your previous work. Beyond resurfacing the daily duties and responsibilities of your former roles, this retrospective can also dredge up reactions that signal some very important ideas. And you should take notice. In thinking through prior positions, you will achieve a better understanding of what you no longer want or desire. In some cases, this process evokes a clear picture of new non-negotiables that can help you dig deeper into what you want out of workplace culture, the personality of future bosses, your own leadership philosophy and, of course, the routine daily activities in which most of your time will be spent.

A new resume in 2023 will serve as a refresher for what you do want. Reviewing your past career experience is an inherent part of creating a market-ready resume. In the process of working with a professional resume writer or career coach, you will likely be asked many questions about former roles, including your general duties and any highlights, like participating on special projects, earning awards, or achieving business goals. When thinking through the previous 10 to 15 years of experience, you’ll reach greater clarity. And part of this lucidity pertains to finding greater assurance about how you want to spend your workdays – the nature of the work, the environment, the type of company, and the daily responsibilities. 

A quality resume is a script for interview preparation. When you get a resume redeveloped with The Wilbanks Consulting Group, the process is rather rigorous. You will be asked various questions and may complete several exercises that enable your assigned resume writer to get a fuller understanding of your strengths, experiences, and career accomplishments. At first blush, it may not seem like a resume has much to do with job interviews. But a well-done resume is excellent preparation for interviews at every stage – phone screen, behavioral interview, multiple-round conversations, and even offer negotiation. 

New resumes help you discover what is possible. Reworking your resume helps you see the long view – often resulting in greater appreciation at how far you’ve come. This awareness can reawaken your sense of purpose and further help clarify your 2023 career goals. All too often, people discount their potential until they step back and see just how much progress they’ve made over time.

Expert Resume Consultation Available To You

Thinking about a new resume in 2023 to help advance your career goals? Then The Wilbanks Consulting Group is here to help. Our client-first approach will ensure that your perspective and needs are at the forefront, and you will be well-equipped to make a decision that is best for you. Contact us at info@wilbanksconsulting.com to learn more.