How to Update Your Resume After a Layoff

Your resume is your first impression with potential employers. After a layoff, it needs to be sharp, targeted, and ready to explain your situation positively. Here's how to update it effectively.

Before You Start: Gather Your Materials

Before touching your resume, collect:

• Your old resume(s)
• Job descriptions for roles you want
• List of accomplishments from your last job
• Performance reviews (if you saved them)
• Any metrics or numbers you can document
• Awards, recognition, or certifications earned
• Project documentation or portfolio samples
• Email commendations from managers or clients

Having these materials ready will make writing achievement-focused bullets much easier. You'll be able to pull specific numbers, dates, and results rather than relying on memory.

Step 1: Update Your Contact Information

Simple but often overlooked:

• Current phone number
• Professional email (firstname.lastname@email.com, not partyboy99@...)
• LinkedIn URL (customized: linkedin.com/in/yourname)
• City/State (full address no longer necessary)
• Remove: birthdate, marital status, photos (in the US)

Pro tip: Create a professional email address if you don't have one. Free Gmail accounts work fine. Your email address should be some variation of your name, not a nickname or hobby reference.

Step 2: Write a Strong Summary

Replace the old-fashioned "Objective" with a professional summary.

Bad:

Objective: Seeking a challenging position in marketing where I can utilize my skills.

Good:

Marketing professional with 8+ years of experience driving growth for B2B SaaS companies. Led demand generation initiatives that increased pipeline by 150% and reduced CAC by 30%. Skilled in marketing automation, analytics, and cross-functional leadership.

Formula:
[Title/Identity] with [X years] of experience in [area]. [Top 1-2 achievements with numbers]. [Key skills relevant to target role].

Your summary should be 3-5 lines maximum. Think of it as your elevator pitch in written form. It should immediately communicate:

• Who you are professionally
• What you've accomplished
• What value you bring

Tailor this section for each application. If you're applying for a leadership role, emphasize management experience. If it's an individual contributor role, highlight your technical expertise and project successes.

Step 3: Update Your Experience Section

Add Your Most Recent Role

Yes, include the job you were laid off from. Leaving it off creates a bigger gap and raises more questions than it answers.

Format:

COMPANY NAME — City, State
Job Title | Month Year – Month Year

• Achievement-focused bullet point with metric
• Achievement-focused bullet point with metric
• Achievement-focused bullet point with metric

Write Achievement-Focused Bullets

This is where most resumes fall flat. Don't just list what you were responsible for—show what you accomplished.

Bad bullets (task-focused):

• Responsible for managing social media accounts
• Handled customer complaints
• Attended weekly team meetings

Good bullets (achievement-focused):

• Grew social media following by 200% in 12 months, generating 50+ qualified leads monthly
• Resolved customer complaints with 95% satisfaction rate, reducing churn by 15%
• Led cross-functional meetings to improve project delivery time by 25%

See the difference? The first set tells what you did. The second set shows the impact you made.

The STAR Method for Bullets

Situation → Task → Ation → Result

But for resumes, focus on Action + Result:

• [Action verb] + [what you did] + [quantified result]

Examples:

• Increased revenue 40% by implementing new sales process
• Reduced costs $500K annually through vendor renegotiation
• Led team of 12 engineers delivering product 3 weeks ahead of schedule
• Launched new product line generating $2M in first-year revenue

Quantify Everything

Numbers make your accomplishments concrete and credible. They transform vague claims into verifiable achievements.

Weak	Strong
Increased sales	Increased sales 45% YoY
Managed large budget	Managed $2.5M annual budget
Led team	Led team of 8 across 3 time zones
Improved efficiency	Reduced processing time from 5 days to 2 hours
Handled many clients	Managed portfolio of 50+ enterprise clients

If you don't have exact numbers:

• Use ranges: "50-75 clients"
• Use approximations: "approximately $1M"
• Use comparisons: "20% above team average"
• Use percentages: "increased by ~30%"
• Use timeframes: "reduced processing time from days to hours"

Even if you can't remember exact figures, educated estimates based on your knowledge are better than no numbers at all. Just make sure you can speak to them if asked in an interview.

Crafting Strong Accomplishment Statements

Let's break down what makes an accomplishment statement effective:

1. Start with a strong action verb
Avoid passive language like "was responsible for" or "helped with." Use definitive verbs: achieved, exceeded, launched, spearheaded, transformed, optimized.

2. Add context
What was the situation or challenge? This doesn't need to be long, but a brief phrase helps.

3. Describe what you did
Be specific about your actions and approach.

4. Quantify the result
The impact you made, measured in numbers, percentages, time saved, or money earned/saved.

Example breakdown:
"Spearheaded customer retention initiative, implementing automated email campaigns and personalized outreach, increasing repeat purchases by 35% and generating $450K in additional revenue."

• Action verb: Spearheaded
• Context: Customer retention initiative
• What you did: Implemented automated email campaigns and personalized outreach
• Result: Increased repeat purchases by 35% and generated $450K in additional revenue

How Many Bullets Per Job?

• Current/most recent role: 5-7 bullets
• Previous roles (last 5 years): 3-5 bullets
• Older roles: 2-3 bullets or just a one-line summary

The more recent and relevant the role, the more detail you should include.

Step 4: Handle the Layoff on Your Resume

You Don't Need to Explain on the Resume

Your resume doesn't need to say "laid off" anywhere. Just list your dates accurately.

The resume is a marketing document, not a confessional. Save the explanation for the cover letter or interview. On your resume, simply present the facts: your dates of employment and what you accomplished during that time.

If There's a Gap

If you have a gap between your layoff and now:

Option 1: Use years only (if gap is less than a year)

Senior Marketing Manager | 2021 – 2024

Instead of:

Senior Marketing Manager | March 2021 – January 2024

This works best when you were laid off late in one year and might land a job early the next. It's not dishonest—you did work those years.

Option 2: Fill the gap with activity

Career Transition | February 2024 – Present
• Completed Google Analytics certification
• Freelance consulting for 3 clients
• Volunteered as marketing advisor for local nonprofit

This shows you've been productive during your job search. Include real activities: courses, certifications, freelance work, consulting, volunteer work, or skill development.

Option 3: Be straightforward

Marketing Manager | ABC Company | 2021 – 2024
(Position eliminated in company restructuring)

A brief, neutral explanation can preempt questions. Use phrases like "position eliminated," "company restructuring," or "organizational changes" rather than "laid off" or "fired."

Addressing Short Tenures

If you were laid off from a role you held for less than a year, you might worry about how it looks. Here's how to handle it:

• Don't hide it. Include the role with accurate dates.
• Focus on accomplishments. Even in a short time, you made contributions.
• Use specific language. "Contract role," "project-based engagement," or "position eliminated during company-wide restructuring" provides context.

Remember: layoffs are increasingly common. Recruiters understand this reality.

Step 5: Optimize for ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems)

Most companies use software to scan resumes before humans see them. Getting past the ATS is crucial—if the system rejects your resume, no human will ever read it.

How ATS Works

Applicant Tracking Systems scan your resume for:

• Keywords matching the job description
• Proper formatting they can parse
• Required qualifications like degrees or certifications
• Work history patterns

The system ranks resumes based on how well they match the job requirements. Top-ranked resumes get reviewed by humans; the rest might never be seen.

ATS-Friendly Formatting Rules

Do:

• Use standard section headings (Experience, Education, Skills, Summary)
• Include keywords from the job description
• Use a clean, simple format with clear hierarchy
• Save as .docx or .pdf (check job posting requirements—some systems prefer .docx)
• Use standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, Georgia)
• Use standard bullet points (•, -, or ●)
• Left-align all content
• Use simple formatting (bold and italics are fine)

Don't:

• Use tables, columns, or text boxes (ATS can't read them properly)
• Use headers/footers for important info (often ignored by ATS)
• Use graphics, icons, images, or logos
• Use creative section titles ("Where I've Made Impact" instead of "Experience")
• Use uncommon file formats (.pages, .odt)
• Use text as images
• Use colored backgrounds or borders
• Use unusual fonts or font sizes below 10pt

Advanced ATS Optimization

1. Match job title keywords
If the job posting says "Senior Marketing Manager," don't just say you were a "Marketing Lead." Include the exact title they're looking for somewhere—either in your summary or as an alternate title if accurate.

2. Include acronyms and full terms
Write "Search Engine Optimization (SEO)" instead of just "SEO." Some systems search for the full term; others search for the acronym. Cover both bases.

3. Use a skills section strategically
Create a dedicated skills section with keywords from the job posting. This gives the ATS multiple chances to find matches.

4. Avoid keyword stuffing
Don't add invisible white text or list keywords randomly. ATS systems (and humans) flag this as gaming the system. Keywords should appear naturally in context.

Keyword Optimization

1. Read the job description carefully
2. Identify key skills and requirements
3. Include those exact words in your resume (if you have them)
4. Don't keyword stuff—it should read naturally

Example:
Job description says: "Experience with Salesforce, HubSpot, and marketing automation"

Your resume should include: "Salesforce," "HubSpot," "marketing automation" (not synonyms)

Testing Your Resume for ATS

Free tools to test ATS compatibility:

• Jobscan (scans your resume against specific job descriptions)
• Resume Worded (free ATS checker)
• Copy-paste your resume into a plain text editor—if it looks readable, it's probably ATS-friendly

If your beautiful, designed resume turns into gibberish in plain text, the ATS can't read it either.

Step 6: Tailor for Each Application

This is the most time-consuming step, but it's also the most important for getting interviews.

One resume doesn't fit all. For each application:

1. Adjust your summary to match the role
2. Reorder bullet points to highlight most relevant experience
3. Add/remove skills based on job requirements
4. Mirror language from the job description
5. Emphasize relevant projects over less relevant ones

This takes more time but dramatically improves results.

The Tailoring Process

Step 1: Analyze the job description

• Highlight required skills and qualifications
• Note preferred qualifications
• Identify key responsibilities
• Look for repeated words or phrases (these are priorities)

Step 2: Create a master resume
Keep a comprehensive master resume with everything you've ever done. This is your source document for tailoring.

Step 3: Customize for each role
Pull the most relevant items from your master resume. You're not rewriting from scratch each time—you're rearranging and emphasizing different elements.

Step 4: Use their language
If they say "stakeholder management," don't say "client relations." Use their exact terminology.

Example of tailoring:

Job A: Emphasizes leadership and strategy
Your summary: "Strategic marketing leader with 10+ years driving growth initiatives..."
Top bullets: Team leadership, strategy development, budget management

Job B: Emphasizes technical execution
Your summary: "Marketing specialist with deep expertise in marketing automation and analytics..."
Top bullets: Campaign execution, technical implementations, data analysis

Same person, same experience—different emphasis.

Resume Format Recommendations

Chronological (Most Common)

Best for: Consistent work history, staying in same field

Summary
Experience (most recent first)
Education
Skills

Advantages:

• ATS-friendly
• Easy to follow
• Shows career progression
• Preferred by most recruiters

Disadvantages:

• Highlights gaps
• May emphasize irrelevant experience
• Can show age if you have a long history

Functional (Use Carefully)

Best for: Career changers, significant gaps
Note: Many recruiters dislike this format

Summary
Skills/Areas of Expertise
Selected Achievements
Work History (brief)
Education

Advantages:

• Minimizes gaps
• Emphasizes skills over timeline
• Good for career changers

Disadvantages:

• Recruiters are suspicious of this format
• Difficult for ATS to parse
• Hides career progression
• Makes it hard to verify claims

Our recommendation: Avoid functional resumes unless you have very specific reasons (major career change, significant gaps). Even then, consider a combination format instead.

Combination

Best for: Experienced professionals, career transitions

Summary
Core Competencies
Experience (with achievements)
Education
Additional (certifications, volunteer work)

Advantages:

• Highlights skills upfront
• Maintains chronological work history
• Flexible format
• ATS-friendly

Disadvantages:

• Can be longer
• Requires more careful organization
• Risk of redundancy

Choosing Your Format

For most people post-layoff, we recommend the chronological format or a combination format. Both are ATS-friendly and recruiter-approved.

Use functional format only if:

• You're making a significant career change
• You have major gaps (multiple years)
• Your most recent experience isn't relevant to target role

Even then, proceed with caution.

What to Remove

Remove if older than 10-15 years:

• Jobs from early career (unless highly relevant)
• Outdated skills (Windows 95, anyone?)
• Old certifications (unless still current)
• Early education (if you have higher degrees)

Always remove:

• "References available upon request" (assumed)
• Salary information (current or past)
• Personal information (age, marital status, photo in the US)
• Reasons for leaving previous jobs
• Every task you ever did (focus on achievements)
• Irrelevant hobbies (unless directly relevant to the job)
• High school information (if you have a college degree)

How to Handle Older Experience

If you have 20+ years of experience, you don't need to list every job. Consider:

Option 1: Early Career summary

EARLY CAREER
Marketing roles at ABC Corp, XYZ Inc., and DEF Company (1998-2008)

Option 2: Relevant positions only
Only include older roles if they're highly relevant to your target position.

Option 3: Abbreviated older roles

MARKETING MANAGER | Old Company | 2005-2008
Led regional marketing initiatives for consumer products division.

Just one line instead of multiple bullets.

Length Guidelines

Career Level	Recommended Length
Entry level (0-5 years)	1 page
Mid-level (5-15 years)	1-2 pages
Senior/Executive (15+ years)	2 pages
Academic/Federal	Longer CVs acceptable

Rule: Every line should add value. Cut ruthlessly.

The "one-page resume" rule is outdated for experienced professionals. However, if you're stretching to fill two pages with filler content, stick to one strong page. Quality trumps quantity.

How to shorten your resume:

• Remove older roles
• Cut weak bullet points
• Consolidate skills section
• Reduce education details
• Remove certifications that expired

How to expand your resume (if truly needed):

• Add more detail to recent roles
• Include relevant projects
• Add certifications and training
• Include professional affiliations
• Add volunteer work if relevant

Common Resume Mistakes to Avoid

1. Spelling and Grammar Errors

Nothing kills your credibility faster than typos. Common mistakes:

• Wrong company names
• Inconsistent verb tenses (past roles should be past tense)
• "Manger" instead of "Manager"
• Incorrect dates
• Missing punctuation

Fix: Proofread multiple times. Use spell check. Read it backwards. Have someone else review it.

2. Formatting Inconsistencies

• Bullets that don't align
• Random font changes
• Inconsistent date formats (some "Jan 2020," others "January 2020")
• Different spacing between sections
• Mixed bullet styles (•, -, ●, ▪)

Fix: Create a template with consistent formatting rules and stick to it.

3. Generic Language

"Results-oriented professional with excellent communication skills seeking a challenging opportunity..."

This could describe anyone. Be specific.

Fix: Use concrete examples and specific details.

4. Missing Keywords

If the job posting emphasizes "project management" but you only mention "coordinating initiatives," the ATS might not catch it.

Fix: Use exact keywords from the job description (when accurate).

5. Too Much Jargon

Industry-specific acronyms are fine, but overly technical language can alienate HR screeners.

Fix: Assume your resume will be read by both technical and non-technical people.

6. Including Irrelevant Information

• Your complete work history since age 16
• Every hobby and interest
• Personal details (height, weight, marital status)
• Political or religious affiliations (unless relevant)

Fix: Only include information that strengthens your candidacy for this specific role.

7. Underselling Your Achievements

"Assisted with project that improved sales."

You didn't just assist—what was your specific contribution?

Fix: Take credit for your work. Use strong action verbs.

8. Lying or Exaggerating

Extending dates, inflating titles, claiming degrees you don't have—these will get you fired if discovered.

Fix: Be honest. You can frame things positively without lying.

9. Using Personal Pronouns

"I led a team of 10..." or "My responsibilities included..."

Fix: Resumes are written in first person implied. Start bullets with action verbs, not "I."

10. Overdesigning

Graphics, colors, unusual fonts, icons, charts, and creative layouts might look good but often fail ATS parsing.

Fix: Keep design clean and simple. Save creativity for your portfolio.

Quick Wins

Strong Action Verbs

Leadership	Achievement	Creation	Analysis
Led	Achieved	Built	Analyzed
Directed	Exceeded	Created	Evaluated
Managed	Improved	Designed	Identified
Oversaw	Increased	Developed	Investigated
Supervised	Reduced	Launched	Researched
Mentored	Accelerated	Established	Assessed
Coordinated	Maximized	Founded	Examined
Spearheaded	Outperformed	Generated	Measured

Vary your verbs. Don't start every bullet with "Managed" or "Led."

Skills Section

Include a mix of:

• Technical skills: Software, tools, platforms
• Certifications: Industry certifications, training
• Languages: If relevant (include proficiency level)
• Methodologies: Agile, Six Sigma, Design Thinking, etc.

Example:

Skills: Salesforce, HubSpot, Google Analytics, SQL, Tableau,
        Marketing Automation, A/B Testing, Agile/Scrum

Tips for skills section:

• Organize by category if you have many skills
• Only include skills you can actually discuss in an interview
• Prioritize skills mentioned in the job description
• Remove outdated skills unless the job requires them

Education Section

What to include:

• Degree type and major
• Institution name
• Graduation year (optional if 15+ years ago)
• Honors (cum laude, Dean's List)
• Relevant coursework (if entry-level or career changing)

What to skip:

• GPA (unless requested or you're entry-level with 3.5+)
• High school (if you have a college degree)
• Unfinished degrees (unless close to completion)

Format:

Bachelor of Science in Marketing
University of State | 2015

Or if recent graduate:

Bachelor of Science in Marketing, Magna Cum Laude
University of State | May 2023
GPA: 3.8/4.0 | Dean's List all semesters

Final Checklist

Before sending your resume:

• [ ] No spelling or grammar errors
• [ ] Consistent formatting (fonts, spacing, bullets)
• [ ] Contact info is current
• [ ] All dates are accurate
• [ ] Achievements are quantified where possible
• [ ] Keywords match job description
• [ ] File name is professional (FirstName_LastName_Resume.pdf)
• [ ] File format matches requirements (.docx or .pdf)
• [ ] Someone else has proofread it
• [ ] LinkedIn profile matches resume dates and titles
• [ ] Passes ATS test (checked with free tool)
• [ ] Printed copy looks good (margins, spacing)
• [ ] No personal pronouns ("I," "me," "my")
• [ ] All bullet points start with action verbs
• [ ] No unexplained gaps
• [ ] Tailored to this specific job

Getting Feedback

Before mass applying, get feedback from:

• Former colleague in your industry
• Friend in HR or recruiting
• Professional resume reviewer (if budget allows)
• LinkedIn connections who've recently job searched
• Industry-specific resume reviewers
• Career coaches

Ask specifically:

• Is my summary compelling?
• Do my achievements stand out?
• Would you interview me based on this?
• What's missing?
• What would you remove?
• Does the format work with ATS?
• Are there any red flags?

Where to get free reviews:

• Reddit communities (r/resumes, r/jobs)
• LinkedIn groups for your industry
• Local career centers
• Alumni networks
• Professional associations

Be specific about the roles you're targeting when asking for feedback. A resume that works for one role might not work for another.

Version Control and Organization

Keep multiple versions organized:

Naming convention:

• FirstName_LastName_Resume_Master.docx (your complete history)
• FirstName_LastName_Resume_Marketing.docx (tailored version)
• FirstName_LastName_Resume_CompanyName.docx (company-specific version)

Track what you send:
Create a spreadsheet tracking which resume version you sent to which company. This helps you remember what you claimed when they call for an interview.

Tools and Resources

Resume builders:

• Google Docs templates (free, ATS-friendly)
• Microsoft Word templates (free)
• Canva (beautiful but check ATS compatibility)
• Novoresume (freemium)

ATS testing:

• Jobscan (free limited scans)
• Resume Worded (free)
• TopResume (free ATS scan)

Proofreading:

• Grammarly (free basic version)
• Hemingway Editor (readability)
• Read aloud feature in Word/Google Docs

Keyword optimization:

• Analyze job descriptions with word cloud tools
• Use Jobscan to compare your resume to job postings

What Comes Next

Your resume is just one piece of the puzzle. Once it's polished:

1. Update your LinkedIn to match
2. Prepare your cover letter templates
3. Build a tracking system for applications
4. Practice explaining gaps for interviews
5. Prepare your references

Your resume opens doors. Your interview skills get you hired.

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Key Takeaways

1. Focus on achievements, not tasks — Numbers and results matter more than responsibilities
2. Optimize for ATS — Use keywords and clean formatting to get past automated screening
3. Tailor each application — Customize your resume for each role you apply to
4. You don't need to explain the layoff — Just list dates accurately and save explanations for interviews
5. Keep it concise — Every line should earn its place; cut ruthlessly
6. Proofread meticulously — Errors undermine your credibility instantly
7. Quantify everything possible — Numbers make your impact concrete and verifiable
8. Use strong action verbs — Start bullets with powerful verbs that show impact
9. Update regularly — Keep your master resume current with new achievements
10. Test before sending — Always check formatting and run through ATS checkers

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Related Resources:

• How to Explain a Layoff in Interviews →
• LinkedIn Optimization →
• Networking Strategies →
• Job Application Tracker →
• Rebuilding Confidence After Layoff →