One of the most important parts of job searching is the process of updating your resume--you need new, exciting information to gain prospective employers' attention. Most likely you were able to gain a great deal of experience in your latest position, so you should have plenty to add to your resume.

However, this can lead to a very specific and all-too-often neglected problem: a cluttered, packed resume is nearly unreadable for hiring managers. So now, your job is to declutter it before sending it out to be considered. Here are some tips to help you clean it up …

Rethink Your Career Goal

One way to clean up your resume is to rethink exactly what it is you’re looking for in your career. You don't need to find a job that mirrors your last position, especially if you didn't like your last job. You may feel ready to shift gears a bit.

Or you may want to remain in the same area, but with a more specific focus. Whatever your goal may be, it’s important to define it and use it to guide you through the rest of the resume. Taking a few minutes to get your focus will allow you to take a more objective, unbiased look at our accomplishments and skills, and your job search will become quite a bit easier as a result.

Clean Up Your Employment History / Work Experience

Another important step in decluttering your resume is to clean up your work history. There are a few ways to get this done. If you worked at your last employer for over 20 years, you could keep the job information but adjust what details you share.

On the other hand, if you’ve had a number of employers, you not only will want to rethink what details should be included under each position, but also rethink which positions should be included. Much of this will be determined by the job you’re applying for. The idea here is to match the details listed in your job history to the job that you're trying to get--try to make yourself the ideal candidate for the job. That could mean that you might eliminate some details from each job, or eliminate some jobs if they’re not relevant.

What Would You Want to See (if You Were an Employer)

One great way to eliminate unnecessary information from your resume is to take the position of an employer as you read it. Think about what you would look for if someone was coming to work for you. You might look for keywords rather than reading the entire resume, particularly busy. You might also look for technology that you wouldn’t have to train them on, as well as any awards that show just how extraordinary they really are. As you’re writing your resume, it’s good to think in terms of what an employer may want to know about you.

By taking the steps necessary to declutter your resume, you could give yourself career direction and ensure that you present the best resume possible for position you’re applying for.