A job application typically includes a request for a work history. Some of us may remember whipping out a black or blue pen and very carefully adding this information to the obnoxiously small section of the paper application designated for this purpose (I feel my hand cramping in sympathy right now). Nowadays, though, most people attach a resume to their application to cover this particular request.
I could get into a nice, deep rabbit hole about some of the resumes I've read, but we're going to stick to the broad topic of 'updated' and what that means. For those of us with a half a lick of common sense, our resume has the most up-to-date information relevant to the job application under consideration. For the rest of the people out there, the resume is whatever willy-nilly thing that happens to be on hand.
I could not begin to guess how many times I've asked someone if the last job listed on their resume was their most recent, and some amount of time after receiving a decisive “yes”, I find out later that they had worked elsewhere since that position.
I take it back: let’s guess. In fact, I guess that this happens eight out of ten times because it’s gotten to the point where my muscle memory now immediately follows the “yes” by asking if they've worked anywhere since that job.
huge sigh
Lately, to save myself some time later in the application process where it is truly annoying to find this information, I ask relatively early on if they have an updated resume they can send over for consideration. I'm not interested in doing a full interview with someone who tells me the job listed on their resume from 2019 is their most recent, but they just left their last job 2 weeks ago.
Some people oblige and email in their resume.
Some don't.
I recently spoke to a guy who didn't seem to understand the concept of 'updated'. I called him after he emailed in a resume as requested.
Me: It doesn't look like the resume you sent in is the most up-to-date. Do you have an updated resume to send us?
Candidate: I just sent it to you.
Me: Yes, and what you sent was received, but the last job listed here is from XXXX, and you said you have worked since that job.
Candidate: Yeah, I have.
Me: Ok, so please send in an updated resume.
Candidate: You said you got it!
Me: I got a resume. Not your updated one.
Candidate: I don't know how more updated it can get when you got it right after I sent it.
Me: [silence]
Candidate: Hello?
Me: I'm here. I don't think you sent the correct resume. Do you have one listing your most recent job? An updated one?
Candidate: The one I sent is the only one I got, and it's as updated as I can get it since you got it right away.
Me: [once realization hits] Sir, you need to edit the resume to include the jobs you've worked since XXXX. Once you add those jobs, please email it over again for consideration. Thank you.
When we ask for an updated resume, we're asking for it to include your work history up to the present date. A half-compiled list of old jobs that stops five or six years ago being sent immediately upon request is not what we need. It doesn't matter that we got it right away. That's not what updated means.
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