My 5 minute series covers easy things you can do that’s a good return on your time. We covered interview prep  and networking. Now let’s talk about resumes!

As with interview prep and networking, you may feel like you can spend an unlimited time on your resume (hello decreasing marginal returns!). But if you only have 5 minutes for your resume, do at least one of these:

1. Add the latest metrics to your resume showing your impact. For example, include info on your resume like your product launched in ABC regions with XYZ new features, or you closed a $XX M&A deal, etc. If you can’t cite numbers, you can describe things, e.g., a matter was mission-critical, the largest of the [quarter/year/history]. Add if you counsel the C-suite/exec team, board, or multi-functional teams. Also add certifications, speaking engagements, cases/wins, awards, or publications to your resume and deal sheet/representative matters document.
2. Look up the latest job descriptions of what you do/want to do. See what’s new, and refresh your resume to include that information. (Beyond these 5 minutes, then focus on filling any holes in your skill set.)
3. Tailor your resume to the target job. How? Lead with relevant experience to that job, reframe the tangential, delete the irrelevant, and use language from the job description. See here for more.
4. Start a second resume for another area you are interested in. For example, if you do privacy and want to do more compliance, then create a general compliance resume and rearrange the order/emphasis.
5. Create an “I love me folder” containing compliments and performance reviews. This folder is helpful to assess your performance for a promotion/review and to update your resume/profile/deal sheet. It’s especially helpful when you are no longer with a company but need to list accomplishments from your time there; so, make sure you get/keep your reviews while you have access. And while you’re at it, you can also ask your legal ops team (or access your contract management software) for metrics showing your impact, e.g., # contracts closed, % time saved, decrease in $, etc. (And remember to keep your resume free of confidential information!)

And if you have a million more minutes, see here for things to do.