5 reasons to update your CV

As your career progresses so does your CV. Even the very best CVs need to be updated every once and a while. You shouldn’t wait until you are searching for a new role to give your CV a refresh. Keeping your CV updated is something you should do on a regular basis. Here are 5 reasons to update your CV.

It is outdated 

If you’ve been using the same CV for a while and your career or education has changed you should definitely think about updating your CV. 

You may have developed some new skills or gained a new qualification. Perhaps you’ve changed jobs or graduated from university or college. It could be that the layout needs a refresh. Remember, if your contact details change be sure to update the personal information section of your CV. After all, you don’t want the hiring manager to send the interview invitation to an old email address. 

You aren’t getting interviews 

It’s frustrating when you spend ages searching for jobs and filling out application forms only to hear nothing back. 

Whilst this could be for a number of reasons it may be worth having a look over your CV and giving it a refresh. After all, your CV is the first thing the hiring manager sees. 

Some things to double check: 

• Is the CV tailored to the job? 
• Is it too long or too short? 
• Are there any spelling or grammar mistakes? 

You’ve landed a new job 

If you’ve recently started a new job you should add this to the top of the employment section of your CV. Make sure to include your job title, company, start date and a summary of your main responsibilities. You could also highlight any special achievements (more on this later). 

Changing careers also means updating your personal statement. This is your CV’s opening paragraph that introduces you to the hiring manager and outlines your current employment situation. 

More Like This: Writing your CV personal statement 

New achievement or success 

Adding all your new achievements to your CV is not something you may not automatically think about (especially when you are not actively job-hunting). However, this will eventually save time in the long run and will avoid a mad dash to update your entire CV in one sitting. 

Think about the best section to add this to. If your achievement is linked to your employment or education you could include it under these sections. 

Some people create a specific section for their CV to share any achievements or successes. It’s best to use bullet points for this section and keep it as concise as possible. However, try to keep achievements tailored to the job you will be applying for. Remember, your CV has limited space which sadly means you cannot include all of the great things you have achieved. 

New qualification 

Taking part in a course or gaining a new qualification definitely increases your employability prospects. But prospective employers will only see this if you add them to your CV. 

Similarly to any new achievements, you should automatically add any new qualifications to your CV. Make sure you include the level of qualification, awarding body and the date you achieved it. 

Follow us on Twitter @BeInTheKnow_UK