The Easiest Way to Update Your CV

If you are actively seeking a new job, then it’s probably time to update your CV. After all, your CV is a showcase of your most important and relevant skills, so it pays to make sure that it always contains the work experience, certifications, and achievements that best showcase your capabilities. But even if things haven’t changed, it’s important to update your CV for every job application. Here’s how to do it.

Unless you are leaving a job title that you have held for a very short period of time (less than one year, for example), it is likely that you have gained experience, achievements, or new skills that are notable. Therefore, it is always a good idea to update your CV when you are leaving a long-term position. There are other good reasons for job seekers to update their professional CVs, of course, even if they are moving on from a very brief position. The best reasons to update your CV are:

• To adjust it to suit a specific position or job description
• To showcase the most relevant skills and achievements for the role you are applying for
• To ensure that it is acceptable for applicant tracking systems (ATS) that scan your CV
• To make sure it looks modern and professional
  To support a career change
• To ensure it matches an updated cover letter

These are some of the most common reasons for updating your CV regularly, but you really need only one: an up-to-date CV will make a good first impression on hiring managers and recruiters, making it more likely that you will land a job interview. Of course, your chance of success is linked directly to your CV writing skills.

When it comes time to update an old CV for a new job search, there are a number of things to keep in mind. First and foremost, consider the CV template that you are currently using – is it modern, or does it look dated? No matter how up-to-date your CV work history and skills sections are, a dated design will put hiring managers off. Secondly, consider your CV summary and contact information. Is your contact information up-to-date? Have you included your most recent phone number and email details? Finally, consider the body of your CV – are all your skills and job titles present? Do you need to add a new section for internships or awards?

If you are in the middle of a career change, you should also consider changing your CV format. If you used to work in a very traditional field, like law, for example, but you are moving to a creative industry, then it may be beneficial to switch away from a professional format to a more creative one. Even if you are staying in the same kind of industry, a career change may make it better to switch to a functional format in order to compensate for your lack of experience.

When your CV is more than a year or two old, updating it can be more of an overhaul than a refining process. The CVHelp’s CV builder is a great tool for people who need to create a whole new look for their CV.

If you recently updated your CV (for example, within the last one to two years), then it is likely that your format is still going to be perfectly acceptable. In these cases, it is more important to ensure that your CV writing skills are sharp and adjust the basis of your CV to suit the roles that you are applying for. If you tailor your CV and cover letter to suit each job posting that you apply for, then you will seriously increase your chances of making a great impression on potential employers. Here are the things you should be thinking about when updating your CV:

• The details of the job description

  You should list the key skills, certifications, and experiences that best match the needs of the job you are applying for. For example, if you are moving up to a management position, you should focus on your leadership skills more than the interpersonal skills that are needed for customer-centric roles.

• The keywords used in the job posting

  Applicant tracking systems are very common now. They assess CVs based on the presence or absence of certain keywords that tie in with the job description. Try to match your skills and experiences with those used in the job posting to ensure that your CV is ATS-friendly.

• Transferable and supplementary skills

  In highly competitive markets, the shortlist for job interviews is often determined by supplementary and transferable skills or by additional, non-professional experience. If you have additional skills that will be useful to the role, or you have some non-professional experience that is relevant (for example, in an internship), then you should list this.

• Passive vs. active language

  Make sure that your CV takes ownership of the things that you have achieved in your career. Use action verbs to ensure that your work experience section doesn’t seem passive, and use numbers to define your achievements when possible. Instead of writing,
  “Was responsible for overhauling our rota.” (Passive)
  write
  “Created a new rota that reduced wasted man hours by 20%.” (Active)

  If you keep these things in mind when updating your CV, then you have a better chance of catching a hiring manager’s attention. Once you do, it’s important that you take the time to prepare for some of the most common job interview questions.