5 Simple Steps On How To Refresh Your CV For Job Search In 2020

By Florence Mukunya

I bet by now everyone is done with making a resolution for the year. To be honest how many of you have purposed to refresh their CV this year? None?

Well, new year, new you will not be complete if you are still using the same CV you were using to apply for jobs in 2020. A lot has changed in the industry and so has your experience hence the need to review your CV.

Our Recruitment Manager, Cynthia Wangechi, says that the reason most job seekers fail to get shortlisted for jobs they are qualified for is because their CVs have never been updated.

“You find candidates calling all the time to say they applied for a job they feel they are qualified for but have never been invited for an interview, then when you look at their CV there is no experience relating to what you are looking for and this is the time they quickly confirm that they forgot to include some experience on the CV.” laments Cynthia.

So how do you go about freshening up your CV?

Highly Recommended: 4 Questions to Ask Yourself When Writing a CV

5 Simple Steps on How to Refresh Your CV

1. Update your format

First impression counts!

With this in mind, you should purpose to have a very simple CV format; it should be clear and to the point.

As we have advised before, use bullets where applicable summarize your experience and use very simple sentences. Also note that your CV should always list your experience, education and other aspects from the most recent to the last one.

2. Rewrite your personal profile

Your personal profile is the top most or the first section on your CV.

It highlights your most relevant skills and experience and also states your career goals. So without saying much, this serves as your introduction to the employer.

A lot has changed since you updated your CV, it could be you changed positions and even when you haven’t changed position you probably have gained something new in the two years you have been in the position.

Dedicate time to come up with a very precise professional introduction of who you are. Include your expertise and skills in the industry make sure you grab the recruiter’s attention right from the beginning.

3. Fine-tune your work history

“This is where most job seekers go wrong” says our CV writing professional.

She says that most job seekers tend to put all their work experience on their CVs even when some of it is clearly not relevant.

“Experience working with IEBC does not count.” She adds.

If you have got a lot of experience, begin by including what is most current, you can include like four most recent places that you have worked recently and summarize the rest.

This gives you space to include other important information like your achievements.

4. Focus on your current job

I mentioned in another article that your work experience is the heart of your CV.

Employers are mostly interested in what you are currently doing and how it matches or compares to what they are looking for.

This is the pace to shine, include your skills , accomplishments and achievements and try as much as possible to relate them to the job you are applying for.

5. Lastly on how to refresh your CV -proof read your CV

Well, its 2020 leave your past mistakes to the past.

Go through your freshened up CV and correct any errors. Look at the dates and titles. Go through your profile and make sure it’s free of any grammatical mistakes.

Remember a single spelling or grammar mistake may be enough to put a hiring manager off your CV.

So how many have refreshed their CVs for 2020? I ask again! If these tips were helpful to you why not send your CV for review and rewrite here.