How Often Do Your Refresh Your CV? 5 Times in Your Life to Update It.

How often should I update my CV? This is a question that I kept asking myself for several years.

After being employed for many years in the service industry, I loved my job and I felt comfortable but updating my CV was the last task on my to-do list. Updating a CV through professional CV writing services was my only concern when I was looking for a job. One of the recruiters once interested me in a role in their company, my dream job that was paying way above what I was earning. I was asked to share an updated CV urgently but since I didn’t have time to edit it, I shared a generic CV I last updated two years. Unfortunately, I had not included my most recent experience and the skills I had gained through the training which were essential for the role. I wasn’t considered for the role because my CV was outdated.

Is there a perfect time to update your CV? This question puzzles many job seekers. Well, researchers recommend that it is important to update a CV after every 6 -12 months but it varies based on your professional life.

What if my CV was strong and up-to-date? Perhaps, I would stand a higher chance of being called for an interview.

I later consulted a career advisor who gave me these tips on when to update a CV

1. When You Start A New Role

I have interacted with professionals who wait to accomplish some achievements in their new role before updating it which is not the best way.

When you start a new job, you may not have great achievements but make use of your career profile, and show who you are as a professional, and your value. Avoid copy-pasting the job description onto your CV.

2. When You Successfully Complete A Project

I was privileged to launch a new service that increased the company’s bottom line but that was not reflected on my CV. If I had listed that on my CV, I am sure it would have given it weight and I would be considered for the role.

If you spearheaded a project successfully, ensure it is reflected on your CV, and the best way to represent that is to quantify your achievements. The history of completing industry-relevant projects can make your CV shine.

3. When You Achieve Career Milestone

When you are promoted to a new role, celebrate your success, and never forget to update your CV. Include the new title, why you were promoted, and the major roles you will be performing.

4. When You Develop New Skill

Most of the testimonials that we get from professionals trained at CSS include “After digital marketing skills training, I updated my CV and after applying for a more senior role, I was considered.”

It is important to invest in skills development through the training because that will strengthen your CV and add great value. Assess your CV regularly and remove outdated skills that are not relevant to the jobs you are looking for. Review various job postings and identify the most in-demand skills, develop them and update your CV.

5. When You Are Laid Off

The first step to bouncing back and preparing yourself for the new job is to update your CV. This is one of the strategies that will help you to attract potential employers.

I have seen many professionals who get frustrated when they lose their jobs forgetting to update their CVs. When there is an urgent role that requires an updated CV, they end up missing the opportunity.

Summary

If you are looking for a new role, or you want to climb the career ladder, it is important to have an updated CV that grabs the employers’ attention and stand out from a pool of other CVs.

If you want an updated CV that will stand out but don’t know how to do it, our professional CV writers will help you out.