With the high standard of CV writing nowadays, nobody can risk taking their foot off the pedal.
The recent surge of internet guides and information has allowed the job hunter to seek out vital details on how to write a great CV. Coupled with the fact that you can now get a free CV template easily enough – most of the hard work has already been done!
If you are in full time or part time employment, and especially those who are looking for a job right now, here are 2 reasons why you need a new CV:
It’s very old
If your CV is 5-10 years old, you certainly need a new CV. If the time comes when you are searching for your next job, don’t fall into the trap that many job seekers do of simply updating an old and tired CV with your previous employment details.
Our advice would be to start again completely from scratch, and begin by choosing a CV template that works for you. There are hundreds of free templates to choose from, all of which are custom made by industry experts.
If you decide to take the chance and send out your old CV, you are likely to be up against modern designs and layouts. All of which will grab the attention of the reader, leaving yours for the ‘reject’ pile.
It hasn’t been updated for a long time
“A CV is a constant work in progress. And, just like your car, if you don’t service it regularly it won’t perform as well as it could,” says Nick Deligiannis, Managing Director at Hays Australia & New Zealand.
One of the biggest mistakes we often see is a bare work history section. The reason why this happens is because most people forget to update their CV when something significant occurs.
It can be very easy to relax when you have a full time job, especially when you’ve been there for a few years. There is always the threat of redundancy, or even a personal situation which forces you to look for another job.
When anything important happens at work you should always make a note and update your CV as soon as possible. If you were to complete some training, take on additional responsibility, move departments, gain a new qualification or even a promotion; you should be keeping track of the details and the date. Any examples of outstanding performance and achievements should also be noted down.
It is very difficult to look back over several years of work and remember all the key aspects of a role. Listing all the skills can often take longer than it should, but if you are able to keep track as each year passes, you are in a far better position to write a great CV if the time comes.
“It’s very easy to forget what you have accomplished in your role, particularly if you have been doing it for a long period of time”, the CABA team explain. “Documenting your achievements regularly will save you the last minute rush of trying to remember everything.”
