Small and Powerful Ways to Update Your CV

When was the last time you did a full review of your CV? If you’re like many people, this document only gets an update when you switch jobs or apply for a new one.

That’s understandable. Fortunately, making a few tiny tweaks to your resume like the type of adjustments that take just minutes to complete can have a surprisingly big impact.

Job searching is a grind. It can be so discouraging to put yourself out there and get rejected repeatedly. But rather than keeping your head down and sending out another flurry of applications, you may benefit from taking a step back and considering why you’re not getting any interviews.

Here are some suggestions for small yet powerful updates you can make to your resume.

1. Remove Old Positions

Have you been working off the same CV since you graduated from college, and just tacking on new jobs?

 If you’re 10 to 15 years into your career (or more) it’s probably time to remove some entry-level roles.

Read your CV from the bottom up, and consider deleting older positions that might not be so relevant anymore.

2. Research Keywords

Including certain keywords in a CV might seem like a small detail but, when you are applying to large companies, it can be vital.

A lot of large organizations use ATS (automatic tracking systems) to deal with their applications. ATS software scans documents looking for specific keywords relevant to a position so, if you don’t use them, your CV won’t get past this stage.

To find relevant keywords, scan the job posting and any further information provided, and highlight power words. Another way is to find and read sample CVs for similar positions available online.

3. Update Your Skills

Have you taken a short course? Mastered a new program? Started giving presentations regularly?

Take a look at your CV’s skills section and make sure you have listed all of your professional skills, both soft and hard. At the same time, consider removing some dated skills.

4. Remove Outdated Phrases

It’s possible your CV could include outdated language that implies your industry knowledge is also a bit dusty.

Look for anything that stands out and replace it with industry keywords, especially if they are listed in the job description.

5. Quantify Your Achievements

Saying you increased sales is alright, but saying you increased sales by 50% a month will have any employer salivating over your CV.

Wherever possible, use supporting figures when you mention revenue or cost savings.

If your changes were performance or process related, make sure you state the benefit this had on the business.

For example, you could say you held regular training sessions on customer service and saw an immediate uplift in positive feedback on your comment cards.

Lastly;

Your CV is one of the most important parts of your job hunt. It will shape an employer’s first impression of you and will often dictate if you make it through the initial round of the application process. 

Get your CV reviewed today by CV experts to turn the odds in your favor.