How to update your CV – even if you're not job hunting!

You’ve got a job and you’re not looking for a new one. Chances are, you hardly give your CV a second thought. However, as we'll cover in this guide, there are plenty of reasons to update your CV on a regular basis. Let’s dive in, shall we?

Why should you keep your CV updated?

So why should you update your CV even when you’re not job hunting? Whilst it may feel tedious, it can help you in the long run. What’s more, it only takes a few moments to spring clean your CV. Let’s break down some of the reasons it’s a smart move: 

You never know when an opportunity will arise

You might love your current job, but what if your dream job crops up? There's no point trying to cobble together a CV at the last minute when you've been headhunted, or when you've come across an advert for your ideal role. 

Summarising everything you've done in the past is a daunting task, and it’s likely that you’ll forget key information if you're doing it on the spur of the moment. Keeping your CV current means that you'll only need to spend a few minutes tweaking to get it ready.

You may get laid off

It’s a stressful truth, but it happens. Being laid off or made redundant can leave you with a lot to process and a busy job-hunting period ahead of you. If you regularly update your CV, you’re ready for that scenario.

An up-to-date CV means you'll be ready to register with recruiters and upload your CV to job-search sites immediately. As you scramble to find new employment, your CV will be one less thing to worry about.

You may find yourself unable to access useful information

If you do find yourself unexpectedly unemployed, you may not be able to access critical, CV-enhancing information held by your employer. This list of certifications from training courses you’ve completed and quantifiable facts or figures, such as how much you increased profits by or the percentage of enquiries you converted to sales.

If you've held several positions with the same company, you'll also need to know when you moved into each role so that the dates on your CV are accurate.

The best CVs are created with time and a clear vision

Emotions run high during the job hunt. Maintaining your CV as a regular habit means that you're approaching it with a clear mind and a sense of perspective.

You'll also have time on your side, meaning that you can put in the effort your CV deserves and think logically about what's important and what isn't. A CV created with a sense of panic and a hazy memory is never going to be the best representation of you.

How can I update my existing CV?

Taking a fresh look at your CV every few months will keep you in tune with your career trajectory. So how to update your CV? Follow our tips below:

Refresh your professional summary

Sitting at the top of your CV, your personal statement should briefly tell the reader where you are in your career now and what you have to offer. Make the effort to make an impactful CV summary and use relevant keywords on yours.

This section may probably need the most work, but tracking your accomplishments every few months makes crafting an overview of your achievements and key skills much easier when applying for a role. 

Don't forget your contact details

Extremely important, but often overlooked at a time like this, are your contact details. Did you change phone numbers? Finally got around to creating a LinkedIn profile you're proud of?

Add in all these essential updates and, for a neater look, change the anchor text of your LinkedIn URL to either “LinkedIn” or “Your name | LinkedIn.”

Add in any valuable extras 

What really makes a CV stand out are extra details such as awards, key achievements, and relevant CPD (Continued Professional Development). 

And, again, it's easy to forget a course you took 18 months ago… unless you add it to your CV right away. Making sure to update your CV often means you don't need to rack your brains trying to remember the details and aids your future job search.

Keep to two pages

If you find your CV length stretching to over two pages, trim it back by either completely removing or drastically reducing roles that you were in more than 10 years ago. 

Recruiters are only interested in the last 10 years of your career (there are exceptions, of course), so it's wise to get rid of older jobs – especially if they hold no relevance to what you're looking for today.

Bonus: how to update your CV on LinkedIn

Now that you know how to update your CV, you may be wondering how you can change it on LinkedIn. There are several ways to update and upload your CV to LinkedIn, but if you want your updated CV featured on your LinkedIn profile, here’s what to do: 

1. Login to LinkedIn and go to your Profile. 

2. Tap Add Profile, select Recommended, and tap Add featured.

3. Click the + button and choose Add Media. 

4. Select your CV and click Upload.

Remember to update your CV on LinkedIn every time you make a change to it. Everything needs to line up.

Update your CV now

You've done the groundwork of updating your CV frequently. Just keep plugging away at the CV update every few months, knowing it will hold you in good stead for when the time comes for you to actually apply for a new position.

Armed with the information you've gathered over the last few months or years, let our CV professionals take the strain by translating them into a document that really shines. Check out our free CV review for starters! 

This article was originally written by Elizabeth Openshaw and Jen David. It has been updated by Charlotte Grainger.

Recommended reading: 

• 47 accomplishment examples for your CV: expert picks

• Common bad CV giveaways: mistakes to avoid for success

• 7 things you can do now to help your job-search efforts later