Simple ways to keep your CV up to date: learn when and how to refresh for better job success

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Simple ways to keep your CV up to date

When to update your CV
What should you update?
CV layout refresh

Is your CV overdue for a refresh? Many of us only update our CVs when we're ready to return to the job market, but as you'll learn, there are plenty of good reasons to make it a habit. Here are some simple ways to keep your CV up to date, which achievements you should add, and optimum CV structures for different roles and opportunities.

You should update your CV whenever you reach a new career milestone or professional achievement. Regular updates ensure you can catch your professional achievements as and when they happen, rather than trying to recall them years afterwards.

Regular CV updates are more than just an excellent way to ensure every achievement gets noted; they're also a helpful way to chart your career progress and trajectory in real time.

We recommend taking five minutes to update your CV every time you gain a new professional certificate or qualification, learn a new skill, take on a new responsibility, or exceed a target or KPI (these are often the hardest to remember!).

If you're preparing to refresh your entire CV before applying for new roles, we recommend tailoring the structure and content to suit each unique opportunity and employer. Keep reading to learn how…

Read more: 11 dos and don'ts of writing a CV

1. Address and personal information

Let's start with the easy bit—has your address, name, or contact information changed recently? This can easily slip under the radar, so it's best to tackle these kinds of updates as and when they happen.

Do you put your address on a CV? That depends! There are pros and cons to including that information. If the role you're applying for is local, your address might be considered a perk. If the role is remote, it might be easier to remove your address.

2. Achievements to put on a CV

We all know professional achievements belong on your CV, but many professionals don't realise that specificity is crucial to how impactful those achievements are.

For example, rather than just listing a role as project lead on your CV, corroborate it with metrics that illustrate the impact and success of the project. This could include the percentage of revenue uplift associated with your efforts, feedback you received, or awards the project won. Word count on a CV can be limited, so be sure to prioritise results and metrics over a list of duties to ensure you make maximum impact.

Achievements you'll want to consider are training and qualifications, promotions, awards, large projects or milestones, extra responsibilities awarded, or being granted a lead role in projects or events. Including gaps or career hiatuses on your CV is also vital; you could use them to illustrate your commitment to independent learning or personal growth.

3. Structural updates

The structure of your CV can be a fantastic tool to market your suitability for a particular role. For example, you can tailor the structure of your CV to prioritise skills or the functional aspects of your current role to ensure the most relevant information is unmissable.

The structure of your CV will also depend on the seniority of the role you're going for. As a graduate, you'll want your qualifications, internships, and experience to take centre stage. If you're applying for a role at the C-suite level, your achievements and professional approach are more likely to be of interest.

Structural updates are also essential for getting your CV past AI screening software. Without altering the structure to place all the most relevant keywords (you'll find these in the job description) at the top, it's unlikely your application will make it to the hiring manager's desk.

As we've touched on in this article, the structure and format of your CV will change throughout your career and should be tailored to suit the role you're applying for. This CV layout example is a great foundation to get you started, but we'd always recommend personalising it to get maximum traction.

1. Name and contact details

Start by putting all the need-to-know essentials at the top of your page. This can include your name, email address, phone number, and potentially your address or social media handles (depending on the role!).

2. Personal statement

Next comes your personal statement. This is your chance to sell yourself to a hiring manager.

3. Work history

Your work history sits beneath your personal statement. It should run chronologically, starting with your most recent job role and ending with your first job. List up to 10 years of employment history, including company names, positions, dates and a brief overview of responsibilities, skills and tasks you were involved in.

4. Personal and professional qualifications

Add extra appeal to your job application by including qualifications, training, and benchmarks you’ve reached. Keep it short and relevant to the role.

Have you got an up-to-date CV ready to go? Add your latest CV to get AI matched with open positions or browse open roles now. To learn more about CV writing, job applications and interviews explore all of our Tips to land a job articles.

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