Updating a Resume | Updating a CV

Are you currently job hunting? Or perhaps you are thinking of updating your resume or CV during this uncertain time? As a business owner, I understand how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected job security and created chaos in the job market. Hiring freezes and pivotal jobs being put on hold have become the new norm across most businesses, both locally and globally. If you find yourself in a situation where you need to update your CV or resume, you’re not alone.

Updating your CV or resume is an essential task that can help you take control of your future and career. During this period of isolation and uncertainty, it’s the perfect time to give your CV a revamp. A CV, also known as a resume, is a brief account or snapshot of your education, work experiences, past and present skills, and accomplishments. It’s a reflection of your professional history and can be formatted as you like, giving you an opportunity to showcase your creative flair.

However, it’s essential to include some critical sections to ensure that your CV stands out from the rest. One of the essential sections is the Personal Profile/Personal Summary. This section should highlight your experience, skillset (technical and soft skills), and be an introduction to your CV. Unfortunately, many people miss this crucial section. A great way to break down this section is to have three parts. The first part should be a sentence about your past skills and experience, the second part should describe your current role and where you are currently at, and the third part should relate to your future aspirations. As recruiters and hiring managers spend only 6 seconds on a CV before deciding whether to move forward, this section should be concise and grab their attention.

Your Work Experience section should include the company name, location, job title(s), and date range of job tenure. In addition to highlighting your key responsibilities and day-to-day tasks, you should also mention any key achievements or areas of work that you’re proud of. Try to keep this section concise and avoid waffling too much. Elaboration can be done throughout the interview stages.

The Skills section is another critical part of your CV, and there are different ways to present it. Some people prefer to include only technical/hard skills, while others include softer skills and personality traits. It’s essential to include any skills that are significant to your career and job roles or important to the roles you’re looking to move into. A quick tip is to go through job descriptions of the roles you’re interested in and include as many key skills as possible that are relevant to you.

Your Education and Qualifications section should include any previous University and College certifications, as well as relevant MBA’s or training certificates.

Hobbies, interests, and aspirations are often overlooked sections, but they’re a great way to show recruiters and hiring managers that you’re a real person, regardless of your job title. This section can provide insight into your personality and motivations, giving recruiters a deeper understanding of who you are beyond your professional experience. You can even include a section on your ‘Future Aspirations,’ where you describe the career you want to have in the next 3, 5, or 8 years or the job skills you’re looking to develop.

Finally, the rise of video applications in the Recruitment and Talent space over the last few years has been undeniable. It’s becoming increasingly common for applicants to include a short video of themselves summarizing their experience in their CV. As a recruiter, video applications have been particularly useful for roles in Sales or Client Service, giving a deeper insight into a candidate’s communication skills, demeanor, and presentation. If you’re interested in creating a Video CV, feel free to reach out to me directly, and I’ll be happy to help you get started.