Why Do I Need to Keep My CV Updated?

We’ve all spent the night before a deadline rushing to finish an assignment while telling ourselves we’ll be more prepared next time. Though we may have been able to get away with this approach in school, the stakes can be a lot higher when applying for a job. Taking your time to update your CV without the pressure of a looming deadline decreases the chances of you making any careless mistakes. There are many benefits of updating your cv that will keep you prepared when an exciting job becomes available and makes it more likely that a recruiter will contact you with roles you’re interested in.

Hiring managers and recruiters like to read about your quantitative achievements whenever possible. For example, saying ‘I increased sales by 20% within the first six months of joining the company’ is a far stronger statement than saying ‘I increased sales’. The first statement shows off your capabilities as well as your knowledge of your company’s history and operations. The longer you put off updating your CV, the more likely it is that you’ll forget the details of your accomplishments. This means that you may have to settle for a vague description of your career highlights, which will make you seem like a weaker candidate than you are. If you are constantly reaching impressive milestones at your job, keep a journal of all your efforts and select the most relevant ones when making your frequent CV updates.

You might be saying, ‘I’m perfectly happy in my job, so I don’t need to worry about my CV!’ While your job satisfaction is something worth celebrating, there are still a few situations where the benefits of updating your cv will help you progress. Bringing an updated CV to appraisal meetings demonstrates your dedication and may allow your boss to assign you duties that are more in line with your strengths. Oftentimes, applications for professional awards and promotions require a CV, and keeping your CV up to date will keep you in the running for such opportunities.

Bringing an updated CV to appraisal meetings demonstrates your dedication and may allow your boss to assign you duties that are more in line with your strengths.

Having an updated CV on LinkedIn makes it easier for new hires to get a fair impression of you before meeting you. If your LinkedIn highlights that you recently acquired a new skill or took a training program abroad, it gives new hires something to talk about with you and makes the process of getting to know one another more organic. There is also a chance that a sudden change in management makes your job far less enjoyable and inspires you to apply for new jobs. It is probable that the job description for your role will disappear from job sites shortly after you were hired, so copying the description into your CV as soon as you land the job makes the task of writing about your work experience less complicated.

One of the most important benefits of updating your cv is identifying the gaps in your knowledge that encourage you to make quick improvements. For example, if you read through your CV and realize that you are no longer proficient in the technical skills you once had, you can begin to brush up on them. Additionally, comparing your CV to others in your field can give you an idea of what skills you should be developing. The evaluation process is not a negative one! Assessing your CV allows you to better understand your areas of expertise. Until you begin writing down your skills and contributions, you might not notice a pattern in your interests. Not only does identifying your strengths give you topics to discuss in your next job interview, but this process can help you reevaluate your goals and guide your career path.

Frequently updating your CV will help you identify gaps in your knowledge and encourage you to make quick improvements.

Putting off updating your CV is totally understandable. We assure you that if you work on it in smaller chunks, it’ll make the experience far less intimidating. You might even find yourself enjoying the process!

Need more CV Advice?

With 10 years of dedicated Emiratisation experience, Mark Williams’s expert consultants can polish your CV to make you stand out in this competitive marketplace. Once you have applied our top tips simply upload your CV to the Mark Williams website and you’ll receive an expert CV review and evaluation – free of charge!