Week of April 26th- CV/Resume--updating?

[andream]

So what's the status of your CV or Resume? Do you keep it updated and ready even when you're happy in your job, or do you wait to update until you're job hunting? And a second question... are you happy with the way your document reads? Are you confident when you send it out, or do you wish you had someone to give it a really GOOD read and make suggestions?
Andrea

[Cozwaz]

I think the hardest thing I have ever had to do is write my own CV.  I was self employed for 8 years and during that time wrote 1,000's of CV's and found it easy but when it came to writting my own CV to apply for my present position, it was another story.

Luckily I have a good friend who has had vast experience in CV's, interviewing, employing all types of staff, she was able to help out and cast an eye over it and make various suggestions.

My CV is up to date apart from my present position.  Call me superstitious but I won't put my present position on until I need too, as is my eyes that would be tempting fate!  So hopefully I wont have to put my present position on for a long time as I am really happy in my position, have a brilliant boss and great work colleagues.

One Very Happy Coz )

[raindance]

I update my CV once a year so it is usually up-to-date.  I don't update it so that I can look for jobs, but just to keep it updated and the presentation refreshed.  I think it is a good practice to review your achievements and list them every so often - helpful in appraisals!

That said, I am not very happy with my CV.  It lists all my important achiements, but I think it could do with some pzazz (highly technical word ) injected into it. I don't think my CV is in too bad shape, though, because I wouldn't have got the job I am in if it were poorly present, but  I would love for someone to read through and give me advice on any improvements.

Raindance

[Jackie G]

Even as a self employed person, I still have a CV, and I tend to check it every couple of months or so and make tiny tweaks here and there to it - there's always something new going on, and I add it in to make sure I don't miss out on any notable skills etc that I should have in my CV.

Jackie
www.iqps.org
Peer Moderator

[chris68]

Agreed!  I update mine maybe once or twice a year just to keep things up to date and to add points of interest under my current position.  That way I can mark them down fairly recently and not miss anything important that I may want to add under my current position.  Six years and counting here, so I've made it a point to keep thing up to date and ready just in case.  You never know what may lie around the corner.

Chris68
Peer Moderator

[countrigal]

Until the last 3 years, I never had to have a resume to apply for positions since I always applied for government positions and had already filled out their massive application form which includes way more than any resume could hope to.  But recently they changed rules and they no longer put that application as part of your package when you apply for a new position but expect either an update form to that application (which doesn't help a lot when applying for a new position) or a resume.  So now I've had to create, from scratch, 2 resumes in the last 3 months.  I'm hoping to start keeping my resume updated and ready for use, but don't seriously see myself doing that.  I've always tried to write my resume with the position I'm applying for in mind, and the skills that I would praise and put forward for the position I applied for as an Education Specialist are not the same skills needed for the Staff Assistant position I just applied for.  And such is the way of my career at this point.  If anyone has a solution for this, being able to keep their resume updated and ready to go for a variety of positions, I would love to hear it.

Any time I do write a resume, I ensure that it is read by at least 3 other folks, all of different backgrounds and experience, to ensure clarity, understanding, and completeness.  Then the suggestions I get from those folks are all put together into a final format that is reviewed one final time and then it's a ready document.  Without these other eyes looking at my resume, I would not feel confident in putting it out there like I do.

CountriGal
Peer Moderator

[ozbound]

I update it when I'm job-hunting, which of course I've been doing lately so it is current.  I am happy with the way it reads but am always tweaking it for individual jobs, etc. I'm always grateful for any help I can get with it!

[newtofl]

Yes, I do keep my resume updated and on several websites.  I had a boss that told me one time that you should always keep your resume updated and on some job search websites just in case the best position becomes available no matter how much you like your current job.  Right after she mentioned this, she left the company because she had her resume out for the right people to see.

No, I think my resume needs a little boost and maybe having someone look it over would be a good idea.

[gee4]

I have always kept my CV up to date with a copy in my handbag on a floppy disk.  Having faced redundancy and been forced to temp, you never know when an agency or employer might request your CV and it's best to be prepared.  Even today I have a copy of mine on my hard drive in work.

In the past I revamped the look of my CV several times until I got the right format for me.  I have been asked by several friends and colleagues to update the format of theirs which has included re-writing some of the terrible English they used to compose it.  I have to say they were much impressed with the "new style" and many used the new one to apply for jobs.

My CV is always up to date and I would recommend everyone does the same.  I would hate to have to go back 10 years and try to remember what I did, when and where.

G

[tinkerbell]

I only update mine when I need to go job hunting and review the layout and content then to make sure I'm happy when I send it out.  I also tweak it for specific job applications.

I’ve applied for numerous jobs over the years and read loads of advice from agencies, books and sites likes this so hopefully keep up-to-date with my CV presentation.  It really bugs me that people STILL don’t keep their CV to 2 pages and I understand it’s harder the more experience you have and want to include but …

Like Coz, I hope not to put my present position on for a long time!  Although I guess I should review it every 6 months to add specific projects and achievements.  I like Countrigal’s idea of getting independent reviewers too.

[sburks]

It is definitely important to update your resume because you never know when you'll need to have it.  With the business world continuosly downsizing because of the economy and losing money, you need to find ways to keep yourself marketable.  Everytime you find yourself looking for a job, many companies want to start you at the minimum hourly rate.   Administrative Professionals are not always deemed "important".  I worked for a company for 6 years and found myself job searching when they decided to "restructure" the position.  I was Executive Assistant and Executive Sales Coordinator and supported the CEO, President, VP, Sales and Business Development.  It's been over a month, and I am still searching for a permanent position.  I am currently temping, but having good experiences with it.  It's giving me a chance to see what's out there.

[sobriquetnic]

I updated my CV for the first time in 12 years this year!  I have worked for the same company since I left school and have only changed jobs within that company.

I only had to re-do mine because I was applying to IQPS!

All the best,
Nicola.

[hgray]

I don't think I've updated my CV for about 2 years  -  really should get round to doing it soon.  Especially in this day and age of cost cutting, headcount reduction etc. etc.

Would always welcome a critical eye over my CV to see how it reads to other people.

Helen  

[gee4]

hgray - any time!

G

[gillianscott]

Agree with all the other posters about keeping your CV up to date - you really never know when you might need it, and you don't want to suddenly have to produce it from scratch.  I'm reasonably happy with mine - the actual layout has stayed more or less the same but I've tweaked the wording over the years, added new skill,s changed the font, etc.

I work for an executive recruitment firm (largely on the candidate side) so I see an awful lot of resumes - some are excellent and I've taken mental note of them for my own CV, but many are truly terrible!  I remember reading somewhere that you should think of your CV as your 'calling card' and I think that's very apt.

Gillian