Last month, I received an email from someone I had worked with five years ago, back in 2010. The individual requested a CV update service, and I was happy to oblige. At the first contact, I suspected that using the word ‘update’ was simplifying the situation, and I was right.

The individual – let’s call him Colin Candidate – had changed beyond all recognition within the five-year timespan, and there was no way a few tweaks to the original CV I had written would suffice. We needed to go back to the drawing board.

In 2010, Colin Candidate was a fresh graduate, with a little experience under his belt. He had ordered a graduate CV service to achieve that all-important first rung on the ladder. I’m happy to report that it helped him to secure that first step, and from there on in his career progression with his blue chip employer was meteoric.

In the proceeding five years, Colin has received four promotions, completed a number of meaty projects, and played a key role in skyrocketing this start-up to become a major industry player. Colin had changed so much that he was unrecognisable from his 2010 CV.

With all this compelling new information to include on his CV, we needed to scrap the 2010 version and start afresh by working to understand each role, its challenges, and actions, leading to tangible results.

Aside from changes in CV style and presentation to reflect the evolution of CVs between 2010 and 2015, the content was literally all new.

Colin was no longer positioned as a graduate, but as an experienced hire.

His target was no longer an entry-level role, but a senior position.

His address and contact details had changed, reflecting his upward mobility.

His headline had changed.

His profile had changed.

His key skills had changed.

His experience had changed, and the roles we sold him on, back in 2010, were minimised or totally dropped from his career history.

His degree made the transition from the 2010 to 2015 version of his CV, to a slimmed down education section on page two, rather than prominently displayed on page one.

That was all. Looking at the two CVs, 2010 and 2015, side by side, you wouldn’t recognise Colin Candidate. ‘Man, Colin,’ you’d say, ‘you have changed.’

When everything about you has changed, why would your CV remain the same? Rip it up, go back to the drawing board, and write a CV that reflects your here and now.

It’s worth it.

Colin is worth it.

You are worth it.

In fact, writing your CV when you’ve changed completely can be easier than writing your CV when the changes aren’t as obvious. Still, I’d recommend that you analyse your CV on a regular basis, and drop the content that no longer reflects your needs. If it served the old you, but no longer serves the new you, just drop it and add new content that works harder for your goals.

Lis McGuire

Lis McGuire

Lis McGuire is a professional CV writer at Giraffe CVs. She has 15 years of experience gained delivering interview-winning CVs and cover letters for professionals at all levels, helping individuals to stand out from the crowd in a highly competitive job market.
Lis McGuire
Lis McGuire