New years are all about having a fresh start. One thing that probably needs a good refresh is your CV. Here are five ways to update yours so it’s ready to go if your dream job presents itself. 

1. Rework your introduction

We are always in flux, and the person you were a couple of years ago is not the same person – personally AND professionally – you are now. Look at your introduction or the template you use when submitting a cover letter and edit it to reflect who you are and what you want to achieve in your career.

2. Add all your new skills

Have you recently completed a course in something relevant to your job? You definitely need to add this to your CV. Also, add any links to official certification. Showcase your skills by creating a bulleted list rather than writing a paragraph. This way, they will definitely stand out to prospective employers. 

3. Update your keywords

Does your resume also live online? If you have a digital version, such as one linked to your professional social networking platforms, make sure you are using the appropriate keywords that are relevant to your current role, desired role and skill set. This makes it a lot easier for people to find you. 

4. Remove irrelevant jobs

The fact that you worked in a casual retail position when you were a student or at a fast food joint just out of college is only relevant to your current job if you still work in these sectors. Otherwise, you should remove them, as they only add unnecessary bulk to your resume that doesn’t speak to who you are now.

5. Check it reads easily

Recruiters and employers are flooded with CVs when posting job vacancies. They don’t want to have to decipher complicated, decorative fonts, go through loads of pages or be met with tons of typos. Make sure that yours is legible and run it through a spellchecker to fix any mistakes so you look polished and profesh.