We get it, updating your CV can seem like a daunting and sometimes time-consuming task, and you might think it’s only necessary when you’re actively job seeking. When in actuality you should be continually updating your CV, regardless of how content you are in your current position, and it needn’t be a huge rigmarole. So why exactly should you keep it up to date? Let’s get into it.

1. Be ready for anything

You never know what is around the corner. You might stumble across a great job advancement you had no intention of seeking out, or a new position opens up at work, or you unfortunately find yourself unexpectedly needing a new job. You don’t want to suddenly be confronted with a severely out of date CV and have to rack your brain for what you’ve done over the last few years to make it fresh and relevant. By having your current CV ready and waiting for you when a new opportunity arises, you can spend your time focusing on job interviews instead of scrabbling to put together a new one.

2. No risk of forgetting skills and accomplishments

You are constantly picking up new skills and accomplishing feats in your job that prove your worth and value in your field. If you were asked to name all the ones from a year ago, could you list them off the top of your head? And are your current skills the same as the ones you had when you first started in this current job? By keeping your skills and responsibilities up to date on your CV you avoid any risk of letting some key attributes slip by. It will also help for job interviews down the line to remember everything you bring to the table and remind you of your value to really sell yourself!

3. You have the access now

If the worst happens and you find yourself suddenly unemployed, you might lose access to all the places that stores the information on what you’ve accomplished over your time at the company. Even if you just need access to remind yourself of what you’ve done, it’s still best to go through it while you still have ample opportunity. If you’ve held several different positions in the company, it’s worth looking over your records to know the exact dates you made the move, so your CV is as accurate as possible.

4. Gives you time to make it perfect

Emotions run high when it’s time to job hunt as it can be a very stressful experience and you also have the added time pressure of finding a job as quickly as possible. It’s good practice to maintain your CV while you have the time and there’s no immediate pressure. It’ll allow you to really convey the best version of you!

5. Keeps the information fresh to you

It never hurts to always have your career history fresh in your mind as sometimes you forget what you’ve achieved until you see it all written down. This is a great way for you to see how far you’ve progressed and give you a little confidence boost. And when it comes time for your yearly performance review, you have everything you bring to the table on paper and it gives you the chance to really consider where you are, and where you want to go.

If you want any help or guidance with your CV and taking the next step in your career journey, don’t hesitate to reach out for friendly advice from our recruitment team.