When I was updating my CV for the first time in 6 years, little did I realise that it would be out of date 4 months later.

I already have 3 versions of my CV depending on which job type I am applying for. Each of these versions may then be tweaked to highlight the skills relevant to the position on offer.

Now that I am broadening my job search out to further horizons I am required to create another batch of CV’s that indicate I am willing, indeed keen, to relocate and providing more information about where previous jobs were.

I am also finding that the jobs I am prepared to apply for are less in line with my previous experience. I have been trying to correlate a simple administration job with a technical CV. This has lead to a further rewrite where I am breaking down all my skills to their most basic level. Sections such as training skills, presentation skills and writing skills would have had no place on my CV 4 months ago, but now might be the key to my transition from unemployed to employed.

I have also posted my CV’s on my web site so that they may be seen by a wider audience. It was not long until one visitor pointed out that whilst these CV’s are OK for sending direct to a interested client they were not suitable for the wider speculative audience. The advice given was to prepare one short version offering a summary of my experience, with a longer version offering a more detailed list of achievements and qualifications.

That will create a total of 10 basic versions to cater for the various positions and locations I am applying for as well as the situations where I am hoping that someone will contact me.

posted by Martin Wright at 6:19 am | Link