Update your CV throughout your career
As a young person, it is smart to make sure you start filling out your CV, i.e. resume, with job experiences as early as possible. On the other hand, for people who have been in the working life for longer, it is important to actively keep updating the CV throughout the whole career.
A summer job is the first contact that many young people have with work and the first work experience entered on their CV. It is best to not get too picky about a summer job or pay, because the most important thing for a young person is to get a foot in the door. This is the first step to building your career and CV.
When drafting your CV, try to see what it looks like through the employer's eyes. Entries indicating active studies or work in almost any field look better than lengthy gaps in your history. The most important thing to keep in mind is making sure your CV has entries throughout your whole career. It is also best to ensure that your CV doesn’t stay the same year after year. Even the Education section of the CV should not remain unchanged, as career progression or changing jobs often require continuous learning.
Grow and develop your CV throughout your whole career?
Do not let your CV gather dust even if you already have a job. Young people have the opportunity to plan their future, but if you become unemployed at 55 or over, you can’t retroactively change the content of your CV. For this reason, it is essential to take the reins in good time and make your CV look interesting even at the end of your career. Have the courage to make bold moves in your work. Staying in the same position for years is a greater risk than seizing new opportunities during your career.
Competence and working life skills consist of many different factors and the CV may not be able to describe them sufficiently well. However, the CV can describe the basic pillars of your competence. Young jobseekers should keep in mind that hobbies are also an indication of capabilities and social networks.
However, even a good CV does not always open doors. For young people, finding a job often involves utilising their or their parents’ connections. An employer may be more favourable to hiring a young person who comes with references from trustworthy parties. Good connections are especially valuable if your grades or other merits are not particularly high. It is important that young people adapt to society and strengthen their connections already during their studies.
Read more
- Tips for finding a job
- Competence development
- At the start of your career
- At the end of one’s career
- Five tips for effective job search