Keeping your CV up-to-date is good practice, regardless of whether or not you’re currently looking for a job. Then, when you decide it is time to move on, your CV will be packed to the brim with your newly gained skills, experiences, and qualities.
Here are a few signs you need to refresh your horticulture CV — and what you can do about it.
You haven’t added your latest skills and experience
The most obvious box to tick is refreshing your skills and achievements so that they are more in line with your most recent successes and abilities. If it’s been six months since you last updated your employment history, it’s worth a review.
Consider your recent accomplishments, from completing projects to reducing costs, and see what you can add to this position on your CV. Don’t worry too much about your CV exceeding the standard two-page length at this stage. You can trim and tailor when you have found a vacancy to apply for.
It doesn’t reflect your current career goals
If your personal profile doesn’t align with your career aims, consider refreshing it as this section of your CV is your elevator pitch. It’s a way of introducing yourself and drawing attention to the things you want the recruiter to notice the most. If it’s inaccurate, it’s a dealbreaker.
Before updating it to reflect your current career goals, conduct some research by reading through relevant adverts and job descriptions. This is for two reasons. The first is to check you’re comfortable with the decision you’ve made on your career direction. The second is to see what the requirements of your ideal role are and consider how that could be incorporated into your CV.
It spans over a decade
If your CV details employment history that’s over a decade old, it needs a spring clean. Most job hunters forget that a CV in the UK is not designed to list your entire work history. Its purpose is to highlight your most recent experience and achievements to prove that you are qualified to do the job you’re applying for. After all, you’re likely a much more qualified horticultural professional today than you were 10 years ago. Don’t be afraid to cut the outdated fluff and focus on the most recent 10 to 15 years of experience.
TopCV offers a range of CV-writing services including expertly written and keyword-optimised CVs, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles. It is currently offering a free CV review to help you land your dream job in the horticulture sector.