Why you should have an up-to-date resume (even when you're not looking)

'There was a running theme that recurred through last week. I count 5 conversations for sure. Whether it be the person I met (virtually) for the first time asking about my background and what I did, bringing my mates up to speed on my next move or catching up with people I've not spoken to for ages about recent and forward plans.

Those that have known me in a recruitment/career development capacity know I have a slightly blinkered view of the value of a CV. If you think that sending one across is a magic pill for your next move, you're wrong. BUT I am a strong advocate of having something that serves as a constant working document and anchor always at hand. You never know where that next job/role/assignment will come from and when.

• If you stumble upon a role, you can quickly identify where your experiences matches and where the gaps are
• Benchmarking against current job ads also helps you understand present day terminology.  See a guest post about the different types of sales role for example call-for-law-banning-salescism.html
• I've mentioned this previously in my post about application forms why-you-should-apply-for-that-roleeven-when-you-are-not-looking.html There's something really powerful about reflecting on what you have done/achieved
• If the definition of luck is when preparation meets opportunity, be prepared for that window for getting on the pile is often very small!
• If you're career transitioning, know your start point.

Some may say this isn't necessary for business owners or those that are freelance. We're all be portfolio at some point in life - some for longer than others. And some by choice, others not. Let's also not confuse this with Linkedin - that's a professional profile. We may also be asked to submit videos these days. Having your base information to hand helps keep your content fresh in your head.

I've been decluttering loads over the past few weeks and serendipitously found a paper copy of the last resume I put together. It's 3 years old. Updating won't take me long and a process that I'm quite looking forward to. Time to put the kettle on and get to it.

Author

Rupa Datta is your quintessential portfolio person. Happy to help with your career transition and eagerly getting ready for whatever is next