A quick guide to making sure your CV is up to date and ready to send…
If you haven’t looked at your CV in a while, now’s a good time to give it a refresh. Whether you’re actively looking or just want to be prepared if the right role comes up, it’s worth making sure your CV is current, clear, and relevant.
Here’s a straightforward checklist to help you spring clean your CV:
1. Update your most recent experience
Make sure your current or most recent job is included and up to date. If you’ve taken on new responsibilities or gained new skills, add them in. If you’ve changed roles altogether, make sure your CV reflects that clearly.
2. Remove anything that’s no longer relevant
If your CV is starting to feel long, look at cutting out older roles that aren’t relevant to the kind of work you’re applying for now. You don’t need to include every job you’ve ever done, just the ones that show why you’re a good fit for the roles you’re applying for. If you want to keep your full working history in, just keep the older jobs to Job Title and Dates, no need to include all your duties and responsibilities!
3. Check formatting and layout
A clean, simple layout makes a big difference. Make sure everything is easy to read, well spaced out, and consistent in formatting. Use bold headings, bullet points for key duties or achievements, and avoid long paragraphs.
Quick tip: recruiters and hiring managers receive lots of CVs so their first look at your CV is likely to be a quick glance – give yourself the best chance by putting your relevant job titles in bold and on the first page of your CV, like this:
Jan 2022 – Jan 2025
Nanny for Private Family
Ascot
List job responsibilities and more relevant info about the role here
Aug 2020 – Jan 2022
Nanny for Private Family
Windsor
List job responsibilities and more relevant info about the role here
4. Update certifications, training and qualifications
If you’ve completed any recent courses, training, or certificates, add them. This includes first aid updates, DBS checks, or relevant professional development. Courses, trainings, or certificates are usually something recruiters or hiring managers will look at secondary to your experience, so you can put this lower down on your CV. Unless the job advert specifies that you must have a certain qualification, in this case you should put it somewhere very obvious on the first page!
5. Tailor your personal statement
Read through your personal statement – does it still reflect your current goals and experience? Make sure it’s written in the third person, and keep it focused and clear. If your career direction has changed, this section should too.
“An experienced and discreet housekeeper with over ten years working in private homes across London and the Home Counties. She takes pride in maintaining a high standard of cleanliness and organisation, and is confident working in both formal and informal households. Known for her reliability and calm, can-do attitude, she is experienced in managing daily and deep cleaning routines, laundry and wardrobe care, and supporting with occasional meal preparation and pet care. She is proactive, trustworthy, and used to working around families, children, and pets. Looking for a long-term role where she can become a valued and dependable part of the household.”
6. Check for spelling, grammar and dates
Sounds obvious, but it’s easy to miss small errors – especially if your CV has been updated in bits over time. Double-check for typos, make sure your dates line up, and ensure everything makes sense at a glance.
Final tip: Save your CV in both Word and PDF format so you’re ready to send it in whichever format is requested.