As a consultant, there are many tasks that come with the role but updating my CV ranks among my least favourite. Yet it's such an important sales document it simply has to be done. And here's the thing: it's never just one CV. You need multiple versions, each serving a different purpose.
The Long CV showcases all my key experience and successes, demonstrating both what I've accomplished and what I'm capable of. The constant worry? Have I included so much detail that readers lose interest halfway through and forget how brilliant I am?
The Summary CV distils everything into a single, powerful page. But I'm always second-guessing myself: have I omitted that crucial piece of experience that would land me that fascinating role I'm eyeing? (For me, interesting work trumps day rates every time.) Or worse, have I left out something that could help win a project that benefits not just me, but an entire team?
The Pen Portrait condenses my entire professional identity into just a paragraph or two. Get this wrong, and it reads like I've never done or accomplished anything of note—which is, honestly, ridiculous!
The Ultimate Irony....
Here's what's genuinely amusing about this whole exercise: I rarely use these "standard" CVs as-is. They only come out when someone urgently asks, "Can you send me a CV now?" Otherwise, I'm customising them for specific roles, clients, and corporate cultures.
But here's why I need to maintain them anyway - they're massive time-savers. Having these different versions ready means that I can quickly adapt rather than start from scratch each time. It's a strategy I recommend to every consultant. Just let me know if you want a copy of mine!