More Than a CV

I recently opened a print preview of my CV. Almost seven pages — well over 10,000 characters. At that point you’re no longer holding a résumé, you’re holding a white paper on your own career. Do you expect a recruiter to read that?

The reason I even looked? I’m currently preparing for new assignments. And that means dusting off the CV, something most of us only do when we need to. Republishing it, rewriting it, review its structure and readability.

Beyond Jobs and Dates

A CV is not just a list of jobs and dates. It is a story, a personal timeline of work, choices, and growth. Some chapters are long and steady, others are short, intense, and full of change. Some read like turning points, others more like side quests.

And it is not only about employment. It is also about what kept those jobs possible, the trainings and courses that added new skills, and the private efforts that quietly shaped the professional ones. A CV holds more than positions — it holds the context around them.

The challenge is that stories have different versions depending on the audience.

• The full edition: the long CV. This is the archive, the complete record, everything that shaped you. It can run six or seven pages without apology.
• The condensed edition: a résumé. One or two pages that show the highlights, the turning points, the impact. Enough to get attention without drowning the reader in detail.
• The blurb: a short profile or summary. The “back cover text” that sparks curiosity and leaves room for conversation.

The trick is not just cutting text, but considering perspective. The same story can be told as a chronicle, as a highlight reel, or as an elevator pitch. Each version has its place and, perhaps, its own audience.

Working through mine reminded me of something important: the CV is not only for others. It is also for yourself. It forces you to step back and reflect. To connect the dots across years and projects. To see the through-line that might not have been obvious while living it.

That is why I now think of the CV as a living document. Updating it is not a chore. It’s a chance to look back, to take stock, and to think about where you’re going next.

While that is true it also raises another question, do I write a 20 pages life history based upon what is in my CV? I could, most of you who read this could also, maybe some have. It would not be for HR or ATS systems though, but for friends and relatives to read about what you did in that circumstance on that workplace.

Food for thought.