A Guide to Polishing Your CV and LinkedIn Profile for the New Year

The new year is the perfect time to refresh your professional presence and ensure you’re putting your best foot forward in the job market. Your CV and LinkedIn profile are crucial tools in landing your next role, so investing time to update and optimise them can make a significant difference. At VWA, we work closely with job seekers to help them create standout applications and professional profiles that capture the attention of top employers. Follow this guide to ensure both shine in 2025:

Tailor Your CV for the Roles You Want

Your CV should clearly communicate your skills and experience in relation to your target roles. Here’s how to fine-tune it:

• Review and update your content: Add recent roles, responsibilities, and achievements, ensuring all details are current.
• Focus on achievements, not just duties: Highlight specific accomplishments, using measurable results where possible. For example, “Increased client satisfaction scores by 20% through process improvements.”
• Streamline and prioritise: Ensure your CV is concise, ideally two pages long, and focus on the most relevant experience for the role you’re seeking.
• Use keywords: Tailor your CV to each application by including keywords from the job description.

At VWA, we understand what hiring managers are looking for and can provide personalised feedback to ensure your CV aligns with industry expectations.

Refresh Your LinkedIn Profile

LinkedIn is often the first place recruiters look, so it’s essential that your profile is polished and professional. Here are the key areas to focus on:

• Update your headline: Use your headline to showcase your professional identity and target role, e.g., “Experienced Marketing Manager | Specialising in Digital Campaigns and Brand Strategy.”
• Optimise your summary: Write a compelling summary that highlights your career journey, key skills, and goals. Keep it professional but personable.
• Showcase your experience: Ensure your work history aligns with your CV, and include relevant achievements and skills.
• Add skills and endorsements: Highlight the most relevant skills for your industry, and request endorsements from colleagues or managers.
• Upload a professional photo: Use a high-quality, professional image where you appear approachable and confident.

Align Your CV and LinkedIn Profile

Consistency between your CV and LinkedIn profile is crucial to building trust with recruiters and hiring managers. Ensure that:

• Job titles, dates, and responsibilities match across both platforms.
• Key achievements and skills are highlighted in both, though your CV can provide more detail.
• Your LinkedIn profile offers additional value, such as recommendations or links to projects, that complement your CV.

Highlight Your Skills and Achievements

Both your CV and LinkedIn profile should make your skills and achievements stand out:

• Skills: List both technical and soft skills that are relevant to your target roles, such as project management, team leadership, or adaptability.
• Achievements: Focus on results-driven accomplishments, such as exceeding targets, streamlining processes, or launching successful projects.
• Keywords: Use industry-specific keywords to ensure your profile and CV are optimised for applicant tracking systems (ATS) and recruiter searches.

If you need help identifying which achievements to highlight, VWA’s consultants can provide expert advice based on your career goals and the roles you’re targeting.

Leverage LinkedIn’s Features

LinkedIn offers unique features that can enhance your profile and visibility:

• Customise your URL: Create a personalised LinkedIn URL to make your profile more professional and easier to share.
• Add certifications and courses: Showcase any training or certifications you’ve completed to demonstrate ongoing development.
• Publish content: Share articles or insights on industry topics to establish yourself as a thought leader.
• Engage with your network: Actively comment on posts, share updates, and interact with others to boost your visibility.

Proofread and Seek Feedback

First impressions count, so ensure your CV and LinkedIn profile are error-free:

• Check for spelling and grammatical errors.
• Ensure formatting is consistent, clean, and professional.
• Ask a trusted colleague or career coach to review both for clarity and impact.

Ready to Make an Impression?

Polishing your CV and LinkedIn profile is an investment in your future. By following these steps, you’ll create a strong and cohesive professional presence that captures the attention of recruiters and hiring managers. With VWA’s expertise and personalised support, you’ll be well-equipped to navigate the job market and seize every opportunity. Start the new year with confidence, knowing you’re ready to achieve your career goals!