Don't Outsource Your CV (Why Writing Your Own CV Matters)

Why Writing Your Own CV Matters

Look, I get it. Writing a CV isn’t exactly anyone’s favorite pastime. It can feel overwhelming to sit down and translate the work you’ve poured yourself into over the years into a couple of pages of bullet points. But here’s the thing: handing it off to someone else might actually be doing yourself a disservice.

Here’s why:

• You’re the only one who really knows your story - Nobody else has lived your life. Nobody else understands the nuances, triumphs, struggles, and lessons learned. When someone else writes your CV, they’re guessing at best. But when you write it, it’s real. It’s you.
• Authenticity is irreplaceable - The world’s already full of copy-paste CVs stuffed with buzzwords that recruiters glaze over. When you write your own CV, it has your voice, your style, your values. People value genuine self-expression and can feel it from a page, which is often lost when outsourcing results in cookie-cutter templates or overused buzzwords.
• Clichés are boring and don't help you stand out - Most outsourced CVs are riddled with jargon and empty phrases like “results-oriented team player.” It’s filler, not substance. What's worse is that they dilute your individuality. And you’ve got better things to say about yourself than that. Writing it yourself ensures your words actually mean something. You can avoid sounding like everyone else and stand out with specific, meaningful language.
• It’s an exercise in self-discovery - Writing your CV isn’t just about landing a job. It’s about taking stock of where you’ve been, what you’ve learned, and what you have to offer. It’s a chance to reflect on your career and gain clarity on your next steps. It also brings more confidence and gravita when you interview. It's essential preparation for the entire process of career transition if you want to do it consciously.
• You need to be able to own it - If someone else writes your CV, there’s a good chance it won’t fully resonate with you. But you’ll still have to sell it in interviews. If the words don’t feel like yours, that disconnection will show. When you write it yourself, you can stand behind every line with confidence. It's ownership that builds confidence.
• Tailoring for each opportunity - Job applications often require tailoring your CV to align with the specific role or company. By writing it yourself, you’ll feel much more comfortable and better equipped to make these adjustments quickly and effectively. No CV is one-size-fits-all.
• It’s all in the details - An outsider won’t know the nuances of what you’ve done, the unique challenges you’ve overcome, or the little wins that make a big impact. Those details make your story real and relatable - and only you can capture them properly. In fact, an outsourced writer might even misinterpret or overlook important details, inaccurately presenting parts of your story.
• You learn how to tell your story - Writing your own CV is about more than the CV itself. It’s about learning how to articulate who you are and what you bring to the table. It’s a skill that’ll serve you in interviews, networking, and throughout your career. It’s a lifelong skill, equipping you to present yourself effectively in different professional contexts, without needing external help every time.
• It keeps you connected to your work - Writing your CV is an invitation to think about your career in a way that keeps you engaged with your growth. It’s not just about landing the next gig - it’s about understanding what you’ve achieved and where you’re heading.
• Consider the cost vs value - Sure, outsourcing your CV can be expensive, but the bigger cost is giving up the chance to tell your story your way. The CV is just the beginning - you want every step of your job search to feel like it’s coming from you.

In the end, your CV is your voice on paper. You’ve already done the hard work - this is your chance to share it with the world. So take a deep breath, sit down, and start writing. It doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be yours.

And get help if you need to (from a friend, a recruiter, a coach, a copywriter, AI), but just for inspiration or feedback. Own the process so you can own the result.

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Yes, I can also help you with this as with every step of the career transition process. I combine my experience and skills as a recruiter and coach to partner with you. You own the process, but I'm right there next to you for all of it.

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Photo credits: Thought Catalog on Unsplash