How many versions of your CV or resume are sitting on your hard drive right now? At one point, I had at least ten – each one tweaked, tailored, and manipulated to match a different job ad. I became a master chameleon, reinventing myself to match whatever an employer claimed they needed. But inside? I was exhausted and confused.
I realised I was experiencing what I now call CV Schizophrenia – presenting multiple versions of myself, each aligned to someone else’s expectations instead of who I truly wanted to be.
In today’s job market, it’s easy to feel like you need to chase every opportunity, especially with AI-generated job listings, ghost applications, and algorithmic hiring platforms. But if you’re constantly shape-shifting to get hired, you’ll never get closer to the career or life you actually want. That’s not thriving, it’s surviving.
The Thrive Shift
Rather than trying to become what every employer wants, I made a powerful shift: I focused on what I wanted to offer the world. I took a hard look at what problems I loved solving, how I wanted to feel at work, and what kind of impact I wanted to make.
I didn’t just rewrite my CV, I repositioned my brand.
This is one of the core ideas behind my Thrive series. If you’re going to thrive in life and business, you need clarity on your value, confidence in your voice, and the boldness to show up in the world with intention. Your CV is just one small piece of your overall visibility strategy.
It’s Time to Get Honest
- What do you want your work to look like in 5 years?
- What title do you dream of holding, even if it doesn’t exist yet?
- What impact do you want to be known for?
Don’t answer these questions with what the market is demanding. Answer from a place of power. This is about alignment – choosing roles, projects, and platforms that reflect your long-term goals and how you want to live.
Your Next Steps
Purge the old versions. Keep only one CV that reflects the future you’re building.
Rebuild with vision. Lead with your unique value, not a generic objective statement.
Tell a consistent story. Use your LinkedIn, portfolio, and personal website to reinforce your message.
Stop saying yes out of fear. Politely decline roles that pull you in the wrong direction, even if they pay well.
When I started aligning my CV with who I wanted to be, opportunities that matched my energy and purpose found their way to me. This clarity is magnetic.
You’re not here to be all things to all employers. You’re here to be the right fit for the right vision. And that starts with owning your story.
*Another version of this post was originally written in August, 2016 on LinkedIn.
