Even when you are unemployed it is essential to maintain a good CV to be ready to show potential employers. As the time of unemployment goes on, you need to make sure to update your skills to stay current and competitive in your career field. Here are examples of how to improve your CV whilst unemployed.

Volunteer

Volunteer experiences can assist in helping you make contacts and gain confidence. This is also a great way to strengthen your CV and show that you are a well-rounded individual that cares about the community and has the desire to help others. There are numerous ways to volunteer such as helping out in charity organisations or teaching workshops in your field. When listing these experiences on your CV, be sure to mention what you have learned and the skills you have obtained or improved. 

Further Your Education

Today’s employers value skills in a variety of areas including technology, communications, global commerce, budgeting, leadership, and marketing. Sign up for a class at a local college or online or go back to school to earn a higher degree or certificate in a field of interest. Further education may be the key to helping you become competitive for a variety of positions such as business or marketing jobs. 

Learn a New Language

Learning a new language shows that you have the motivation and self-discipline to learn new things. This will add character to your CV and knowing the basics of another language may give you a competitive edge for various jobs. 

Enrol in an Acting Workshop

Acting workshops can help improve your public speaking abilities, help you learn how to become more adaptive to your surroundings, and provide you with experience working with a diverse group of people. This demonstrates your ability to put yourself out there and may also give you some interesting icebreaker stories during interviews. 

Job Shadow

Contact an individual in your chosen career field to shadow them to learn how they do their job. This provides a great opportunity to learn new skills and obtain advise from a professional in the field you seek employment. 

Remain Connected to Industry Associations

Even if you are out of work, you can continue your membership with trade groups or unions. This will help you stay up to date with what is going on in the field and you may also be able to attend industry or professional conferences. 

Join Local Interest Groups

Local organisations offer good networking opportunities and some offer skills classes. You can also volunteer to assist in running the program committee to demonstrate your initiative and communication skills. 

Start a Professional Blog

Start a blog about your field of interest to demonstrate your ability to take initiative and expand your network. You can post interviews of industry professionals, latest developments in the field, or other relevant information. Be sure to remain positive and do not provide any negative information about previous employers. Also, avoid making political or controversial statements. This will help keep you name out there, promote yourself as an expert in your field, and establish new connections.

Remember to update your CV every time you complete a new experience or gain a new skill. This will make sure you successfully demonstrate all of your skills to increase your chances of employment.