Your CV is not a record of where you have been. It is a case for the defence. Most professionals work hard on their CV but never ask the harder question: does this document make a convincing case that I am the right person for this role, at the level I want to be hired at? If you are targeting a senior position, your CV needs to speak at that level with precision, personalisation, and evidence that only you could provide.

There is another complication. Workplaces often reward what is urgent and visible, not necessarily what is most natural or valuable. Someone may become known as the person who fixes detail-heavy problems because they are dependable under pressure, while their real strength lies in judgement, communication or seeing patterns early. Over time, other people's expectations can blur your own understanding of where you add the most value.