Different CV formats: Which is right for you?
To decide which CV style is right for you, you first need to understand them, their differences and when/how to use them. Which format you choose will depend on you and your circumstances, here is a breakdown to point you in the right direction.
Functional (Or Skills Based CV)
What it is:
This layout consists of a profile, a selection of your skills with explanations of how they are used and then a list of your jobs without any duties mentioned. Any qualifications or extra information can be listed beneath your career history.
Who should use it:
- If you have a lot of jobs that have asked you to use the same skills, this will reduce the repetition in your CV.
- If you want to emphasise your skills, rather than things like gaps in your career history, then a functional format is the way to go.
- If you don’t have much experience in your target sector, or are looking for a change, then this format will enable an employer to see the useful, transferable skills you have, without focussing on your prior experience.
What a blank template looks like:
Chronological CV
What it is:
This is the most common type of CV, and the one you are probably used to seeing. It consists of a profile and then lists your career history, detailing responsibilities and achievements for each role.
Your education, other information and professional development is usually listed beneath your career history, unless you are a recent graduate and want to highlight your success.
Who should use it:
- If you have a consistent career history without any gaps and varied job descriptions, then you will have enough material to make a compelling chronological CV.
- If you have worked in the same sector for a while and want to continue to do so, then this is the best format for you.
- If you have a lot of skills/achievements then it’s best that they are presented in this style, as putting them in a functional format might mean some of them are eliminated or lose context.
What a blank template looks like:
Combined CV
What it is:
This format is a mixture of both a functional and chronological CV. It consists of a profile, a brief skills section (either in a list or matrix format) and then a career history detailing responsibilities and achievements for each role.
As with a chronological CV, your education should be placed after your career history unless you are a recent graduate.
Who should use it:
- If you work in a sector like IT or engineering and have specific, technical skills, then a combined CV with a matrix showing your skills will work well for you. It highlights your skills without adding repetition into your roles.
- If you have a varied career history without any breaks, it’s a great way to show your transferable skills, without tying you to a specific sector.
What a blank template looks like:
Choosing the correct layout might not seem like a vital part of CV writing, but how you present yourself is almost as important as the information you’re putting across.
Think about what you want people to focus on – your skills or your experience/achievements in each role and decide which format is best for you.
Written by Katy Blanchard