There are two main types of CV. A chronological CV is the one most people are familiar with. It shows your career history in reverse chronological order (most recent first). A functional CV highlights your skills and achievements. Here is our advice to help you chose the most appropriate CV for your circumstances.

Chronological CV

The chronological CV is the most familiar format for employers and is a good way to show career development and to showcase your experience from today, backwards. If your recent job titles are the same or similar to the job you’re applying for, your recent employer is a respected name in the industry and you have a strong educational record then the chronological format is for you. As it places emphasis on career progression, it doesn't work so well if you have had career breaks or gaps in your employment history. If your recent achievements and positions aren’t relevant to the job you are applying for then recruiters might assume you are unqualified for the job before reading on further to uncover how qualified you really are.

Functional CV

The functional CV format can be used to draw attention to your skills, strengths and achievements relevant to a specific job/industry. This format tends to be used for highly skilled professionals (e.g. Engineers and IT), new graduates, job hoppers or career changers. It gives you the chance to describe yourself through what you can do, rather than jobs you have had. You should include in your CV a short profile which will introduce you and what you have to offer. Your skills and achievements should be listed under four to six functional headings which will be relevant to your job sector and experience. It could be a good idea to check the job description so you can try to match these headings to the skills required for the job. Include a brief career history with names of your employers and your job title. This type of CV might create concerns from an employers’ point of view as it can be used as a way of "getting around" common issues.

Combination CV

As the name suggests, this format is a cross between the chronological and functional CV. The combination CV doesn't waste recruiters’ time as it begins with a summary of qualifications and ends with a chronological summary of education and employment. It usually leads with two or three skills headings and a longer career history than the functional CV. The danger with this type of CV is that it can easily become too long if you include too much detail. The flow of the combination CV includes a personal statement, a summary of qualifications, special skills, educational history, employment background and references.

Targeted CV

A targeted CV aims to clearly target a specific role or career by emphasising relevant skills, qualities and capabilities. It is particularly useful for people who have a number of different skill sets which they would like to use to target different job sectors. This type of CV is best presented as a one-page format so remember to keep it brief. It should consist of a profile, focused on your achievements and experience within your targeted sector, a bullet point list of skills that are appropriate to the position you are applying for, career history, education, personal details then references.

Creative CV

Finally, a creative CV uses a portfolio to present evidence of previous work. This type of CV is used for creative professions such as artists, photographers, graphic designers and fashion. It gives you the opportunity to show skills and qualities through visual representation. While the format is dependent on your experience and goals, you still need to ensure you include your core elements like your name and contact details, a career profile, key achievements, skills or work history, education and professional qualifications.

Final Thoughts

The right CV can make a difference to your future career prospects so it is well worth investing in having your CV professionally written for you.