Learn which CV formats can work best for you. A well-written CV can be the difference between getting an interview and getting ignored by a recruiter.
A well-written CV is a powerful tool. It can help you land an interview or even your dream job. It's important to make sure that your CV is formatted correctly and showcases your qualifications to a prospective employer. But what are the best CV formats? Should you use a chronological, functional or combination format? And how do you know which style is right for you?
Patricia Awori, a Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist shared with us her top 5 best CV formats and the pros and cons of each format. She also shared some exclusive tips on how to choose the right one. Here you go…
What are the best CV formats?
According to Patricia, there are different CV formats that you can use to present your skills and experience. Some are better for particular types of candidates or job roles than others. Let's look at the following 3 CV formats.
1. Reverse chronological CV format
The focus here is your work experience with the most recent or present job role listed at the top of the list. This is the most preferred method by recruiters and hiring managers as it is easy to skim through and have a quick picture of where you currently are in your career and the progression that led to this point right from the beginning.
The chronological CV is the most commonly used CV format because of its flow and how it helps potential employers quickly identify where you've worked and for how long. Many career platforms and CV builders have adopted the reverse chronological format for this reason.
This format is ideal for individuals who have a consistent work history with little or no gaps or career changes. This is not to say entry-level employees, and fresh graduates in the job market cannot use it, only that the skills-based CV format may be more suited to their own needs - more on that shortly.
The biggest advantage to this CV format is that it allows employers to see what you have done in recent years without having to flip through pages and pages of information they may not care about. The disadvantage is that it doesn't highlight any specific skills or achievements as clearly as other formats do.
2. Skills-based (functional) CV format
A skills-based or functional CV focuses on skills, rather than chronology. Instead of listing jobs and employers, a skills-based CV highlights your key skills and accomplishments from every position held (regardless of when it was). This type of CV will usually focus on what you know and can do, rather than what you have done in the past. A sample functional CV is shown below.
The skills-based CV focuses on your skills and abilities instead of your employment history. It begins with a career summary, then lists specific skills, followed by a list of accomplishments related to those skills. The main drawback to this type of CV is that it's less likely to be accepted by hiring managers who prefer a chronological structure because they want to see how your previous experiences relate to the job opening they're trying to fill.
Since skills-based CVs focus on skills rather than chronological work history they may be best suited for candidates with minimal work history as the emphasis is more on skills and abilities than work experience. It’s a great option for those switching careers as well because it enables them to highlight their transferable skills. It allows you to highlight your qualifications without having to go into too much detail about each job.
Skills-based CVs often include sections such as "Key skills", "Professional accomplishments" and “Professional certifications” that allow job seekers to highlight their skills without making employers hunt through their history to find them.
3. The combination CV
The combination (or hybrid) CV format combines elements of both reverse chronological and skills-based CVs into one document. This allows you to highlight key points while still providing enough information so hiring managers can see how you fit into their company and work culture.
This type of CV provides a summary at the top followed by a list of previous jobs underneath it (a chronology). Many have embraced this format because it highlights skills and achievements while also laying out your job history. Fuzu's CV creator gives you good examples of the combination CV format; they begin with a summary of your skills and accomplishments and go on to lay point out your work history.
Useful CV formatting tips and tricks
Below are important tips by Patricia to in mind when creating your CV:-
Make your CV ATS friendly - use simple formatting, avoid downloaded graphics/fonts, use keywords highlighted in the JD, and use standard section headings eg 'work experience'.
An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is a form of software that employers use to swiftly identify whether or not a candidate is qualified for a position.
Every job application is automatically scanned and processed by an ATS software, which subsequently disqualifies applicants that do not meet the requirements. Job-related technical abilities, work experience, and certifications are common examples of such requirements.
Targeted CVs - tailor your CV to the specific job being applied for.
Focus on accomplishments - in each role held, listed in bullets, highlight what you were able to achieve in summary (content should reflect the duties mentioned in the JD)
Length - keep your CV within 1-3 pages (1 for junior roles and 3 for senior roles)
Alignment - ensure the content of the CV is aligned to the left, otherwise, the CV appears messy (especially if several alignments are used)
I know, it sounds like a lot of work to create a CV. But Fuzu’s CV creator makes it super easy to do.
