Types of CVs

The Traditional CV - jobs in reverse chronological order

• Personal inforamtion
• Overview
• Current Job - Accountabilities and Achievements
• Previous Job - Accountabilities and Achievements
• Previous Job - Accountabilities and Achievements
• Other Information

Overview of the Traditional CV: 

This is the most commonly used CV and following a traditional format, describing each job in reverse (i.e. most recent first) order and demonstrating career progression and achievements.

Advantages: 
It allows the reader to ‘follow’ your career easily; it is well suited to a CV with a natural path to the different roles and clear career development; it is well suited when you are applying for a role in an area where you have worked before.

Disadvantages:
Being ‘chronological’ it highlights gaps, and direction changes and if you have had a lot of jobs it can appear very ‘bitty’ with insufficient space to give details of the job and highlight a few achievements.

The Targeted CV - focuses on capability and then achievements

• Personal Information
• Overview
• Experience and Capability - listed
• Achievements - listed
• Job History (employer, date, job title, possibly one line to explain role if title not clear)
• Other information

Overview of the Targeted CV

This CV highlights experience and capability and achievements. 

Advantages:
It allows you to target the role that you are applying for and focuses attention on what you have to offer.  It is particularly useful if perhaps your previous jobs are not obvious precursors to the one you are applying for since it summarises your ‘suitability’.  It could be useful if you have a short career history or am a first time job seeker.

Disadvantages:
Some employers might want to know what you did when and where and not like this repackaging.

The Functional CV - focuses on functional capability areas

• Personal information
• Overview
• Area of specialism 1 [cover knowledge, experience and achievement under that specialism]
• Area of specialism 2 [cover knowledge, experience and achievement under that specialism]
• Area of specialism 3 [cover knowledge, experience and achievement under that specialism]
• Other information including Job History

Overview of the Functional CV:

This style of CV repackages your experience and achievement under ‘capability or functional areas’.  This gives focus to what you can bring to the job.  It is often favoured by consultants since it draws attention to the areas they wish to consult in.

Advantages:
It gives a quick and clear overview of ‘what you have to offer’.

Disadvantages:
Some employers might want to know what you did when and where and not like this repackaging.  You cannot easily demonstrate career progression supported by a track record of achievement and this can be important when applying for a job (less so when consulting).

The Skills Based CV - as Functional with skills demonstrated by example

• Personal information
• Overview
• Skill Area 1 [cover knowledge, experience and achievement under that skill]
• Skill Area 2 [cover knowledge, experience and achievement under that skill]
• Skill Area 3 [cover knowledge, experience and achievement under that skill]
• Other information including Education and Job History (temporary roles, voluntary etc) 

Overview of the Skills Based CV:

This style of CV repackages your experience and achievement under ‘skill areas’.  This gives focus to what you can bring to the job.  It is particularly useful for first time job seekers who do not have an employment track record but with to demonstrate the transferability and applicability of their learning and experience to date.

Advantages:
It gives a quick and clear overview of ‘what you have to offer’ and takes attention away from the lack of previous employment.

Disadvantages:
Some employers might want to know what you did when and where and not like this repackaging.  If you have an employment track record this may not be the best way to demonstrate it.