Creating a functional CV
Ella recently touched based with me after I wrote a blog post about the importance of tailoring your CV to a specific role, asking for advice in creating a ‘generic’ CV.
Tailoring is sometimes a challenge and not everyone is moving on or up in their chosen profession - many job seekers are just trying to get a job!
For those job seekers, a functional CV rather than a more traditional chronological CV may prove more beneficial when approaching job applications as it focuses more on transferrable skills which are listed under headings. It can also be a valuable format when applying for a job that is different to your most recent role or if you have several gaps in your employment and you don’t want this to be the first impression a potential employer has of you.
Format
Personal Profile
This is where you can highlight your personal qualities, key skills and achievements.
Headings
These should relate to one of your key skills or abilities. List in order of importance with the most important at the top – you should aim for 3-6 headings, but as these are not linked to a particular job you can include experience gained from anywhere.
These can include (but not limited to)
- Sales
- Administration
- Organisation
- Communication
- Customer Service
- Management
Career Summary
Starting with the most recent first, this area should show details of your employer, your job title, dates of employment and a brief description of your responsibilities.
Education
List the name (again, most recent first) of your school, college and/or university along with the dates you attended and the qualifications gained.
Interests and Hobbies
Only add these if they add value. Socialising with friends is not a hobby!
There are distinct pros and cons for this type of CV, but remember to make the most of what you are good at, use adjectives to emphasise your point – words such as committed, dedicated and enthusiastic all portray the right attributes in a candidate.
Best of luck in your job hunt – download a copy of our Functional CV example to get you started.