Your CV is your passing card to impress prospective employers and open doors for your dream job, it needs to sell your skills, and achievements with professionalism. Understanding how to structure a great CV or resume will help you create a compelling document that leaves a positive impression in the recruiter's minds. In this article, you will learn what a CV is, and how to make one with examples.
What is a CV?
A good CV is a detailed document showing and highlighting your professional and academic history. Its format usually includes your work experience, education, projects, and more. And based on the information included in this document, you will evaluate yourself if you are qualified enough to apply for the job. The usual length of the CV is two or three pages long, but it may be longer for a mid-level or senior job applicant since a resume provides a comprehensive summary of a person's professional achievements.Types of CVs
If you're considering drafting your CV, understanding its different formats can help you choose the ideal one for your application. There are different types of resumes, each serving a different purpose; however, they present the employee’s life course from various perspectives.Chronological CV
If you worked consistently with no gaps in your career or have stayed in the same industry without any shifts in your path, this is the perfect type to go for. This kind of CV can help the recruiter to have an overall look at your career path and understand how your recent position makes you a suitable candidate for the role. Therefore, the chronological CV format is ideal for creating a strong CV if you have:- Worked in the same business or industry for many years.
- Gained years of expertise in a particular field.
- No gaps while switching jobs.
Functional or Skills-Based CV
From its name, its focus is on your skills and functions rather than the industry, more suitable for career changers. This kind turns the skills of the candidate into the main base, lets prospective employers see your experience and abilities rather than the gaps on your resume, and highlights your transferable capabilities. So, you may put your CV in this form if:- You are a fresh graduate with no experience.
- You are shifting your career and starting a new path.
Combined CV
It’s a combination of both functional and chronological, it shows or focuses on your skills associated with your accomplishment and achievement in each role. A combined CV will often end up longer than a skills-based or chronological CV, and don’t forget to focus on the brevity as the recruiter only scans your document in six seconds. It will be the perfect fit for you, if:- You are a junior or gained 1-3 experience in your field.
- You have held the same position with several different companies.
Creative CV
This type of CV is ideal for the candidate who is looking for a role in the creative field, such as marketing, graphic design, media, and brand consulting. It's the right choice of CV for the highly skilled to showcase their past work experience and skills to grab the employer's attention. The idea of a creative resume is to be creative, as a result, it not only lists a specific ability but also supports it with one or more relevant examples of tasks that are completed using that skill.Academic CV
This kind of resume is frequently utilized while applying for research fellowships, post-graduation programs, PhD degrees, or a job in a certain university. It’s more focused on your academic line, showing teaching experience, papers published, professional associations, and licenses.What goes into CV
While your CV should be specified and tailored to the job you're applying for, there are several sections that should be included in your resume that make you a highly qualified candidate, like:| Name and Contact Details | Where you mention your name, address, mobile number, email address, and your LinkedIn link. |
| Summary | Where you describe your professional experience, skills, and background for a job prospect. It's typically a short and concise paragraph, around four to five sentences long. |
| Education Degrees | It’s the section where you present the university you graduated from, and the degree you are holding, whether it’s a bachelor’s, a PhD, etc… |
| Work Experience | Where you show the jobs and positions that you worked in, mentioning the period of employment, your responsibilities, and how they helped. |
| Extracurricular activities | It refers to any extra activities such as “student activities, volunteer work” that might help you and show some skills such as teamwork, leadership, and commitment. |
| Skills | Here, where you discuss the skills you gained from previous work, and you may focus on the skills that serve the industry of the position you are applying for. |
| References | No need to provide the names of referees at this section. can simply inform the employer that the reference is available by saying, "References available upon request”. |