How to format your CV

This is the fourth in a new series – The Basics of Writing a CV.

CV writing trends change, so make sure your CV format reflects current best practices.

Which format?
Up until recently, job seekers lacking relevant experience or with work history gaps were advised to write a functional (or skills) CV. The reasoning was that because functional CVs are organised around skills rather than around a chronological work history, they deflect attention away from a sketchy work history.

But hiring managers and recruiters don’t want to have to hunt for your career information. They like to see how you’ve progressed in your career; what you’ve achieved and where. If you try to obscure this information in a functional format, you’re making it more difficult for them to find the details they need to assess whether you’re a good candidate – and you risk them just giving up on you. So provide them with the details clearly and upfront in a chronological format.

A chronological CV is flexible: you can choose what information to highlight and in what order, depending on the requirements of the job you’re applying for. For example, most people would prioritise career history over education, but if you’re applying for an academic post, or you’re a recent grad with impressive educational achievements but little work experience, you might decide to put this section first. You can move information around in a chronological CV too: extract key, relevant accomplishments from all areas of your background for your professional profile / career summary section, where you know it’s going to be seen.

With this level of customisation from a chronological CV – the ability to select and present your most attractive achievements, skills and qualities – there’s no need to hide your weaker points behind a functional format.

Include the following sections in your CV:

Name and contact details
Put these details across the top of your CV. There’s no need to write “Curriculum Vitae” – it’s obvious what it is. Give your phone numbers, email address, postal address, and a link to a professional website if you have one, to your LinkedIn profile, if you don’t.

Job title, followed by a short branding statement underneath
The title can be either the role you are applying for, or one you aspire to if you’re writing a speculative CV.

Including a job title means you can avoid writing a career objective. Objective have recently fallen out of fashion, as they focus on you and your career goals, rather than on what you can offer a company. Stating the job title also shows your confidence in your ability to do the job.

A short positioning, or brand statement under the job title gives you even more credibility. In one sentence, sum up the unique value you can bring to the role. What do you do best? What are you known for? For more information on how to use personal branding in your CV; see How focussing your CV helps you stand out and Why having a personal brand is important.

You can also use the space under your job title to list key personal characteristics. These should also reflect what will be useful for the role you apply for.

Professional profile / summary section
This section is where you really sell your value to an employer. Write about three sentences which succinctly demonstrate why you are an ideal candidate. You can include the length and range of relevant experience, the impact of your work, including one or two key accomplishments, and any other details which are crucial in positioning you for the job.

It’s worth spending time on your summary. As it’s at the beginning of your CV, it’s the part most likely to get read in its entirety, so make sure you construct a solid, compelling argument for why you’re a good candidate. You can then use the rest of your CV to fill in the background details of your achievements and expertise.

One way to add third-party objectivity to your profile is to include a one or two sentence testimonial or reference from a boss or satisfied customer illustrating your qualities or abilities. Put it in quotation marks, along with the name of the person making the quote.

For the best impact, make your summary as concise and relevant as possible to the role, and use powerful vocabulary: action verbs, with no passive forms.

Key skills / Key Strengths / Core Competencies
Group your skills in one place, rather than listing them for each job in your career history section. Tie in your skills to those required for the job.

Key achievements / Career highlights
Quantify your achievements where possible by stating what they meant to the company. Use £ or % to show how you increased company revenue or process efficiency, reduced costs or staff turnover, etc. Numbers back up your claims, and allow the hiring manager to visualise you creating the same sort of impact in the new role.

Make sure that whatever achievements you choose are relevant. As you’re focussing on what you did, rather than on when you did it, you don’t need to include dates. This means you can include career highlights from further back in your career- especially useful if you’re returning to work after a gap.

Career history
Work backwards in reverse chronological order. You don’t need to include all your work experience, so you can omit anything older than ten or fifteen years.

One of the keys to writing an effective career history section is to work out what’s relevant, and what’s not. Broadly speaking, put anything irrelevant in an Additional Experience section, after your main career history section. Whatever is relevant to the role (including internships, voluntary work, short-term projects etc) can go in the main section.

Give years of employment for each main role listed, but group together temp agency or very short-term roles. If you’ve had the same employer for a long period of time, show how you progressed in the company.

Rather than focussing on a list of responsibilities, show how what you did added value to the role and to the company.

Education and training
Only include the most recent or relevant education, such as professional training, or your degree. You don’t need to include secondary school education or GCSE grades.