What Are the Main CV Styles and When Should You Use Each One?

The most effective CV style for you depends primarily on your career history and the specific role you are targeting. The three main CV formats—chronological, functional, and combination—each serve distinct professional situations. Choosing the right one is critical for passing Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and impressing hiring managers.

An ATS is software used by companies to automate the initial screening of job applications, filtering them based on keywords and format. Based on our assessment experience, a well-chosen CV format can significantly increase your chances of securing an interview.

What is a Chronological CV and Who is it For?

The chronological CV is the most traditional and widely recognized format. It presents your work experience in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent position. This style emphasizes a clear, progressive career trajectory.

This format is ideal if:

• You have a solid work history with no significant employment gaps.
• Your career path shows clear, logical progression, often within the same industry.
• You are applying for a role where your past job titles and employers carry significant weight.

The strength of a chronological CV lies in its familiarity to recruiters and its ability to showcase stability and growth. Here is a simplified structure:

Paula Marks | Example Chronological CV

• Professional Summary: Detail-oriented professional with six years of experience...
• Work Experience: Lists roles, companies, and dates, with bullet points highlighting responsibilities and achievements.
• Education
• Skills

When Should You Consider a Functional CV?

A functional CV, also known as a skills-based CV, shifts the focus away from your chronological work history and onto your core skills and competencies. It groups your experience under skill headings rather than job titles.

This format is most suitable for:

• Career changers who want to highlight transferable skills.
• Recent graduates or those with limited work experience.
• Individuals with employment gaps in their history.

By de-emphasizing dates and job titles, a functional CV allows you to foreground what you can do. However, some recruiters may view it with caution as it can obscure a candidate's career timeline. It's structure typically looks like this:

Mark Hanna | Example Functional CV

• Professional Summary
• Skills Section (Detailed): Headings like "Project Management," "Communication Skills," with examples of how you've applied them.
• Work Experience (Brief)
• Education

How Does a Combination CV Offer the Best of Both Worlds?

The combination CV (or hybrid CV) merges elements from both the chronological and functional formats. It typically begins with a detailed skills summary, followed by a reverse-chronological list of work experience. This allows you to highlight your most relevant abilities immediately while still providing a transparent career history.

This format is highly effective for:

• Experienced professionals with a strong skill set who want to make a targeted application.
• Applicants with specific expertise that they want to emphasize upfront.
• Those who have a good career history but want to minimize the impact of a short gap or unrelated roles.

The combination CV is often considered the most powerful modern format because it is both ATS-friendly and compelling for human readers. Its structure is:

Peter Hurley | Example Combination CV

• Professional Summary
• Key Skills: A bulleted list or table of core competencies.
• Work Experience: Detailed, reverse-chronological listings.
• Education & Certifications

What Are the Essential Tips for a Professional CV?

Regardless of the format you choose, follow these universal guidelines to ensure your CV is polished and effective:

• Tailor Your CV for Each Role: Carefully study the job description and use its keywords. Explain how your skills directly align with the company's requirements.
• Prioritize Readability: Use a clean, professional font (10-11 pt) and standard margins. Break up text with bullet points and use bold to emphasize key achievements.
• Use Action Verbs: Start bullet points with strong verbs like "orchestrated," "implemented," "analyzed," or "spearheaded" to convey confidence and impact.
• Quantify Your Achievements: Instead of "responsible for sales," write "increased regional sales by 20% within one year." Numbers provide concrete evidence of your success.
• Proofread Meticulously: Spelling or grammatical errors can immediately disqualify you. Review your document carefully and ask a friend to proofread it.

The key to a successful job application is matching your CV format to your unique career narrative. A chronological CV showcases steady growth, a functional CV highlights core skills, and a combination CV provides a balanced, powerful presentation. Always tailor your CV to the specific job and ensure it is error-free.