• 3-minute read
• 16th March 2020

Types of CV: Chronological, Functional and Combination

When writing a CV or resume, you need to pick a format. And the most common types are chronological, functional, and combination CVs:

• Chronological CVs and resumes, where you set out your work experience in reverse chronological order (i.e. starting with your most recent job).
• Functional CVs and resumes, which foreground your skills and expertise.
• Combination CVs and resumes, which combine elements of both formats.

The key is deciding which will work best for you! Let’s look at your options.

What Is a Chronological CV or Resume?

A chronological CV or resume is one in which you list your work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent role and working backwards. This type of CV would usually include the following:

• Your name and contact details.
• A short personal statement or profile.
• A breakdown of your career so far, including dates of employment, responsibilities, and achievements for each role.
• Your educational achievements and other qualifications.
• Interests, skills, and any other relevant information.

Alternatively, if you are a student or a recent graduate without a long employment history, you can put your educational experience first, followed by any relevant experience from work, volunteering, or other activities.

A chronological CV is great for showing off your career progress. It is thus ideal if you have a consistent career history in one area, especially if you’re applying for a new role in the same industry as you currently work in.

What Is a Functional CV or Resume?

A functional CV or resume – otherwise known as a skills-based CV – places most emphasis on your skills and expertise. This type of CV would typically include the following information:

• Your name and contact details.
• A short personal statement or profile.
• A list of key skills in decreasing order of importance for the role. Make sure to include examples of how you’ve used these skills in your career.
• Your previous roles and employers, but without going into details of duties.
• Your educational achievements and other qualifications.
• Interests, hobbies, and any other relevant information.

This CV format is excellent if you want to focus on transferable skills. This might be because you have a gap in your career history or because you’re applying for a role in a new industry where you do not have much experience.

The Combination CV (i.e. A Little Bit of Both)

Finally, if neither of the above seem right, you could try combining both!

A combination CV or resume is one that uses elements of both chronological and functional formats. This usually means having a list of skills or core competencies, followed by a detailed career breakdown.

Alternatively, you can provide a reverse chronological list of roles plus an expanded list of the skills involved. The best approach to use depends on what you want to emphasise most in your resume.

A combination CV is ideal if you want to show off your career progress while also providing an in-depth list of your skills, qualifications, and achievements. But combination CVs can become very long, so try to be concise.

CV and Resume Proofreading

Whichever format you choose, don’t forget to have your CVs and resumes proofread! This will make sure your writing is error free, giving you a better chance of impressing prospective employers.