A functional CV, also known as a skills-based CV, is a type of resume that focuses on your skills and qualifications rather than your chronological work history. It’s particularly useful when you have gaps in your employment history or when you want to emphasize your skills for a specific job, industry change, or career transition. Here are the key features of a functional CV:
- Skills and Qualifications:
The main focus is on showcasing your key skills, qualifications, and achievements relevant to the job you’re applying for. This section often comes at the top of the CV.
- Professional Summary or Profile:
Include a brief summary or profile statement that highlights your career goals and key strengths. Tailor this section to match the job you’re seeking.
- Core Competencies or Skills Section:
List your core skills, technical abilities, and competencies. This section can be organized by category (e.g., technical skills, leadership skills, communication skills) and should align with the job requirements.
- Accomplishments:
Highlight your achievements and significant accomplishments in previous roles. Focus on results, quantifiable achievements, and specific contributions to projects or teams.
- Professional Experience:
Rather than listing your work history chronologically, group your relevant work experiences under skill-based headings. Describe your responsibilities and accomplishments for each skill category.
- Education:
Include your educational background, degrees earned, institutions attended, and graduation dates. This section is typically placed near the end of the CV.
- Certifications and Training:
Mention relevant certifications, licenses, and training programs you’ve completed. These can demonstrate your qualifications for the job.
- Additional Sections (Optional):
Depending on your background, you may include sections such as publications, presentations, awards, volunteer work, or professional memberships.
- Reverse Chronological Order (Optional):
In some functional CVs, a reverse chronological work history section is included at the end to provide a summary of your work experience, but this section is less detailed than in a traditional chronological CV.
Functional CVs are effective for emphasizing your skills and qualifications, especially if your work history is not directly related to the job you’re pursuing. However, some employers and industries prefer chronological resumes, so it’s essential to consider the preferences of your target audience when choosing the CV format to use.