The Different CV Types

There are different types of CV that can be used depending on a number of factors including which type of job you are applying for and what your previous employment and skills are, to enable to target employers more effectively.

Which type of CV should I use?

If you are unsure about which type of CV to use for the job/s you are applying for, try taking this quick activity below – Think of the job role or type of job you’d like to apply for, answer the questions by following the flowchart and find out which CV best suits your needs from the results at the bottom.

This type of CV focuses on your employment history in reverse order, starting with the most recent role at the top. Job titles and company names are made clear for each job, with the duties and achievements detailed underneath each heading. The only difference between a Chronological CV and a Performance CV is that a Performance CV would list your major work-related achievements near the start.

This type of CV focuses on your skills, abilities and achievements which are relevant to the job you are applying for, with less focus on work experience. This is a good type of CV to use if you have had a large number of jobs and want to focus on the overall experience you have gained, or if you are applying for a job completely different to the type of work you have done in the past.

This type of CV focuses on the main achievements of your whole career and the details of what you have achieved in each job role are focused on more than the actual job titles or company names – sometimes this information can be left out altogether. This type of CV is useful if you have little or no work experience or are applying for a job different to what you have done previously.