When do I need a Skill based CV?

A skills-based or functional CV focuses on your skills, qualities, and accomplishments rather than your work history. It is structured according to your individual skills to draw attention to your career achievements. Skills-based CVs are often used when changing careers or by those with little work experience to highlight transferable skills.

You have little or zero experience

As a new university graduate or a secondary school graduate, you may not have extensive work experience to fall back on.

A skills-based CV draws attention away from your work and gives you the opportunity to mention projects, achievements, and awards that are relevant to the job application.

You’ve taken career breaks

Could be that you needed to take time out to care for family members or experienced unplanned months of unemployment.

A skill-based cv will cover this up in a way that a chronological CV, ordered by date will not.

You want to change careers

When you don’t have the exact experience required for your next/ desired job, there will be a  need to emphasize your transferable skills and relevant experience.

You’ve changed jobs several times

 

Having changed jobs multiple times can be an asset to your next employer if you present your skills in the right way. Unlike other candidates, you’ll be able to leverage on a wide range of skills and experiences to demonstrate your suitability as a candidate.