Types of CVs

(Types that are relevant to me)

Chronological

Also known as a traditional or graduate CV, it is used to match qualifications and work experience with the requirements for the job role. It is structured in reverse order i.e. the most recent qualifications and experience are listed first, and makes it easy for employers to identify potential candidates.

Important to include:

• Dates – cover any gaps in your history
• Qualifications and Work Experience – match to the role
• Additional Skills and Knowledge – cover essential criteria for the role

Skill-Based

Also known as a functional CV, can be used if you have gaps in your employment history. Also useful if you limited experience or are applying for a job that is unrelated to your degree. Skills are transferable to different roles and employers and allows you to focus on skills you have developed in various areas of your life.

Important to include:

• Position your skills profile prominently
• Match your skills with the role profile and use the same headings
• Provide evidence of how you’ve used your skills in real life situations

Creative

A creative spin on a traditional CV format, designed to highlight creative ability and used to apply for jobs that focus on art, design, VFX, technology, advertising, media and publishing.

Creative CVs can take the form of:

– Written documents with elements of graphics, infographics and illustrations

– Video CV

– Online Portfolios

– Personal Websites with a career focus

– Alternative approaches such as a comic strip, board game or attaching a QR code containing your CV to a relevant object

–Advantages

• There are skills and competencies are hard to showcase with words. Actually demonstrate your ability rather than just telling employers.
• Can help your CV stand out where competition is fierce and speculative applications are common.
• Is more personal as it allows you to display your personality giving the recruiter an idea of whether you’ll be a good fit for the company.

–Disadvantages

• It is a risk and if it doesn’t fit the organisations look or brand it is unlikely to impress.
• Not all employers in the creative industry welcome this CV approach. Research will be needed to see if the organisation accepts this method as has been successful in the past.
• It may be all style and no substance.
• It is often more time consuming and time could be better spent perfecting a traditional CV or portfolio.
• A lot of recruiters use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to screen candidates CVs. These search for keywords that match the job description/person specification. Creative CVs may not be compatible due to their design adn format and organisations will discard them before they fall into the hands of a hiring manager.

My Current CV

Below is my current CV. The feedback I was given on this that it is clean and professional. It gives a good impression. However, it could do with a more creative flair if it is based on the creative industry.

Considering my feedback on my previous CV I feel like little needs to change. I sketched a revised version for layout. In this one I will take out my employment. The current employment has nothing to do with the creative industry and to be honest I feel like it is a bit off putting when you see it is about engineering. So I’ll take that out and then expand on my project experiences and highlight all the revelent skills that are to do with my planned specialty.

Along with that I will add some graphics to the CV, such as my logo when it is developed and other creative flairs that might help elevate my CV.