What is a skills-based CV and when to use one

​A skills-based CV (also known as a functional CV) is a type of CV that emphasises your skills and abilities rather than focusing primarily on the chronology of your work history. This format is particularly useful for job seekers who want to showcase transferable skills or competencies that are relevant to the position they are applying for, rather than drawing attention to a chronological career path.

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The key facts about a skills-based CV are:

1. Emphasis on Skills and Competencies
You group your skills into key areas such as leadership, communication, problem-solving or technical abilities, and under each heading provide examples of how you have demonstrated these skills in various contexts.
For example:

• Leadership: Led a team of 10 employees, increasing productivity by 15% over six months.
• Communication: Delivered presentations to stakeholders facilitating project approval for a £500k initiative.

2. Minimal Focus on Chronology
Unlike a traditional chronological CV that lists your work history in date order, a skills-based CV downplays the timeline. The work experience section comes later in the document and usually provides only basic information like company names, job titles and dates, without detail about your roles or responsibilities.

3. When to Use a Skills-Based CV
A skills-based CV is most effective in situations like:

• Career transitions. When your previous job titles don't clearly align with your target role.
• Changing roles: Skills-based CVs allow you to showcase skills from a previous role that are applicable in a new industry.
• Limited work experience: If you have a history of short-term roles.
• Employment gaps: When you have breaks in your employment history but want to focus on what you can bring to the table because a skills-based CV shifts the emphasis from specific job periods to the expertise you have developed.

4. Structure of a Skills-Based CV

• Personal Information: Start with your name, contact details and LinkedIn profile URL.
• Personal Statement/Professional Summary: A brief paragraph outlining your key skills and strengths. This section summarises how your skills align with the job you’re applying for.
• Skills Section: The core of the CV, where you list key skills under specific headings, followed by examples of how you’ve demonstrated these skills in previous roles, volunteer work or education.
• Work Experience: A simplified section where you list the places you’ve worked, job titles and dates of employment with less emphasis on specific duties than in a traditional CV.
• Education and Professional Development: Information about your educational background and any relevant certifications, CPD or training.
• Additional Information and Hobbies: This can include volunteer experience and hobbies and achievements related to them, or other skills that may be useful for the job such as having a driving licence.

5. Advantages of a Skills-Based CV

• Focus on strengths: It helps you highlight the abilities most relevant to the job, particularly if your previous roles don’t match exactly.
• Minimises the impact of employment gaps: It downplays the timeline, making it less important if you have gaps in your work history.
• Tailored for the job: You can easily adapt it to suit the skills required in the job you are applying for, allowing you to position yourself as the best candidate.

6. Disadvantages of a Skills-Based CV

• Less detail on career progression: Since work history is secondary, this format doesn’t show a clear career trajectory, which might be important for some employers.
• Unfamiliarity: Some recruiters may be more used to chronological CVs and may prefer to see a more traditional format.

In summary, a skills-based CV is ideal if you need to emphasise your skills and experiences over your job history, making it a great option for career changers or those with gaps in their employment. By focusing on what you can do, rather than where you’ve been, this CV format helps you demonstrate your value as a potential employee.