Job hunting is all about making a strong impression, and your CV is the tool that showcases your work history and skills to employers. Think of your CV as your personal highlight reel for the job market. Knowing how to highlight your strengths isn't always easy, however, and you'll need the right CV format to illustrate your professional potential.
In this guide, we’ll review the following curriculum vitae formats: reverse chronological, functional, and combination. Understanding these formats allows you to select the CV format that best highlights your career story.
We’ll explore the following:
Let’s begin with the best ways to format your CV!
In simple terms, a CV format is the structure of your professional profile, tailored to showcase your background to potential employers effectively. The best CV format for you depends on a few things: mainly the job role you’re applying for, your professional skills and career experience.
We’ll dive deeper into each individual CV format, but it’s important to remember that every CV format is optimised for different career backgrounds and job roles. The best CV format for you is the format that can best convey your career strengths and the professional value you can offer to employers.
Before we explore the three main CV format types, here are some other important tips for job seekers to consider:
Without further ado, let’s check out the three main CV formatting options!
As you can see, each CV job format offers different advantages. We’ll help you choose the CV format that best presents your professional profile and enhances your chances of landing your next job role.
Review the job description and requirements thoroughly. Before choosing your CV format, read the job description carefully. If employers are looking for professionals with a particular skill set, it could be best to use a functional or combination CV format.
If the job requirements are more focused on your employment history and professional experiences, a reverse chronological CV might be your best bet. We’ll explore each individual CV job format, but it’s important to remember that the job description can offer many important clues as to what employers are directly looking for.
The reverse chronological CV job format is favoured for its straightforward style, popular among employers and job seekers alike. As we mentioned earlier, it presents your employment history and accomplishments, starting with the most recent position and working backwards.
This clear structure makes it easy for employers to see your latest achievements and understand how your career has developed over time. It's a simple yet effective way to demonstrate your professional journey and the experiences that have shaped your expertise.
This CV format is not just about listing jobs; it also includes your education and key skills, all in reverse order. The focus is on clear presentation and ease of reading, allowing anyone looking at your CV to quickly get the gist of your qualifications and work history. For individuals with a solid work background and a clear career progression, the reverse chronological CV can be a powerful tool to highlight their growth and suitability for the job at hand.
Check out our example of a reverse chronological CV format below:
Every great reverse chronological CV format typically contains the following:
Let’s begin with choosing an appropriate CV header.
Your CV header is likely the very first thing employers will see on your CV, so it's important to choose a visually appealing header that's appropriate for your industry. Include your full name in a large, bold text, so that it stands out as the header's main feature. Right underneath your name, write the job title you're applying for, and add your contact information: a current phone number and an email address where employers can contact you quickly.
If you have a LinkedIn profile or any links to a professional website, include those links here, too. Keep it simple and focused on how employers contact you and learn more about your work. Personal details like your age or relationship status aren't needed in this section. Take a look at our teacher CV format example below for a great CV header:
Your personal statement is a brief and dynamic pitch about who you are as a professional and the potential value you bring to the table. It should be positioned right underneath your CV header, and efficiently align any skills and experiences you possess with the job you're applying for. In about 2-3 sentences, highlight your most relevant qualifications, professional achievements, and the unique traits that make you ideal for the position.
Your personal statement is also your chance to grab the employer's attention by showcasing your enthusiasm and the value you can add to their team. Keep it genuine and avoid clichés to help leave a memorable first impression. Check out our nurse CV format example and writing guide for a great example of a personal statement:
The employment history section is a detailed record of your professional journey. Here, list your past jobs in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent position. For each role, include your job title, the company name, the dates of employment, and a summary of your responsibilities and achievements. Be concise but informative, focusing on experiences and accomplishments that are relevant to the job you're applying for.
Use action verbs to make your duties come alive and numbers to quantify your successes when possible. This section is key to showing potential employers the trajectory of your career and your capability to add value to their organisation. We’ve got a great example of an employment history section in our academic CV format example below:
The skills section of your CV should showcase your abilities that are most relevant to the role you're applying for. For example, if you’re applying for the role of a farm hand, you should probably avoid including your flash rugby or typing skills! The skills section should be easily scannable and grouped into relevant categories if you have a wide array of skills.
Include a mix of hard skills and soft, interpersonal skills, prioritising those most in demand for the job. Be specific – for example, rather than "good with computers," write "proficient in Adobe Creative Suite." This section helps employers quickly see that you have the qualifications they're looking for. Check out our programmer CV format example below for inspiration on how to format your CV skills section.
Did you know that high-income skills such as digital marketing or data analysis can earn Kiwi jobseekers more than $80,000 per year? Including a wide range of hard, technical and soft skills can help you stand out in a sea of applicants and get you noticed, and hired, faster!
The education section of your CV outlines your academic qualifications and should be tailored according to the level and relevancy of your educational background to the job you're applying for. List your highest degree first and descend to the least advanced degree. Include the name of the institution, the degree obtained, your field of study, and graduation date.
If you're a recent graduate or have limited work experience, you may also include academic achievements, relevant coursework, or extracurricular activities that demonstrate transferable skills.
If you've been in the workforce for a while, keep this section brief and focused on your highest qualifications. For more help with formatting your education section, take a look at our veterinarian CV format example to help get you started.
Using a reverse chronological CV job format is a great way to highlight your career trajectory and allows potential employers to effectively map your career progression. It’s also an easy way for employers to assess if you’re a good fit for the job role.
It’s important that the career experiences you include on your CV are not just in order of most recent to least recent, but that your past professional experiences are arranged in a way that emphasises the value you can offer to the job role. Keep in mind that employers are interested in seeing how your expertise and experience directly relate to the role in question.
That means that if you’re applying for a chef position and have already had multiple jobs in the hospitality industry, it’s best to leave your job role in retail from eight years ago. Employers are looking for relevant experience and expertise – so if you have more relevant career experiences, prioritise highlighting those first.
Here are some of the main advantages of using a reverse chronological CV format:
Functional CV formats emphasise your skills and achievements instead of focusing solely on your previous job positions. Usually, you can opt for a functional CV format when you want to draw away from gaps in employment history, if you have limited job experience, or when you’re changing career paths or industries and want to focus more on skills and achievements you’ve accrued over the years.
In a functional CV format, you’ll typically include a skills summary at the top of the CV, followed by specific skill sets and accomplishments. You can use your cover letter to elaborate on your career and explain any gaps in your work history, but your CV should highlight your skills and achievements as convincingly as possible. Remember: the goal of a CV is to showcase the value you can offer employers, even if you gained these skills in different industries or through less traditional means.
A functional CV, sometimes known as a skills-based CV, can provide several advantages, especially for certain job seekers.
Functional CVs have the following benefits:
Combination CV formats, as the name suggests, offer individuals the opportunity to present a comprehensive overview of both their skills and professional experiences.
This format is particularly beneficial for freelancers, IT professionals, and those in marketing roles, allowing applicants to highlight their work history and any relevant skills or achievements that make them a well-rounded candidate. In a combination CV, there are generally two key sections that you can use to your advantage.
The first section is the skills summary section, which allows you to showcase your core professional strengths and areas of expertise. Here, you can list the specific skills, tools, software, or methodologies that you have mastered in your career. This section can provide a snapshot of your abilities, making it easier for potential employers to quickly grasp your skill set.
The second important section in a combination CV is the employment history section. This is where you can outline your professional journey and highlight relevant experiences and achievements. This section allows employers to see the practical application of your skills and the impact you’ve achieved in previous positions.
Combination CVs are effective at capturing an applicant’s job experience and skillset and help highlight your professional value to employers.
Combination CVs have the following advantages:
If you're an international applicant looking to apply for positions in New Zealand, it's essential to understand the local job market preferences when it comes to CV formatting. New Zealand employers typically prefer a clear and concise CV that outlines your experiences and qualifications in a straightforward manner.
Fortunately, the reverse chronological CV format is highly appreciated in New Zealand as it provides an easy-to-follow timeline of your professional journey, showcasing your work history from the most recent role to the older ones.
If you’re a job seeker from Europe, the format is similar to what you’d see in a Europass CV. This format not only highlights your recent accomplishments but also allows potential employers to quickly assess your career development and the relevance of your experience to the position you're applying for.
Adapting your CV to the reverse chronological format can greatly improve your chances of capturing a New Zealand employer's attention. It's important to remember that New Zealand CVs generally place a strong emphasis on practical experiences, key achievements, and specific skills that align with the job requirements.
In addition to your employment history, incorporating a section that includes your education and professional certifications is recommended, especially if they are relevant to the job. By presenting your information in a clear and professional manner, you can make a strong impression, demonstrating that you’re well-prepared to enter the New Zealand job market.
When an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) reviews your CV, it's important to use common section headings and to include important keywords all over your CV. The order of the headings isn't very important, but you should always have a section for your employment history, even in a non-traditional CV
In 2024, Kiwi job seekers are adapting their CVs to match a dynamic job market. While many still use the classic reverse chronological CV, others are starting to see the benefits of alternative formats, such as the functional CV and combination CV formats.
Below, we've included three major CV formatting trends that are shaping the New Zealand employment landscape in 2024:
When placing the finishing touches on your CV, it's essential to select a CV format that most effectively showcases your professional potential. So remember: