Functional CV (skills-based)

The functional CV is useful in a number of circumstances that are outlined below:

• If you have large gaps in your career history due to illness, bringing up children etc
• If you have frequently changed jobs
• If you are fresh out of university or college with little work experience
• If you want to highlight the fact that you have an abundance of skills and achievements but are perhaps edging towards the later stage of your working career
• If you are contemplating a complete career change where your last position does not hold any relevance to your new post

This type of CV tends to hide dates or de-emphasises them, and rather focuses on any achievements, skills and abilities that have been acquired over a long period of time. These skills are often referred to as transferable skills, which can be gleaned in work or informal situations, so this is useful for anyone that has not been in a steady work environment and has perhaps been out of work for a long period of time.

Although you may not have been working as such, staying at home and looking after several young children, as well as overseeing the daily running of a busy household demonstrates a whole host of organisational, time-keeping and monetary skills, not to mention other favourable attributes such as patience, ability to work hard and motivation!

The functional CV is not very useful if you have worked in the same industry all your working career and you want to demonstrate a clear growth in a single profession.

(in this order)

• Personal details such as name and contact details.
• A brief career objective. This is a short paragraph detailing what position you want, and how your skills can be used to benefit the company that you want to work for.
• A career summary that contains a compact paragraph of all of your past achievements and contributions and your skills and personal attributes that will entice the reader to employ you.
• Next, where you would then detail your employment history in a chronological CV, this is replaced by a series of "functional" headings such as "sales", "management", "marketing", "organisation" etc that are followed with proof of your skills in those departments. Make sure that the headings that you use are relevant to the job that you are applying for.
• After this section you should include your work experience and educational history but these paragraphs will be featured near the bottom of the page/document with minimal information supplied.
• At the bottom of the CV you should have a separate heading for references, but the phrase "Available on request" will suffice.

Ann E. One 123 The Road, London, SW12 49X 0207 600 0000, 01234 5678, ann@emailadress.co.uk Objective: A managerial position in a large fashion house where my management, sales, customer relations and creative talents can be effectively used to motivate staff and to contribute to an increase in the company's annual turnover and profits. Summary: Over ten years of sales experience in ladies' fashions. Responsible for increased annual turnover of 20% and managing staff of 10. Sales: Increased sales by 20% resulting in a £600,000 profit increase. Trained new members of staff and existing staff in methods to increase sales and good salesmanship. Handled orders of new stock and then designed layout and actioned set up of floor space promoting new designs and sales items. Recruiting: Recruited competent new full-time and part-time staff based on CV selection and own-designed interview process. Training: Conducted weekly hour-long training sessions for staff on sales methods and customer care. Management: Managed 10 sales staff and organised holiday, sick and working rotas. Designed and organised promotions and sales. In charge of daily, weekly and monthly running of the store. Achievements: Awarded best salesperson two years running Increased turnover by 20% two years running Introduced new stock that subsequently increased profits Redesigned the layout of the store which helped attract new customers Work Experience: 2005 - present The Shop, Fulham Ladies' fashion store Sales Manager 2001 - 2005 The Store, Balham Assistant Manager Education: London University, BA Honours Sales and Marketing (2:1) References: Available on request