Finding the Right Curriculum Vitae Format
There are different ways of organising the content of your CV so as to emphasise different aspects of your personal and professional experience. Here you can find advice on the three most commonly used CV formats.
Remember though, whichever format you use:
- first read the advice on preparing your CV and the tips for stronger CVs
- tailor your CV to the job you are applying for
- keep your CV to two A4 pages (academic CVs can be longer)
Please note these links are to the Vitae website. The University cannot be held responsible for the content of external sites.
Common CV Formats
| CV Format | Approach | Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Skills Based | Focuses on you and your skills rather than employment history | Useful for moving to a new employment sector or for first post after research degree |
| Academic | Focuses on academic attainment and research background | Useful for academic/academic research positions only |
| Chronological | Focuses on your employment history; Most common UK CV format | Useful for emphasising professional experience |
Example CVs
| CV Format | Examples |
|---|---|
| Skills Based | |
| Academic | |
| Chronological |
The Prospects website has more example CVs that you can download.
