There are lots of different types of CV - use our free CV templates to get started

Free CV Template & Types of CV

Writing a CV from scratch can be a daunting prospect. There’s the question of what to include (and miss out), as well as what a good CV should look like, how much information to include and what order. To help you decide on the best option for you, take a look at the examples below and the free CV Templates to download.

Standard Free CV Template

If you have a good mix of experience and education, this is the CV template for you. It’s the most common format, starting with a Personal Summary, followed by your Employment History with your current or most recent job listed first, with a final section to cover your Education and Qualifications together with any relevant training courses.

It’s important to remember however, that changing your CV to target specific jobs is a good idea. Amending the key words you use to describe your skills or re-ordering your achievements to put the most relevant first, can help show employers at a glance why you are the best candidate for the job. Taking a few minutes to make some minor updates can make a major difference in whether you’re invited to the next stage in the application process.

Education Free CV Template

If you’re a university graduate or a recent school or college leaver, this is the CV template for you. It highlights your education and qualifications as your biggest selling point, as well as highlighting any academic achievements or extra-curricular activities such as sports clubs or volunteering. Its purpose is to highlight to an employer your potential and career aspirations, so it’s important to use your Personal Statement to discuss the types of job, sectors or industry that you are looking to start and develop your career in.

Don’t forget that whilst you may not have any relevant work experience, it’s a good idea to highlight to potential employers your transferable skills, including any examples. This will show that you have researched what they are looking for and how you feel you could adapt the skills you’ve developed during your studies and apply them in the work environment.

Skills-Based Free CV Template

If you’re looking to change sectors and try something new, have a gap in your employment or are just starting your career, a skills-based CV is the best option. Essentially it includes a list of core skills with examples of how you have demonstrated this attribute during your work experience elsewhere, as well as in your training, education, extra curricular pursuits or unpaid voluntary work. 

This type of CV is often highly effective as it should be targeted around the key skills required in the job you’re applying to. Have a read through the vacancy’s job description and person specification (or research online what skills similar jobs require) and use this to prioritise which skills to include.

Once you’ve created your CV, double check that it’s a good match for the jobs you’re applying for. Use keywords that are used in similar job advertisements to help the reader know you have what they’re looking for and improve your likelihood of being invited to an interview. If you’re new to looking for work online or aren’t sure about how job boards work, you can learn everything you need to know about keywords here.

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