After finding your dream job, now you have to construct a professional cv in other to land the job. Be it the first job you are seeking or you are a worker with years of working experience, you have to determine which cv/resume format works best for you. Belo are the three major cv formats for job seekers in Nigeria.
THE CHRONOLOGICAL CV FORMAT
The chronological Cv format is the most common CV format choice for most job seekers, this CV format places your work experience at the front and centre. This is best for applicants with several years of woring experience.
A chronological CV or Resume, also referred to as the reverse-chronological CV format, is bread-and-butter resume format of choice for most Nigerian job employers. The chronological CV format clearly shows your career history and progression at a glance - where you were employed, the positions you’ve held, and for how long.
The Advantages Of The Chronological Cv Format For Job Seekers
The chronological CV/Resume format works best for the following set of job seekers
The Disadvantages Of The Chronological CV Format For Job Seekers
Major components of a Chronological CV/Resume
This CV format contains the following sections:
Center-align this at the top of the page and include your contact information. Insert your name (starting with your surname), location (city and state), email address and phone number.
Briefly summarize your professional/job qualifications and what type of job position you’re seeking, example; "Certified elementary secretary seeking secretarial positions in company XYZ" or "Experienced Plumber seeking a position that utilizes my knowledge and repair skills in a commercial or residential environment."
Summarize your past job history/experience(s) in reverse-chronological order. Start with the most recent job experience and go back about 4-10 years, depending on how many jobs you’ve had. This is the best CV format for people who have held long-term job experience and worked for multiple employers. Chronological CVs that include measurable achievements in the section standout to job employers.
Summarize you skills and your capabilities relating to the job opening your applying for.
List your academic qualifications with the year of graduation and where you earned them.
Below is pictorial example of a chronological CV/Resume
THE FUNCTIONAL CV FORMAT
A functional CV format focuses on what a job seeker is good at over what you’ve accomplished. Work history is still provided, but it’s primarily a list of job titles and employers.
The Advantages Of The Functional CV Format For Job Seekers
The functional CV works best for the following set of job seekers in Nigeria
The Disadvantages Of The Functional CV Format For Job Seekers
The functional Cv has some set of draw backs for job seekers;
Major components of a Functional CV
This CV format contains the following sections:
The top of a functional CVs are should contain your full name (starting with your surname), city, state, professional functional email address and phone number.
Keep it brief, your summary statement should tell in a nutshell you capabilities which must be rlated to the job you’re seeking also use it to briefly summarize your qualifications and the position you are seeking and why.
This section of the CV should contain the summary of your qualifications which should be related to the job opening. You can skip this section if you do not have any relevant qualifications
This section of the CV outlines your major qualifications for the job opening you are applying for. This should be a concise bulleted list with a short explanation of the skill or achievement.
The section of the CV is vastly different from the chronological CV format. List the job title, how long you worked there, the company name and its location.
This is the focal point of a functional CV. It should be closely tied to the skills mentioned in the job opening.
List your academic qualifications with the year of graduation and where you earned them.
Below is pictorial example of a Functional CV
THE COMBINATION CV FORMAT
A combination CV involves the best of two formats - the functional skills-focused approach and the chronological work experience approach. The combination, sometimes called hybrid, resume works well for job seekers who have lots of relevant work experience, strong skills and accomplishments.
The Advantages of the Combination CV Format for Job Seekers
The combination CV works best for the following set of job seekers in Nigeria
The Disadvantages Of The Combination CV Format For Job Seekers
The combination CV works best for the following set of job seekers in Nigeria
Major components of a Combination CV
This CV format contains the following sections:
This includes your contact information. Provide your name(surname first), location (just city and state), business-professional email address and phone number.
This section of the resume is for your work experience. List the company, job title or position held and how long you worked there with bullet points underneath that mention key responsibilities and most importantly measurable achievements.
This resume section should highlight your current job title, job position and key skills and responsibilities.
Just like the other two formats, the education section is found at the bottom of your resume. List relevant degrees and where you earned them.
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