CVs and covering letters
What is a functional CV format?
A functional CV is a skills-based CV format. These formats can be useful if you’re looking for a career change. This is because they focus on your transferable skills and experience, rather than job titles, companies, and how long ago you got the experience.
In a functional CV you promote your skills and achievements in three to six 'functional headings'. For example, if you're applying for work in a retail role then headings could include 'customer service' and 'sales' – both key skills for any retail role.
What should I include and what should I leave out?
Under each sub-heading you include more details about your relevant skills and experience. You might have got this experience from paid work, voluntary work or education. Any experience that you feel isn't relevant can be left out.
What are the pros and cons?
You might consider using a functional CV if:
- you want to change to a broad, new area of work, and show your relevant transferable skills and experience
- you've got gaps in your employment history
- you've had a lot of jobs and you want to describe the experience you've got as a whole
- you want to highlight skills you've gained in previous jobs but that you don't use in your current or most recent job
Drawbacks with functional CVs can include:
- it's one of the more unusual formats – some employers might not be familiar with it
- if you've worked for well-known employers or you've had a lot of promotions they will be on the second page, so not as noticeable
- setting alarm bells ringing for employers – some may feel a skills-based CV format is an attempt to hide something (such as gaps in your work history)
View an example of a functional CV 
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