Skills based CVs

Skills based CVs
Many employers value employability skills as highly as a
good degree and the essential criteria for the role will make this clear. When
the employer has put more emphasis on skills and personal qualities, rather
than the subject of your degree or specific knowledge, then a skills-based CV
is a good format to use.
This style of CV is also useful when you have limited
experience which is not obviously relevant to the role, or you are looking to
change career direction and are applying for work in an area not directly
related to your studies. Employability
skills are essential to career planning and are easily transferable to
different roles and employers, and a skills-based CV allows you to focus on
these strengths.
However, it is still critical that your CV should be
specifically targeted to the role you are applying for. Tailoring and adapting your evidence to match
the role and the employer will also help you to demonstrate interest and enthusiasm
for the job.
A skills-based CV is structured to focus evidence on what
skills you have developed through different aspects of your life, including
your academic study, work history, and extra-curricular activities. Details of
your employment and education are usually kept to the essential facts and the
majority of the space is allocated to a Skills Profile.
Checklist
- Position your Skills Profile prominently it is the most important section and should have the most space devoted to it.
- Use the same headings in your Skills Profile as those used by the employer. This will help them identify the information they are looking for.
- You have to demonstrate that you have the skills required by providing well structured evidence.
- Use a different situation for each skill.
- Draw on examples from all aspects of your life work, study, volunteering, leisure, travel, etc. this helps to give your CV more personality.
- Tailor your evidence to address all the essential criteria an employer cannot presume so dont leave anything out, even if you think it is obvious!