Tips for Writing an Impressive Hybrid CV
A hybrid or combination CV can be a great way to show off your talents even if you don’t have the right experience. What do you need to know about writing one?
A hybrid or combination CV can be a great way to show off your talents even if you don’t have the right experience. What do you need to know about writing one?
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If you are a recent graduate or you have made a career change, a hybrid or combination CV format could be the best way to mitigate a lack of experience and employment gaps. Though functional CV formats that prioritise skills over professional experience are not typically encouraged by hiring managers, hybrid CVs can be a better choice in some cases. This is because the hybrid CV has some commonalities as the traditional, chronological CV format. So, what is a hybrid CV and how can you use it to your advantage during a job search?
The combination, or hybrid CV format, is one that blends the features of a traditional chronological CV with the more modern functional CV. While chronological CVs focus on professional experience and functional CVs prioritise the skills section, a combination CV balances these sections. The main benefit of this format is the way that it provides a broad overview of a job seeker’s skills and experience. For this reason, the hybrid format is not advised for job seekers who have extensive professional experience. If you have a lot of work experience, the best CV format for you would be chronological.
There are a number of important, core sections in a hybrid CV format as well as a range of optional, additional sections that you could add if relevant. For example, if you have undertaken internships, you could add a section to represent them. Whatever additional experience you might have, your combination CV will always feature the following sections:
Placed directly below the header, which should contain your full name and contact information, the CV summary or CV objective statement is either a sum-up of key skills and achievements or a statement of career goals and objectives. A CV summary is best for job seekers who have a lot of professional experience and relevant skills, while an objective statement is best for those who lack work experience.
Hybrid templates should have skills sections that are comparable to their work experience sections. Use this section to list all of the skills that make you a good fit for the job description you are applying for. List the most important technical skills and hard skills first. After this, move on to your soft skills and transferable skills. This will provide a well rounded view of your abilities to recruiters.
Your work experience section is likely to be one of the most important. You should list your previous job titles in reverse-chronological order with your most recent job first. Provide up to 10 years of employment history. Focus on what you achieved in each role and use bullet points to save space when providing details. This section is crucial when your CV passes through applicant tracking systems (ATS) looking for specific qualifications via keywords from the job posting.
Your CV education section should include your most advanced and recent academic achievements. You don’t need to list your high school GPA unless you have no other formal education.
This structure will create an effective, basic CV, but if you want to write the type of CV that wows recruiters, you will need to show good writing skills as well. The following CV writing tips will help you stand out from the crowd:
Lots of professional experience won’t necessarily guarantee you a new job. You have to show hiring managers that your previous job titles have helped make you suitable for the role they are hiring for. Highlight achievements and skills that you have learned in previous roles that will be useful in the job you are applying for.
Your unique skill set is what makes you an asset to any company. Your main task as a job seeker is to convince recruiters that your skill set is what they need. Focus on your strongest, most relevant skills but don’t be afraid to include additional skills you think may be useful. You can always provide additional context in your cover letter.
The job posting for any role contains all of the information you need to rank well in ATS software and impress the hiring manager. Read the job description carefully, read it a second time, and highlight key skills and requirements.
Passive language is a simple way to lose a hiring manager’s interest. Rather than saying “I was responsible for” be bold. Say “Created”, “Developed” or “Led” to emphasize your initiative and passion.
You can get great inspiration from a relevant hybrid CV example. Use online services to find CV examples in your field and read them carefully. You may discover additional skills that you can list on your own CV!
You can also make use of free CV templates to ensure that your CV is well-formatted. CVHelp has a free CV builder that offers a range of templates and creates an editable document in minutes.
Those who are most likely to benefit from a hybrid or combination CV are job seekers with employment gaps and career changers. A hybrid format is often preferable to a functional CV format for hiring managers as the work experience section is still easy to locate and scan.
A hybrid CV and a combination CV are the same. These are just two different terms for the same CV layout.
Generally, a hybrid CV should only be one page in length. If you have enough work experience to add another page then a chronological CV format would be better suited to your situation.
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