Skills based CV

This skills-based CV example puts the emphasis on proving to prospective employers that you have the skills they are looking for, in relation to a particular position. Sample information is included for an Administrator role.

CV template details:

  • CV ref: #223
  • File size: 20kb
  • File format: .docx (Microsoft Word)
  • File name: Skills-based-cv.docx
  • Fonts required: Times New Roman
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About this CV template:

Using a simple Times New Roman font and a neat, uncluttered layout, this skills based CV template helps to showcase the skills you've acquired from both experience and qualifications.

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Text preview of this CV template:

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Alice Carter : Administrator

3, Front Street, Arnold, Nottingham NG5 8DP

0115 9123456 ~ alicecarter@hotmail.com

~ Personal Statement ~

I am an administrator with 3 years’ experience in a small engineering firm (30 staff). My role includes administrative and secretarial duties, bookkeeping and organising travel/events. I have gained further experience from working with my family’s business.

Bookkeeping

  • I have managed all bookkeeping for ABC Corp for the past 3 years.
  • I do bookkeeping for my father’s newsagent which I have done for the past 5 years.
  • I hold AAT Level 1 in bookkeeping which provided me with an understanding of all key bookkeeping terminology, coding and batch coding, single and double entry, producing invoices, defining transactions and petty cash.

Working with spreadsheets

  • I use spreadsheets in my role at ABC Corp to manage client data and orders, and to produce performance reports.
  • I hold AAT Level 1 in Spreadsheet Software which taught me how to enter data, manipulate the layout, work with basic spreadsheet formulae, format and print data and create charts.
  • I hold an GCSE A* in ICT which included a comprehensive module on using spreadsheets.

Microsoft Packages

  • I am a competent user of Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Outlook.
  • I use all four in my current position. Word is used for all letters; Excel is used as above; Outlook is used for our email and in addition, I create Powerpoint presentations for others to use while training and for managers to use when presenting results.
  • Aside from my current position, I have used Word and Excel since secondary school, initially for school work and then when assisting my father with his shop.

Reception/administrative

  • Currently I provide reception and phone cover for 2 out of 5 days a week, plus ad hoc cover when it is busy or to cover illness.
  • I am the initial point of contact on those 2 days for complaints handling and I am confident in dealing with and reassuring even angry or rude callers.
  • I am well-spoken with a friendly yet  professional phone manner and I am competent at handling enquiries.
  • I gained further face-to-face customer experience working in my father’s newsagent shop for 2 years.

General admin skills

  • I carry out a range of general admin duties including filing, data entry, photocopying, scanning and faxing in my current role.
  • Sometimes my current workload can be extremely heavy but I am confident in taking a proactive approach, prioritising tasks and maintaining a positive attitude even when working under pressure.
  • Previously working for my father’s business, I had accountability for stock, cash, merchandising, and in the absence of my father, for the opening up and closing of the store.

Travel and events

  • In my current role, I organise transport and accommodation for the mangers who travel regularly.
  • I organise all company socials and get togethers (approx. 6 per year), plus open days and exhibitions.
  • Organisation included booking appropriate venues, catering and entertainment, managing attendees and handling health & safety such as risk assessments and measures required. In addition I dealt with enquiries.

~ Work history ~

Administrator

ABC Corporation, Nottingham ~ March 2017 – date

Bookkeeper 

Frank’s Newsagent, Mapperley ~ March 2014 – date

Shop Assistant     

Frank’s Newsagent, Mapperley ~ March 2014 – February 2017

~ Qualifications ~

AAT Level 1 Bookkeeping

Kaplan Learning ~ February 2014

AAT Level 1 Spreadsheet Software

Kaplan Learning ~ February 2014

9 GCSEs Grade C and above including ICT with A*   

Pinewood Comprehensive School, Nottingham ~ July 2013

~ Hobbies and Interests ~

I am an active person and I like getting outside as often as the weather permits. I enjoy spending time with my family and love walking or cycling in the countryside.

~ References ~

  • Andy Jones – General Manager / ABC Corporation – andy.jones@abc.com / 0115 9123456
  • Florence Hardwick – General Manager /  Frank’s Newsagent – florence.hardwick@aol.com / 0115 9234567

Template details:

Here’s a full preview of page one of this skills based CV template:

Skills based CV - page one

And here’s page two:

Skills based CV - page 2

How to write a skills based CV

This guide explains how to write a CV that focuses on your skills rather than employment or qualifications.

A skills-based CV format takes the specific skills that an employer is looking for in relation to a job role, and spells out exactly how you have acquired/used those skills. Like other types of CV, it’s typical for this format to be two pages long and no more.

Although you will give a chronological history of your work experience and qualifications, all the detail goes into the skills section which will appear close to the start of the CV. In this brief guide, we explain what goes in each section of the CV.

Name / contact details

Give the following information in the contact section.

  • First and last name
  • Postal address
  • Email address
  • Phone number

Optionally you might also give your web address and LinkedIn/Twitter address – but only if they add value to your CV. Find out how your LinkedIn profile can boost the prospects of getting an interview here.

Personal statement

This should be a concise statement of 3 – 4 sentences which explains why you’re suitable for the role. You’ll need to tailor this part of the CV to the exact job advert so read carefully through the person specification before you start writing. Need inspiration? Check out our example above, or read our guide to writing the personal statement section.

Skills section

Examine the job advert carefully and pick out the most important skills to the recruiter. These are likely to be a mix of hard and soft skills. Provide your examples of relevant skills in bullet points to make it easier for the employer to scan through them.

Examples that you might use to demonstrate a key skill include:

  • Formal work experience
  • Voluntary work experience
  • Work experience in the family business
  • Qualifications or training
  • Hobbies and activities
  • Freelancing activities

We have various CV examples, templates and guides demonstrating how you can demonstrate skills when you have little formal work experience:

Work history

List your employment history in reverse chronological order (i.e. most recent first). Typically, you wouldn’t offer more detail than the job title, employer and dates. However, if you do have room, you might want to include a brief list of responsibilities. If you have any achievements for each role, you should include these.

Qualifications

The education section should be formatted with the highest qualification listed first. Emphasise any qualifications or modules that are particularly relevant to the role.

Hobbies and interests

List hobbies and interests that add value. They might support your acquisition of skills relevant to the role, or they might simply demonstrate that you’re a fit and healthy person who is unlikely to have many sick days.

References

It is always optional to list references on your CV as your employer will as for them anyway if they offer you a role. Some reasons you might want to list references are:

  • To save the employer the bother of asking.
  • To show that you do actually have people willing to act as references on standby.
  • To impress the employer, if your references are known in the industry in which you work.

It’s typical to use your current or most recent employer as one reference, and either a past employer, college tutor or some professional person as your other reference.

Advantages and disadvantages of the skills based CV:

Advantages

  • With a Skills Based CV, an employer can immediately see how you’re suited to the role. This can be more efficient than a traditional CV where the employer has to read through all your responsibilities and figure it out that way.
  • It’s a great CV format if you don’t have a lot of work experience as it focuses on what you can actually do (however you learned those skills).
  • Skills based CVs are also a good choice for career changers who have had many job roles perhaps for shorter periods of time. It places less emphasis on time spent at these roles and more emphasis on the skills you acquired as a result.
  • You can use lots of different ways to demonstrate how you built the required skills, such as extra curricular activities.

Disadvantages

  • It’s not the format that most employers expect in the UK (a reverse chronological CV is far more common). This might frustrate some employers.
  • The employer cannot quickly see what you’re doing in your current role.

Originally published 28th February 2020.

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