Best CV Format
The best CV format for your job application
By Alexander Phillip · Career Coach and Recruitment Expert · Updated July 2026
Quick answer
For almost every job in Africa, the best CV format is reverse chronological: your contact details and a short summary at the top, then work experience newest first, followed by education and skills. Keep it to one or two pages, use clear standard headings, and save it as a PDF so the layout holds on any device.
- Reverse chronological wins for most jobs
- One to two pages, ATS friendly
- Free to build in minutes
What CV format actually means
CV format is not the same as the design template you pick. Format is the structure of your CV: which sections you include, the order you put them in, and how the information is laid out so a recruiter can scan it in seconds. Get the format right and even a simple template looks professional.
The good news is that you do not have to guess. There is a standard, expected structure that works for the vast majority of jobs in Tanzania and across Africa, and only a few situations where you should change it.
The three main CV formats
| Format | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Reverse chronological | Experience listed newest first | Almost everyone, especially with a steady work history |
| Functional or skills based | Groups skills instead of a job timeline | Career changers or long gaps, used with care |
| Combination | A skills summary on top of a short work history | Experienced people highlighting specific strengths |
The standard CV section order
- Contact details: full name, phone, professional email and city
- Professional summary: two or three lines aimed at the job
- Work experience: each role newest first, with achievement bullet points
- Education: qualifications and institutions, most recent first
- Skills: technical and personal skills that match the role
- Extras where relevant: certifications, languages, references and links
How long should it be, and what file type
Keep your CV to one page early in your career and up to two pages once you have several years of experience. Recruiters read fast, so a focused two page CV always beats a padded four page one. Only academic and research roles use the long academic CV.
Always send your CV as a PDF, not a Word file. A PDF keeps your spacing, fonts and layout exactly as you designed them on any device the employer opens it on, while a Word file can shift and break.
Formatting rules that keep your CV readable
- Use clear, standard headings so applicant tracking software can read your CV
- Stick to one clean font and consistent spacing throughout
- Use short bullet points for experience, not long paragraphs
- Leave enough white space so the page does not feel crowded
- Save the final file as a PDF with your name in the file name
Let the template handle the format
You do not need to build this structure by hand in Word. Every CV Chap Chap template already uses the correct section order and an ATS friendly layout, so you just add your details and the format takes care of itself.
Frequently asked questions
Which CV format is best?
For almost all jobs, the reverse chronological format is best: contact details and summary on top, then work experience newest first, followed by education and skills. It is what recruiters expect and what applicant tracking software reads most reliably.
What is the difference between chronological and functional CVs?
A chronological CV lists your jobs by date, newest first, and suits most people. A functional CV groups your skills instead of your job timeline and is only worth using if you are changing career or covering a long gap, since some recruiters are wary of it.
How many pages should a CV be?
One page early in your career and up to two pages with more experience. Keep it focused. The long, multi page CV is only for academic and research roles.
Should a CV be a PDF or a Word document?
A PDF. It keeps your layout, fonts and spacing exactly the same on any device, while a Word file can shift and break when the employer opens it.
What is the best font and size for a CV?
A clean, common font such as the ones our templates use, at a size that is comfortable to read, usually around 10 to 12 points for body text. Consistency matters more than the exact font.
Keep learning and start building
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Skip the formatting work. Pick a template that already uses the right structure, add your details, and download a clean PDF. Free to build and preview, pay only to download.