It's the first thing a prospective employer will look at (just before they check out your Facebook page for any evidence of your rampant alcoholism) and, particularly in the current climate, you're up against a hell of a lot of competition.
Related: The Best Jobs To Suit Your 'Personality Type'
Therefore it makes a lot of sense to try and create something that really stands out. Of course, once they've looked at that Facebook pic of you balancing three chairs on your nose they'll want to employ you anyway, but it's good to have the complete package isn't it?
Here are 30 examples of the most interesting and creative CVs around.
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1. Timeline
A lovely timeline affair, with academic and employment achievements nicely highlighted, it's stylish and informative. Does look a little bit like a geological profile of a mountain range though. But who said that's a bad thing?
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2. Google
Companies are searching for a new employee, so why not look like you're the top result? Very smart.
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3. Chocolate Bar
We're not sure those are the real ingredients, but if Nicholas is buying his co-workers chocolate before he's even got the job, then it bodes well for those mid-afternoon sugar lows. Get him in.
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4. Avatars
A very cool avatar-themed CV: broad imagination is our favourite.
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5. Hand Fan
Give an employer this CV and they'll be your biggest fan (sorry).
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6. Full Promotional Package
A beautifully-designed poster/gift pack/postcard/business card set. If nothing else, the employer won't be able to find anyone else's under all this stuff so you'll get the job by default.
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7. Google (Version 2.0)
It's the Google trick again, only with a little more of a twist. Nicely done.
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8. Literal CV
You're applying for a magazine job, so why not speak in the language they understand? NB. Don't do this if you're applying to be an undertaker.
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9. Comic Strip
Everyone loves comics, so this is a nice way to make people read something quite dull, but make it seem fun. They should employ this guy to do the tax return instructions.
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10. Board Game
Likewise, everyone loves a board game; this is beautifully done. Also could be a great way to sneak in that you once went to jail (but paid £50 to get out).
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11. Kebab
We're not sure why, but we feel quite hungry....hmmm....food...what?....oh yes, you're hired. Where shall we go for lunch?
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12. Simple and Elegant
Simple, stylish, very effective. We like this.
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13. Horror Movie
A brilliant horror-movie style CV-design. However, when he ties you up after his first bad progress review you can't say you weren't warned.
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14. Underground Map
We're not sure you'd want to be reminded of your hellish commute in to work on the tube, but the map is a design classic and a very cool inspiration for a CV.
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15. Life Story Game
The Game of Life was brilliant wasn't it? And similarly to the board game effort earlier, this is very effective (although not as fun as you can't play it). Someone really needs to make a CV based on Mousetrap.
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16. Timeline
Stylish and creative, although possibly a little too much information - did you really spend your formative years in an asylum?
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17. Random Number
Visually striking, and immediately draws you in. We're not sure of the significance of the number seven though - hopefully for Mathew it's a lucky number.
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18. Handkerchief
When the employer spills tea over this one, at least they'll be able to wash it.
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19. Great Graphic Design
Brilliant use of typography, hugely stylish and attention-grabbing and he's got X-ray vision. Hire this man immediately!
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20. Retro Advertisements
Super-stylish and super-retro, we love this.
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21. T-Shirt
Great idea in theory, and certainly inventive, but we can't see the boss wearing this out too often. Or is it the logical conclusion to geek chic?
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22. Facebook
We had Google, of course someone was going to do Facebook - and very well too. Hopefully no-one's still hawking around a Bebo CV.
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23. CD Case
Incredibly cool: a CD case and booklet for a CV. Would be brilliant if this was on the CD.
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24. Top Trumps
A seriously comprehensive gaming character card. What are the employment laws for Orcs though? Might need to get HR onto that one.
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25. Notepad
Another great example of a CV to suit the job, here's one for a waiter. Mind you, simply a picture of you balancing nine fully-laden plates on your arms would probably be just as effective.
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26. Cut-out-and-make
Remember doing nets at school and making cubes and cones? That was fun. So is this. Someone should up the ante and do one which makes a dodecahedron though. They'd go straight to the top job.
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27. Poster
It's a massive poster, and it looks amazing. I doubt it will replace that One Direction one on the office wall though.
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28. Infographic
A stunning infographic-style CV, this really is fantastic.
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29. Hand-Drawn
Probably the most charming CV we've ever seen, she at the very least seems like a very nice girl. Strong legs too, which is always something we look for in an employee.
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30. Stand-up CV
A beautifully-designed CV, but it really reminds us of a burger menu. Now, what were we doing for lunch again....?
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