Are functional /combination CVs acceptable or somewhat frowned on? (Any advice greatly appreciated!))

[MariZePan]

It's been a while since I applied for a job but helping my niece string together a CV it seems rather lacklustre in the traditional format because she has quite a few random gaps and also some jobs which aren't relevant to the jobs and sector she's now interested in going for. I'm considering advising her to use a functional / combination CV so she can essentially demonstrate skills relevant to prospective employers without losing their interest if she were to just list them and her responsibilities which in themselves aren't relevant to the job she's got her eye on. Also some of the gaps can be explained through summer jobs like she worked in a cafe, but others it's not very clear where she was or what she was doing.
Any advice or insight would really help. I'm reluctant to advise her to go down this route if it's generally not the done thing in the job hunting world.

How old is she and how long has she been out of FT education?

Create a 2 page CV. Page 2: Work history and qualifications
Page 1: Profile and key skills

Tailor page 1 to the application.

@AlligatorPsychopath She's 34 and out of education since uni so quite a while.

@FayCarew Thank you! Definitely something worth looking into. Especially so in areas where her work history don't very much match her new choice of industry.

Writing a CV with No Experience | Indeed.com UK

I appreciate that she does have experience, and that you might need to rummage around for info, but the link might be useful.

The CV doesn't have to be 2 pages, but it is probably plenty for most jobs.

If she is looking for a certain type of job, then she could post a CV online with sites like CV Library. A temp. job can lead to a permanent role.

A short local authority evening class might be useful.

Enthusiasm and a willingness to work can go a long way.

Personally I think functional / combination is a good approach when your skills and experience doesn’t immediately stand out from your work history. I do what @FayCarew suggests: page 1 is professional summary and “key achievements”. Then page 2-3 is work history ( I’d recommend 2 pages over 3 if possible, but I ended up with 3 as I’ve had quite a few short contracts ). The first page lets me call out the significant things without the recruiter needing to dig around for them .

I think that would work well for your niece.