Resume Formats
There are three common resume formats: chronological, functional and combination. Your career objectives will also influence your choice.
Chronological Resumes
The emphasis for this format is on a chronological listing of employment and employment-related experiences.
The format highlights the recent employment, while de-emphasizing experiences further back in time. The chronological resume is for those with a consistent employment history, no gaps in employment and whose past employment experiences are directly related to their current employment goals.
A steady work record with increasing responsibilities can be effectively showcased using this format. You'd begin by listing your most recent employment experiences and working backward.
Include dates, names and contact information such as addresses and phone numbers. This may NOT be the best format for individuals with job gaps, new graduates or a person changing careers.
When listing your experience, chronicle five to 10 years of employment history. Experiences more than 10 years ago begin to lose impact and open the potential for age discrimination.
If you have valuable experience beyond 10 years, there are ways to present it other than chronologically. Read the following on Functional and Combination resume formats.
Functional Resumes
The functional resume highlights skills, experience and accomplishments without identifying specific dates, names and places.
In this format, information is organized by functions or skills, advertising the specific qualifications needed for the occupation.
This format works very well for people changing careers, including military personnel moving into civilian employment. It's also effective for first-time job seekers, those reentering the workforce after a gap in employment and people who want to emphasize experience that may be viewed as outdated.
In a true functional resume there is no chronological listing of employment. Many employers don't like this format because it creates suspicion that the person may be trying to hide something.
The employer may suspect a job hopper, an older applicant trying to disguise age, a lack of career progression, underemployment, employment gaps or too little relevant experience.
Combination Resumes
The combination resume brings the best of both the chronological and functional resumes.
It features a functional section that highlights skills, accomplishments and experience. It also includes a chronological listing of employment, education and employment-related experiences.
The combination resume is a very effective format for many job seekers. The best chronological resume can be enhanced with a section highlighting skills, accomplishments and experience.
The functional resume can be strengthened with a chronological listing of employment experiences.
Resume Variations
The so-called “keyword” resume is a variation that adds a listing of skills to the beginning of any standard resume format.
Critical occupational skills placed at the beginning add impact to the resume and help capture the reader's attention.
Select this link to view a sample keyword resume.
Select this link for a list of occupational key words.
This variation is effective for all career fields and skill levels. It's a very effective strategy for creating resumes that an employer can quickly scan for points of interest.
More of a method than a style, the “targeted” resume directs skills and experience to the specific needs of one employer.
All resumes should target the needs of a specific occupation. In addition, this approach targets the specific needs of an employer and a specific job. It requires careful research of the employer's needs.
Sources for information include position descriptions, employer profiles, industry publications, networking and informational interviews.
When drafting a targeted resume, direct your skills and experience to the specific needs of the employer by using some of their keywords in your resume.
This is a very powerful resume strategy that can set you apart from the competition and capture an employer's interest. For executive positions and specialized technical jobs, this strategy is almost a necessity.
Using the combination format, set up a resume template with header information and the chronological summary of your employment.
Then customize the functional section of the resume, the summary of skills, accomplishments and qualifications to meet the needs of a specific employer. Be sure to name your objective with the exact job title.
Resume Format Comparison Chart
Wonder which resume is best for you? Select this link for a chart that highlights the advantages of each.