| Knowing when the chronological versus the | | | | |
| functional resume format works best is | | | | When you have large, or many, gaps in your |
| crucial to creating a powerful resume. There | | | | work history |
| are 3 main types of formats for | | | | |
| resumes:Chronological, or more accurately, | | | | When you've worked for only 1 or 2 companies |
| Reverse Chronological | | | | over many years |
| | | | |
| Functional | | | | When you want to make a career change |
| | | | |
| A combination, or hybrid of the two Of | | | | When you've been in the workforce for many |
| course, there are many other variations of | | | | years, and you want to de-emphasize your age |
| the 3 named above as well. You're really free | | | | |
| to use whichever resume format you prefer, | | | | You've worked at a number of different, |
| but there are certain situations where one | | | | unrelated jobs.Tips for using this resume |
| format works better than another in selling | | | | format. Highlight your most relevant assets |
| you and your abilities. Keep reading to learn | | | | for each job you're seeking up front in the |
| more.The Chronological Resume FormatWhat it | | | | resume, in their general order of importance. |
| is. This type of resume format is the | | | | If you don't have much formal work |
| traditional, and still most common, format. | | | | experience, then list any skills or |
| It's also the easiest to write. You organize | | | | experience that can translate into such, |
| it in reverse order by employer, with your | | | | including volunteer work and internships. Be |
| most recent job listed first.When it works | | | | honest though; don't make stuff up. If you |
| best. This kind of resume format highlights | | | | have large gaps in employment, you may want |
| your career progression and growth. Employers | | | | to just list your past employers, but leave |
| like it because it's usually easy to read and | | | | out the dates. You can deal with any |
| can be scanned quickly for your employment | | | | questions during the interview.When it |
| history. Here are the situations where it | | | | doesn't work well. If you know that in your |
| works best:When you've worked steadily and | | | | career track, the chronological resume format |
| consistently with no major gaps in | | | | is strongly preferred, you may have to go |
| employment. | | | | with the flow. Or, you may decide to take a |
| | | | combination approach, as described below.The |
| When your job history shows that you've | | | | Combination Resume FormatWhat it is. A |
| moved up in responsibility steadily. | | | | combination resume format takes the best |
| | | | features of both the chronological and the |
| When you've held standard, well-recognized | | | | functional resume formats. You get a chance |
| jobs for well-known companies. | | | | to present a strong summary of your skills |
| | | | and accomplishments up front (functional), |
| When your most significant achievements have | | | | while also providing a detailed employment |
| occurred recently. | | | | history (chronological) that supports the |
| | | | statements made in the first section.When it |
| When this format is expected for your | | | | works best. There are a number of situations |
| particular career.Tips for using this resume | | | | in which this resume format works well, such |
| format. Since this format emphasizes your | | | | as:When you're trying to make a career |
| work history, then be sure your information | | | | change. (You can list your relevant skills |
| is absolutely accurate. Use exact dates of | | | | and experience up front, then any relevant |
| employment and termination if you can, or at | | | | education. Next, list your job history, but |
| least use the month and year both. Provide | | | | only include the relevant duties performed at |
| more information for the first couple of | | | | each.) |
| jobs, since this is your most relevant | | | | |
| experience. Don't list the fast food job you | | | | When you have done almost the same duties |
| held in high school if you're 10 or more | | | | everywhere you've worked. (Listing the same |
| years into your adult career. It's just not | | | | duties over and over under each employer is |
| relevant.When it doesn't work well. If you've | | | | redundant. Instead, you can highlight your |
| held many jobs within a short time period, a | | | | most significant skills and experience up |
| chronological resume may not be your best | | | | front, along with any special awards or |
| choice because it may look as though you've | | | | achievements. Then, list only |
| job hopped or that you didn't have much | | | | company-specific duties under each |
| loyalty to your employers. It's also not the | | | | employer.)Tips for using this resume format. |
| best choice for someone new to the workforce, | | | | Take the tips listed above for each of the |
| or someone coming back into the job market | | | | other formats and incorporate them. Also, |
| after a number of years, such as a mother who | | | | keep in concise and interesting. Avoid boring |
| stopped working to raise children and is now | | | | job descriptions. Instead, identify how you |
| returning to work.In those cases, and others | | | | have been of value to your employers. Speak |
| detailed below, a functional resume format | | | | in terms of saving money, increasing profits, |
| may present a more positive picture.The | | | | improving productivity, solving problems, or |
| Functional Resume FormatWhat it is. This | | | | enhancing products or services. Be as |
| resume format is also known as a skills | | | | specific as you can, using numbers, dollars, |
| resume because it is a summary of your | | | | and percentages as accurately as |
| qualifications organized by education, | | | | possible.When it doesn't work well. This |
| experience, achievements, and skills, rather | | | | format works well in almost any |
| than by job. In fact, there is very little | | | | situation!Other FormatsIf you're applying for |
| emphasis on employer history.When it works | | | | certain academic or teaching positions or |
| best. Many employers and recruiters may | | | | trying to get a job outside the US, you may |
| prefer the chronological resume format | | | | be asked to prepare a curriculum vitae, or CV |
| because it is so easy to read at a glance. | | | | for short, rather than a resume. This is a |
| But it won't serve you well in some | | | | much more detailed document, although it may |
| situations. Here are some cases where a | | | | roughly follow one of the formats discussed |
| functional resume is best:When you're new to | | | | above.Kathleen MacNaughton is a freelance |
| the workforce or coming back after a long | | | | writer with years of management and |
| absence | | | | recruitment experience. |