Resume Formats

What are the Different Resume Formats and Which Type is Best for You?

There are several types of resume formats that can be used when applying for a job. The resume format that you choose depends on your skills, job experience, and education. Depending on your situation, the resume format you choose may be different from the traditional one. You can use one resume format or you can use a combination or resume formats to fit your needs.

Chronological Resume Format

The most common resume format is the chronological resume. This type of resume format accentuates your work history and is the best option for someone who has a lot of work experience in the field they are applying in. This resume format lists work experience from the most recent to the oldest and is readily accepted by employers because it is easy to see what type of jobs you have held. Although the chronological resume is the most common resume format, it may not be the best for you.

Functional Resume Format

Another resume format is the functional resume. This resume format differs from the chronological format because it puts more emphasis on skills and abilities than work history. The functional resume format is good for recent graduates and people without a lot of work history in the field they are applying in. If you are changing careers, have big gaps in work history, or none at all, the functional resume format is best for you. It is becoming more common and is a widely accepted resume format.

Combination Resume Format

If you want the best of both worlds, you should consider the combination resume format. This resume combines both types of resume, chronological and functional and puts the emphasis on whichever area is the strongest. Employers like this type of resume format because they can get a good idea of your work history as well as the skills and abilities you possess that make you a good candidate for the job. If you have a solid work history as well as many skills that are relevant to the job you are applying for, this is the type of resume for you.

Targeted Resume Format

If you want the best results, be sure to use a targeted resume format. Instead of writing one generic resume, the targeted resume format does just what it says; targets your resume to the specific job you are applying for. No matter which resume format you choose, be sure it is customized for the job and company you are applying for. There is no better resume format than the targeted format so be sure to incorporate it into your resume.

Resume Format

The resume format or resume style is the first decision you’ll probably have to make in writing your resume.

The decision about which resume format to use depends upon your situation. There are 3 main resume formats to consider – chronological, functional and the combination or hybrid.

Chronological Resume Format

The most often used resume format is the chronological work history, starting with the most recent job and going backwards in time. It’s traditional, conservative, and the one you should use if you have a consistent job history with reasonable amounts of time spent with each employer. Job hopping shows up quickly in this resume format.

Functional Resume Format

Inconsistent employment histories, job applicants wishing to change industries, people who’ve been out of the work force for a while such as mothers, or students who are just entering the work force may want to use the functional resume format. It details your skills, abilities and achievement without reference to work history. This resume format is not a favorite of human resource professionals, because they can’t see your work history. As a resume format, it is probably the least desirable choice to make.

Combination or Hybrid Resume Format

The combination or hybrid resume format gives you the best of both worlds. You can put a summary of your achievements, skills and talents right up front. Then you can do a chronological work history in the next section. This is the easiest resume format for the HR professional who must scan hundred of resumes. Because of that you get the most bang for your buck, so to speak. Pack it with action words, and achievements. If you are not sure how to do this go online and do a search. There are lists of action and power words on many different sites.

If you are in a highly technical field, then you’ll want to do more research on the specific resume format to use. Making it easy for the resume reader to see who you are and what you can do is the name of the game.

Resume Writing General Rules

Regardless of the resume format you decide upon, there are some general rules to follow in the completion of your resume. Make sure to leave lots of white space in the resume format. This will make it seem easier to read and thus more inviting to the reader. Check and recheck spelling, grammar and parallel construction (using the same tense in all descriptions, using the same form of the verb in action words, using periods and commas consistently and being consistent with the use of capitals.

Functional Resume

A functional resume is one of the most used styles of resume writing. The other most common style is chronological which lists all you experience from most recent to least.

However a functional resume will list your experience in spurts because a functional resume is meant to be used by those with a lot of different experiences that do not add up to a straight career path.

Functional Resume, College Grads

Other people who will benefit from using a functional resume would be a college graduate. Usually if you are a college grad, you have some work experience that is going to have nothing to do with whatever career path you have chosen to follow. Let’s say you decided you want to work in human resources after you graduate. How many opportunities are you going to have to experience all the aspects of human resources? Chances are very little. You may get you feet wet by doing an internship but for the most part your experience will be limited. Another reason why a functional resume works well for you college students is because it allows you to show the skills you got by experience other than paid employment.

Functional Resume, Stay At Home Parent

If you were a stay a home parent who had a career and then left it to raise your family and have now decided to return to the work place, then this is the resume for you. If you use a chronological resume, it will probably draw attention to the fact that there is a big gap in your work experience. Some employers might not even bother to call you for an interview because of this gap.

If you have been at some of your jobs for short periods of time because you were still trying to figure out what you want to do career wise, a chronological resume would not benefit you. A chronological resume could you give an appearance of a job hopper and again this might give employers a bad impression of you.

Functional Resume Format

Keep in mind though that if you are using a headhunter or recruiter they may not want to see a functional resume and neither do some of the online job boards like Monster or Hot Jobs.

Another idea to keep in mind when creating your functional resume is to make your resume in a functional format but include a brief work history in reverse chronological format. This is a style of resume that is also known as a combination resume.

If you are unsure what your functional resume should look like, you can always do a search online to look at function resume examples to get a rough idea on how to format it.

How To Make A Resume

The job market is very competitive and your resume will many times have less than a minute in which to impress your potential employer.

Many people are unsure of exactly how to make a resume, but following some simple guidelines will make your resume stand out. If you need to know how to make a resume, follow this advice.

Figuring out how to make a resume is not hard. Your resume should be formatted in a bulleted list, look uncluttered, clean, and have plenty of “white space” (empty space) so that it is easy to read. Generally, when learning how to make a resume, it is said that a resume should not be more than a page long. You should keep your resume as concise as possible, but if you cannot fit all your important information onto one page, two is ok. If you cannot summarize all your skills and qualifications within two pages your resume is too wordy and you should revise it and make sure all the information contained in it is pertinent to the job you are applying for.

How To Make A Resume Interesting

Learning how to make a resume interesting is as important as potential employers that are not immediately drawn to your resume will quickly discard it. If you need to know how to make a resume interesting, make sure your resume is achievement orientated, positive, uses action words, and includes the most important information first where it will draw the attention of the reader and prompt them to continue reading. Only list skills and achievements that are pertinent to the job you are applying for and use action words such as achieved, supervised, developed, and maintained to describe your skills and experience. Never include negative information in your resume and put your most useful skills at the top of the page.

Choose The Right Resume Format

Learning how to make a resume in the correct format is important as well. While there is not one format that is ideal for every job, if you need to know how to make a resume in the proper format, the following format is appropriate for the majority of professions. You should summarize your skills, experience, and talents at the top. You should include a bulleted list next that summarizes your previous job responsibilities and achievements. Them you should include your employment history in reverse chronological order followed by your education, training, licenses, and other special certifications.

How To Make A Resume Professional

An often overlooked aspect when learning how to make a resume is how your resume should be presented. Your resume should be completely free of spelling and grammatical errors. Use high quality paper, but nothing too obnoxious like yellow or red. Always tweak your resume to fit the needs of the job you are applying for and print a new copy for each application. Sending a photocopy is obvious and sends the wrong message.

Learning how to make a resume is not hard, as long as you keep it interesting, concise, and professional your chances of landing the job you want are high.

Help With Resume

A resume must speak volumes when looking for employment. If it is done correctly, it can be the key to getting an interview with a prospective employer. There are many resumes that do not make the cut.

Resume Fail

The reasons can include:

* – Little or no emphasis on potential employer needs
* – Job Objective not clear or concise
* – Not enough description in job duties

With any of these points lacking in your resume, don’t look for a phone call. There are several alternatives you can choose to get help writing your resume. Investing in professional help with writing your resume can save you from future heartache. More potential employers will respond to you and your job search won’t be on-going. The potential employer only has so much time to scan over your credentials.

Let’s explore some of the ways you can get help writing your resume:

You can choose a virtual assistant. Their fees are reasonable, anywhere from $65 up to $200. Your resume will be formatted correctly and free of errors. Unless the virtual assistant is knowledgeable in what resume form to use for your job situation, this may not be the best option for you.

Go with a resume writing service. If you have the funds to spend, go for it. A reputable resume writing service can help you get your resume up to speed. The cost for this can start in the low to the middle hundreds. A resume writing service can do the following:

* – Select information to stand out on your resume
* – Remove unnecessary wording
* – Use phrases and statements that stand out
* – Provide quality and professional formatting/layout

If neither option is economically feasible for you, you may want to look into purchasing resume software. This software is relatively inexpensive, with prices starting at $15 to $40. Check online or at your local office supply store to compare features and pricing.

You may also want to invest in a resume writing workshop. These workshops can be found online or conducted in a facility. You may have to incur a nominal fee. Also, colleges and universities offer resume writing workshops for students.

If you don’t have the funds to invest in any of the above, you can search online for “resume examples” or “sample resumes”. This is a way to check out the resumes that fit your profile. Study the examples and make sure they’re free of spelling errors and grammatically correct.

Whatever method you choose, make sure that your resume is the cream of the crop.

Free Resume Format

Picking the Best Free Resume Format

If you are looking for the best format for your resume, you will find tons of free resume formats on the internet. Picking which free resume format is the best for you can be as hard as writing the resume it’s self. There are a few things you should consider when choosing a free resume format including your skills, work history, and the type of job you are applying for.

The basic free resume formats are chronological and functional. Depending on your circumstances, the free resume format you choose may be either chronological, functional, a blend of the two, or a completely different format altogether.

Free Resume Format, Chronological

The most common free resume format is the chronological format. This format lists work history in descending order (most recent to oldest) and put the emphasis on skills attained form work experience and the length of time in a particular field. The chronological format is a good free resume format if you have a lot of work experience. Employers will be able to see that you have been dedicated to the field and have gained a lot of knowledge and experience.

Free Resume Format, Functional

Another common free resume format is the functional format. This format puts the emphasis on your skills and qualifications that do not necessarily come from job experience. Any job experience will be listed along with other qualifications that make the candidate ideal for the position applied for. This free resume format is good for people with little work experience in general or little work experience in the particular field they are applying in. The functional format is more about what you have learned that qualifies you for the job rather than what jobs you have had similar to the job you are applying for.

Free Resume Format, Combination

Many people benefit from a free resume format that is a combination of both of these common formats. Listing your relevant employment, skills, qualifications, and abilities would be considered a combination of the two formats. You can find many free resume formats that are a combination of the two and they will show you how to utilize the benefits of both types. Including all the information you can that is specific to the job you are applying for is important, and will give your resume a greater impact.

The free resume format you choose will depend on your work history and abilities. If you have a strong work background in your field, a chronological resume is the best bet. If you have little or no work experience, a functional resume is best. For those with a combination of work experience and skills, a combination of both free resume formats is ideal.