How to select the best resume format for yourself
If you are a new entrant in the job market then you must be confused by the variety of resume formats that are available. On the other hand if you are an experierenced professional and need to change job then also you may get baffled by the types of formats people talk about. In either case you need to understand different resume formats and select the best resume format for yourself. Resume writing becomes easy once you finalize the format of it.
Generally resumes are of the following types – chronological, functional, and combination.
A chronological resume highlights progressive career growth and development. Normally the information is organized in reverse chronological order. It is easier to scan and find required information and hence preferred by most employers. A chronological resume is best suited if you do not have any break in your career, not changed career track and have shown progressive growth. If you held responsible and impressive job titles and worked in reputed companies then also a chronological resume will suit you.
The functional resume is meant to highlight your key skills and accomplishments and qualifications irrespective from where you have acquired them. The employment history is given less importance and placed towards the end of the resume. A functional resume is not liked by some employers as it is often used to hide deficiencies in one’s career. But there are cases where it is most apt to use this kind of resume, like when you have break in your career, you have changed career track or you want to de-emphasize your age or even if you want to return to previous line of work.
A combination resume is a combination of benefits of both types of resume formats. It is well accepted by employers and helps you in emphasizing details that you want to.
You have to select the best resume format that suits your case. Your choice of format should depend on your work experiences and also the job you will be applying for. The content of the resume is more important than the format. With only 20 seconds to impress the employer, it is essential that you put the most relevant and impressive information at the beginning of the resume. It all depends on how you arrange the content.
Let us give you some ideas about this. Click on sample resume for more information.
The employer will be interested to know who you are. Logically your name and contact information should occupy the topmost part of your resume.
You may provide a job objective in your resume. Remember to make it enough captivating so that the reader feels interested to delve more into your resume. It should succinctly express your expertise and skills. You should be careful while choosing words as the job objective will set the tone of the resume and imply a lot about your abilities. For professional help on resume writing, click on resume writing service.
The next section in your best resume format must be professional experience. In a bulleted list highlight your skills and achievements. Use quantitative terms so that the reader can immediately gauge how you are going to benefit him.
Now your work history should be represented and you may feel like writing a lot but refrain yourself. Your objective is to emphasize your skills.
Write in reverse chronological order and mention each post you held, the company name and the tenure of employment. If you have gap in career then cover that up by mentioning only year. If the gap was due to travelling or education then mention that briefly. Check out executive resume writing for more help.
Use action verbs to emphasize your expertise, how you tackled problems and achieved results.
Showcase your other qualities that may prove valuable.
A brief section on education must follow which tabulates your qualifications.
You may present a brief summary of voluntary work and other activities that can add value to your resume.
Remember to be flexible in your approach. The best resume format may not suit all job applications. You have to modify and fine tune it according to positions and companies you will be applying.
