Things to know before selecting the format for resume
Some people find the task of resume writing too difficult. But in reality it is not at all a difficult job. A good approach to tackle the task would be to decide the format for resume first. There are generally three types of resume formats which are used and we will give you a brief description of each one of them so that you will be well equipped to select the right one for yourself.
By resume format we generally mean structure of the resume. The three common types of formats that we will discuss here are chronological, functional and combination resume formats.
A chronological resume format
The most common resume format that you will come across is the chronological resume format. This is the most widely used format which is preferred by most employers due to its simplicity. Check out example resumes to know how this format has been effectively used.
This is a simple format where your experience and educational qualifications are written in reverse chronological order. The professional experience section is given the maximum stress in this format. A chronological resume is best suited in the following cases
• When a person has a steady and consistent career growth
• When he has not changed career tracks and there is no gap in employment history
• The person’s employment history shows progressive growth and he has held impressive positions
• The major accomplishments have been achieved in the most recent position
A functional resume format
A functional resume highlights the accomplishments, key skills and qualifications. All these information are placed at the top and the employment history is given less importance and is positioned at the bottom. The employment history is only listed without describing each position in detail. This format for resume should be used to underscore relevant skills that are directly related to the position for which one is applying.
Employers in general do not prefer this resume format as they believe that it is used to hide deficiencies in ones career. But in certain cases a functional resume format may be effective like
• When you have a gap in your employment history
• If you have held a variety of positions which are unconnected
• When changing career tracks
• If you want to return to a previous field
• If you want to de-emphasize your age
• If most of your accomplishments and achievements have occurred in a past job
The combination resume format
There is another resume format which is known as combination resume format which is actually a combination of chronological and functional formats. This format combines all the best features of both the formats and is widely accepted also.
The combination format for resume can be effectively used in the following cases
• When a chronological resume is expected but you also want to lay more stress on your skills and expertise
• You need an effective way to highlight how your skills match the job requirements
Although the format for resume is very important but you must pay equal importance to the content that you put into it. It is very essential that you arrange the information in such a way that the most important ones get the topmost priority. Click on Best resumes to get some tips on resume writing.
