Selecting Your Resume Format

Selecting Your Resume Format

Writing a winning resume is no easy feat. You have so much that you want to tell that Recruiter or hiring manager who will be reviewing your resume, but you’re not sure where to start, or even how to put it together. Where do you start?

Start by choosing the right template as well as format for your resume. When writing your resume, it’s not only important to have the right content, but equally important to have the right resume format.

There are three common resume formats including Chronological, Functional, and Combination/Hybrid that are used to create a resume. Deciding which resume format to use is critical! The selected format will determine the style and order in which you will display your information and will help you highlight your skills, qualifications, accomplishments and value you can bring to the potential employer.

Chronological Resume Format

A Chronological resume is the most traditional, practical and popular format used when creating a resume. A Chronological resume is a resume format that lists your work history in reverse chronological order, beginning with the most recent job and then previous jobs in descending order. This format focuses more on your work experience and demonstrates your career progression in reverse chronological order with your current or most recent job listed first then working backwards. With this format you would list each job you have held, including company name, job title, dates you’ve worked and job responsibilities and accomplishments. This is the format widely preferred by Recruiters, HR Managers and hiring managers, as it’s easy to scan, and provides an easy-to-read chronological history of your work experience.

What to Include on your Chronological Resume

• Contact Information: Your name, phone number, email address, city, state, and zip. You can also include other links such as LinkedIn, or other relevant social profiles
• Professional Titles: Your title which should align with the position you’re applying to
• Resume Summary: Your summary should be a high-level overview of your professional experience and value you can bring to the organization. It should be no more than 2-4 sentences
• Work Experience: Your work experience in reverse-chronological order that highlights your responsibilities and achievements
• Education: Your educational history listed in reverse chronological order (most recent first). Do not list your high school diploma once you have attended college (except when writing a federal resume)
• Skills: List skills that are relevant to the position you are applying for
• Optional Sections: Include Training, Certifications, Technical proficiency

Functional Resume Format

The Functional resume format is a skills-based resume that focuses on your professional skills rather than your work experience. A Functional resume is a resume format that primarily showcases or emphasizes your skills, thereby allowing employers to focus on your qualifications such as technical or soft skills that might be required for a job.

It groups your experience under skill categories rather than job titles. It’s typically used by job seekers who are changing careers, have gaps in their employment history, are re-entering the workforce, or might be looking to transition into new careers.

What to Include on your Functional Resume

• Contact Information: Your name, phone number, email address, city, state and zip. You can also include other links such as LinkedIn, or other relevant social profiles
• Professional Title: Your title which should align with the position you’re applying for
• Resume Summary: Your summary should be a high-level overview of your professional experience and value you can bring to the organization. It should be no more than 2-4 sentences
• Skills: This is where you will focus on highlighting your skills
• Work Experience: You can choose to omit your work experience, or just list the basics
• Education: List your highest degree and relevant certifications

Combination Resume Format

The Combination resume, as the name suggests, is a combination of both the chronological and functional format. With this format the job seeker will list their most relevant skills and work experience. This format can be used by individuals at different stages in their career, from the entry-level job seeker, mid-career job seekers, those at more senior levels in their career, and those re-entering the workforce.

What to Include on your Combination Resume

• Contact Information: Your name, phone number, email address, city, state, and zip. You can also include other links such as LinkedIn, or other relevant social profiles
• Professional Title: Your title which should align with the position you’re applying for
• Resume Summary: Your summary should be a high-level overview of your professional experience and value you can bring to the organization. It should be no more than 2-4 sentences
• Skills Summary: This is where you will focus on highlighting your skills
• Additional Skills: Additional relevant skills
• Work Experience: You can choose to omit your work experience, or just list the basics.
• Education: List your highest degree and relevant certifications
• Optional Sections: Include Training, Certifications, Technical proficiency

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