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Resumé Formats

There are three different types of resumes:

1. Chronological
2. Functional
3. Combination

Choose the best format to highlight your experience and skills; one will suit your situation more than another will.

1. The Chronological Resume

• the most popular format used
• straightforward and easy to write
• highlights education and employment history starting with most recent and working backwards
• illustrates continuous periods of employment
• highlights progression in career
• places emphasis on your job titles, company and date of employment

    Disadvantages

• frequent job changes and employment gaps become apparent
• does not allow a worker to build on their transferable skills
• may be difficult to point out a worker's accomplishments in their career
• not the best format to use for first time job-seekers

2. The Functional Resume

• emphasis is on what you can do
• good format for workers who have had many different jobs in short spans of time
• highlights skills, accomplishments and abilities
• good format if you do not have job-related experience
• it downplays the emphasis on employers, positions and dates

    Disadvantages

• can be confusing and less factual
• less popular in today's job market

3. The Combination Resume

• a combination of functional and chronological formats
• highlights your accomplishments, past employers and steady work record
• minimizes any gaps in employment
• the most useful and flexible format
• illustrates worker's most relevant skills and accomplishments in a logical order

    Disadvantages

• tends to be longer in format
• it downplays direct experience with specific employers