Choosing The Best Resume Format

How a resume is formatted does more than determine how it looks. A format’s most important function is to emphasize your qualifications for a particular job. How your resume is organized can do a lot to improve your chances of attracting interest from an employer. The main formats are Reverse Chronological, Functional, and Hybrid. Here are a few things to consider before choosing one.

This is the traditional and most recognizable resume format, but it isn’t old fashioned. It is the most commonly used format and is acceptable anywhere.

This style resume gives an applicant’s work and schooling history starting with the most recent. Each job title or position is followed by a concise description of duties and several achievements or accomplishments are listed.

Reverse Chronological resumes are ideal for those with an uninterrupted work and school history. Former jobs that show lateral or upward movement in your field show particularly well in this format. If your most recent position is impressive, Reverse Chronological is also to your advantage because this position will be listed first.

This is the format of choice for conservative professions such as banking, education, and accounting.

People who are changing careers and thus have a work history that isn’t relevant to their desired position might be better served with another format. Applicants with lengthy periods of unemployment, demotions, or frequent job changes should consider avoiding this format.

The Reverse Chronological could also reveal that an applicant is older than the employer would like or fresh out of school. It will also be obvious if a work history shows little or no advancement.

People change jobs much more frequently than they did thirty or forty years ago. In response to this the Functional resume was created to highlight skills and diversity over a specific work history.

This format focuses on listing the major skills of an applicant that are relevant to the desired position. Under each skill are examples of accomplishments, achievements, or other positive experiences that highlight said skill. This makes up the body of the Functional resume. Then a brief reverse chronological listing of work and education is included.

The Functional resume can be suitable for career changers, those new to the work force, people with volunteer or unpaid experience, or those with work history gaps. If an applicant’s most recent job isn’t impressive, a Functional resume can draw attention away from it.

Using a Functional resume allows someone to emphasize his ability to do a particular job. An applicant’s skills can be displayed without relying on work experience that is directly related to the new job.

Those with a consistent and relevant work history with advancement in their field should use the Reverse Chronological format. Someone with recent career success shouldn’t use the Functional format either.

When applying for a job in a conservative industry, a Functional resume is risky.

A Hybrid resume combines the Reverse Chronological and Functional formats. This format can be difficult to distinguish from the Functional Format since it doesn’t follow the standard Reverse Chronological style.

The Hybrid format has all of the pros and cons of the Reverse Chronological and Functional formats to a lesser degree.

If someone is applying for a position in a conservative industry but his work history isn’t ideal for the position, a Hybrid resume might allow him to highlight his skills optimally while still retaining more elements of the traditional Reverse Chronological format.

After considering your work history and skills, use your best judgment to decide on an appropriate format. If you are still uncertain, try making up a resume in each style and see which one presents your skills the best. If possible, have someone who has progressed in your desired profession look over your resume. A resume service could also provide guidance on the best format for you.