Resume Formats

Acceptable resume formats vary, and which format you choose will depend on what information you wish to highlight. The document you create when seeking a new job should reflect your unique skills and qualifications for the position you hope to attain.

For the majority of people, a chronological resume is the best choice. If you are just getting started in your career or if your professional and educational background is relevant to the type of job you are applying for, this format is generally the best option.

A chronological resume lists past jobs in the order they were held and relevant training opportunities in the order they were completed. The information should be provided in reverse chronological order, meaning that the employment and educational history sections should list the most recent positions or courses first, and the ones completed the longest ago last.

When an employer views your chronological resume, it should be easy for him or her to see the path that your career has followed up to the current point in time. Use this format if the position you are currently applying for seems to be a logical next step in your career based on what is included in your resume.

Individuals who have the skills to perform the type of job they want, but whose employment history may tell a different story, can benefit from using a skill-based resume format. If you are changing careers and have completed formal training for the type of work you want to begin doing, you probably have an impressive skill set even if you don't have any field related work experience. In that case, it's better to emphasize what you are able to do rather than what you have done in the past.

If you've had significant gaps in your employment history, this type of resume format can be a good choice even if your work experience is related to the jobs you are currently applying for. With a chronological resume, gaps in work history are emphasized, whereas gaps are less apparent when the primary focus is skills.

You should still include your employment history on this type of resume, assuming that you have held jobs in the past, but it should not be the most prominent part of the document. When a prospective employer glances at your skill-based resume, what should be immediately obvious is your skills are related to the job for which you are applying.

A functional resume format can be a good choice for individuals seeking executive level positions or who are changing careers after gaining a significant amount of experience in a different field. More so than the other resume formats, this type of document emphasizes major career accomplishments. You should still include information about your past jobs and skills, but the primary emphasis should be on achievements.

Examples of the types of statements included on a functional resume include:

• Responsible for oversight of a $20 million annual budget
• Supervised a team of 60 employees with 10 direct reports
• Implemented cost control measures that resulted in a 15 percent reduction in operating expenses
• Increased sales revenue by 50 percent over three quarters

Individuals who are applying for academic positions need to use a specific resume format, typically referred to as a curriculum vitae. People applying for college or university level teaching positions, high level research positions, or other jobs that require a Ph.D. should utilize this format. In addition to the information included on other resume formats, this type of employment history should also include academic publications, conference presentations, research projects, grants and foundation funding received, and other relevant details.

When creating your resume, remember that you are creating a document that will form the basis of the first impression you make on potential employers. Choose from among the different resume formats carefully, being sure to select the one that best highlights what makes you a good choice for the type of job that you want.

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