Resume Format Tips

There are 3 main types of resume formats you can use when building your resume. It's important to understand the difference between them and when each one works best.

• The Chronological Resume Format. This type of resume presents your job history and education strictly by date, with the most recent first.


• The Functional Resume Format. This is also sometimes known as a skills resume or skills-based resume. It contains a summary of qualifications that is organized by education, experience, and skills. There is not much emphasis on specific employer work history, other than a simple listing of jobs held.


• A Combination Resume Format. You may also hear this resume type called a hybrid resume. It's exactly what the name says, a mix of the other two types, taking the best features from each. It is flexible and widely applicable.

And then, if you're applying for certain academic or teaching positions or trying to get a job outside the US, you may be asked to prepare a curriculum vitae, or CV for short, rather than a resume. This is a much more detailed document, although it may roughly follow one of the formats discussed above.

Of course, there are many other variations of those named above as well. Learning to choose the best format for your needs is the next step...

Knowing when the chronological versus the functional resume format works best is crucial to creating a powerful resume. You're really free to use whichever format you prefer, but there are certain situations where one resume format works better than another in selling you and your abilities. Keep reading to learn more about choosing a resume format.

There are a few different factors that can go into your decision on which format will work best for you, such as:

• Employer preference. In some instances, an employer may specify a particular format. For instance, universities often ask for a curriculum vitae, which will detail experience and publications more thoroughly than a traditional resume.


• Your work background. If you lack experience or have had lengthy gaps in employment, a traditional chronological resume might not be the best way to present the transferable skills and education that you do have. So you might decide to go with either a skills resume or a combination type resume.


• Personal preference. This is not the most important factor, but it may have some bearing on your final decision. After all, you DO need to be comfortable with how you're going to present your information. If a resume type doesn't feel "comfortable," then you may not do your best job.

The video below gives more information on resume format tips to help you.

Use the chronological resume format wisely, because it's not always your best choice. This type of resume format is the traditional, and still most common, format. It's also the easiest to write. You organize it in reverse order by employer, with your most recent job listed first.

When the Chronological Format Works Best

This kind of resume format highlights your career progression and growth. Employers like it because it's usually easy to read and can be scanned quickly for your employment history. Here are the situations where it works best:

• When you've worked steadily and consistently with no major gaps in employment.
• When your job history shows that you've moved up in responsibility steadily.
• When you've held standard, well-recognized jobs for well-known companies.
• When your most significant achievements have occurred recently.
• When this format is expected for your particular career.

Tips for Using the Chronological Format

Since this format emphasizes your work history, then be sure your information is absolutely accurate. Use exact dates of employment and termination if you can, or at least use the month and year both.

Provide more information for the first couple of jobs, since this is your most relevant experience. Don't list the fast food job you held in high school if you're 10 or more years into your adult career. It's just not relevant.

When the Chronological Format Doesn't Work Well

If you've held many jobs within a short time period, a chronological resume may not be your best choice because it may look as though you've job hopped or that you didn't have much loyalty to your employers. It's also not the best choice for someone new to the workforce
, or someone coming back into the job market after a number of years, such as a mother who stopped working to raise children and is now returning to work.

In those cases, and others detailed below, a functional resume format may present a more positive picture of your employment history and qualifications..

A functional resume format is often a better choice when you don't have the experience to back up your career choice. Use a skills resume to show off what you know and can do! This resume format is also known as a skills-based resume because it is a summary of your qualifications organized by education, experience, achievements, and skills, rather than by job. There is very little emphasis on employer history.

When It Works Best

Many employers and recruiters may prefer the chronological resume format because it is so easy to read at a glance. But it won't serve you well in some situations. Here are some cases where a functional resume format is best:

• When you're new to the workforce or coming back after a long absence
• When you have large, or many, gaps in your work history
• When you've worked for only 1 or 2 companies over many years
• When you want to make a career change
• When you've been in the workforce for many years, and you want to de-emphasize your age
• You've worked at a number of different, unrelated jobs.

Tips for Using the Functional Format

Highlight your most relevant assets for each job you're seeking up front in the resume, in their general order of importance. If you don't have much formal work experience, then list any skills or experience that can translate into such, including volunteer work and internships.

Be honest though; don't make stuff up. If you have large gaps in employment, you may want to just list your past employers, but leave out the dates. You can deal with any questions during the interview, or even in the cover letter.

When It Doesn't Work Well

If you know that in your career track, the chronological resume format is strongly preferred, you may have to go with the flow. Or, you may decide to take a combination approach instead, which can combine the strengths of both the chronological and functional resume format styles.

Sometimes a combination resume format is the best possible choice for resume style. A hybrid resume format takes the best features of both the chronological and the functional resume formats. You get a chance to present a strong summary of your skills and accomplishments up front (functional), while also providing a detailed employment history (chronological) that supports the statements made in the first section.

When It Works Best

There are a number of situations in which hybrid resumes work well, such as:

• When you're trying to make a career change. You can list your relevant skills and experience up front, then any relevant education. Next, list your job history, but only include the relevant duties performed at each.


• When you have done almost the same duties everywhere you've worked. Listing the same duties over and over under each employer is redundant. Instead, you can highlight your most significant skills and experience up front, along with any special awards or achievements. Then, list only company-specific duties under each employer.

Tips for Using the Combination Format

Take the tips listed above for each of the other formats and incorporate them. Also, keep it concise and interesting. Avoid boring job descriptions. Instead, focus on how you have been of value to your employers.

Speak in terms of saving money, increasing profits, improving productivity, solving problems, or enhancing products or services. Be as specific as you can, using numbers, dollars, and percentages as accurately as possible.

When a Combination Resume Format Doesn't Work Well

The combination resume format works well in almost any situation! But before you make a final decision, be sure you also understand the pros and cons of each of the other formats.

In the end, the decision on which resume format to use should rest on what is the best way to showcase you and your skills. Because if you don't show yourself off to greatest advantage, then you're not going to get the interview or the job!

So DO take the time to review the resume format tips on this page, so that you can make the best choice possible for YOU.