The
resume format that you choose should be based on
your work experience and the optimal strategy to
make that experience seem relevant to the job that
you are applying to.
There
are three main resume formats:
Reverse chronological resume
format:
Functional resume format:
Hybrid resume format (combination of reverse
chronological and functional resumes):
Reverse
chronological resumes list the candidate's work
experience starting from the most recent one based
on the premise that it is also the most relevant to
the job. That is often true for career-oriented
people looking for another job in the same field. A
reverse chronological resume has the advantage of
showing a natural progression. Some employers like
to see where you come from and how you evolved to
become the person that you are. The reverse
chronological resume is the most commonly used
resume format.
Functional resumes list a candidate's experiences by
skill areas. This resume format is used most often
when a person decides to switch career, when a
person has held many different types of jobs during
his career, or when there has been a prolonged
period of absence from the workforce. The focus is
therefore no longer on "career progression," but
instead on "transferable skills."
Hybrid
resumes possess some characteristics of both reverse
chronological resumes and functional resumes. For
instance, they can list a candidate's work
experience by skill areas, but also include the
periods of employment.
Those
are the three main resume formats. Do not
restrict yourself to the above however. If you
think there is a better way to grab the employer's
attention, go for it. At the end of the day, if you
get an interview, you must have done something
right. If that happens, let us know, so we can
share your experience with others.
Frequently asked questions (content from
CareerPerfect.com):
Scannable Resume Samples:
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