3 Resume Styles
When applying for a job, a resume tells your prospective employer your achievements and accomplishments as they relate to the job description. There are three kinds of traditional resume styles: a functional resume, a chronological resume and a mixed resume style that combines a functional and chronological format.
How to Choose a Resume Style
Selecting the most effective style depends on your work history and whether the job you are applying for is something that differs from your previous employments or aligns with your previous employments. It is essential to choose the style that showcases your expertise in the best way possible, so that it is clear for the prospective employer to see how you meet the job description requirements.
When to avoid using a chronological style resume
• If you have changed jobs often
• If you have been out of the job market for a while (e.g., if there are gaps in your work history)
• If you are changing career fields
• If you have had too few jobs
• If you have had too many jobs
When to avoid using a functional style resume
• If you want to draw focus to your previous employers or job titles
• If you have few skills
• If you have few accomplishments
What is a Chronological Style Resume?
For a chronological style resume, your work experience is listed in reverse chronological order. This means that your present position or your most recent position is first, followed by your second most recent position, your third most recent position, etc. If your experience is from more than ten years ago, consider summarizing that experience, only if it is relevant to the job to which you are applying. You may also consider adding that information to the summary of qualifications section. More information should be detailed in the present or most recent job, as this is the best indicator of your abilities as they relate to the position to which you are applying. If links cannot be made between your present job or your most recent job, then provide more detailed information in your second most recent job and consider putting this job under a relevant work history subheading. If, even in this second, most recent job links cannot be made between the job you are applying and your work history, consider using an alternative style.
Under each previous position, include one-liners that detail your actions and the results of those actions, your accomplishments. Remember to choose the right verb tense for the action verb that introduces your one-liner. Your prospective employer will take more from your resume and understand you better if you quantify, qualify, and show not tell! Consider using the SAR method.
A chronological style resume:
• Draws focus to your previous employers as well as your last job title.
• Shows your development and growth in a specific sector.
• Shows all experiences in a particular field.
• Indicates how your past work history directly relates to the job you are applying.
This resume is usually the preferred style for recruiters. It is also the favorite style for traditional workplace environments, such as in education.
What is a Functional Style Resume?
For a functional resume, there are two elements to showing your work experience. Like chronological style resumes, functional style resumes show a list of previous employers in reverse chronological order. The difference is that the one-liners do not appear under each previous job and employer. Instead, those one-liners appear in a separate section entitled relevant skills or experience. Use the SAR method when writing your one-liners. As is done with chronological resume, the one-liners should start with an action verb and qualify and quantify.
You should consider including three to five skills and detailing your accomplishments under those skill headings. When choosing which skills to highlight, it is important to read the job description and prioritize the essential skills. If the job description says the candidate is required to show “problem-solving” skills, it is crucial to understand the meaning behind that skill. When listing the skills needed, list the essential skill, followed by the next important skill.
A functional-style resume:
• Draws focus on your skills and your achievements.
• Shows how you have exhibited those skills in multiple jobs
For individuals who are considering changing careers, who have undertaken several internships, freelance work or consulting work or who are just entering the workforce, the functional resume style may show your abilities more clearly. Most employers would prefer to see a chronological style resume rather than a functional style resume.
What is a Combined Style Resume?
For a combined style resume, the applicant provides a list of skills that are based on the job description (as is done with functional style resume) and includes a list of professional experience, of course, in reverse chronological order (as is done with a chronological style resume). This style resume is particularly useful for applicants returning to work or have a few years of professional experience (1 to 3 years).
However, employers can quickly lose interest in reading this type of resume format because the layout is not as succinct as other resume formats. Therefore, when ordering the sub-headings, it is important to show yourself as favorably as possible. For example, if you have little professional experience, perhaps less than two years, there is no reason to put this at the top of the resume. Instead, consider including a summary section followed by a relevant skills section.
A combined-style resume:
• Allows the applicant to highlight both their essential skills and their experience.
• Shows how the relevant skills have been applied in the professional experience or volunteer experience sections.
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