Two Resume Formats You Need To Know

We all know that times are tough, unemployment is high, and that under-employment is even higher. Where, in the past, we might have been up against 10 people for the same job, there may be hundreds after it.

Knowing how to put together a resume that will stand out from the rest, is a skill that is employed by the people who make it through the recruitment process to interview stage.

There are generally two resume formats that can be followed, the Chronological Resume, which basically means that you list everything you have done in date order, with the most recent first. The second is the Functional Resume which groups skill sets together rather than actual jobs.

A combination of the two is sometimes used as well, using titles like "Computer Programming", outlining what you can do in the area, followed by the positions you have held in that field. This can be a somewhat disjointed way of preparing a resume, but if a position requiring very specific skills is being applied for, than it could work well.

Chronological Resume

This is no doubt the most widely used and familiar format. And there's a lot to be said for a reader being used to the format. He will know what to look for and where to find it.

Experience and education are listed in date order, with the most recent first. Here you emphasize positions and organizations, the dates you worked there and your achievements and responsibilities with each. For best effect a chronological resume will demonstrate career progression or broadening of areas of expertise.

If your most recent position is not the one most relevant to the job for which you are applying, it is important to expand more on the relevant one, and highlight your roles and achievements while in that role. Certainly the detail in this position must be obviously more that the unrelated, more recent role.

Functional Resume

A functional resume is one that highlights accomplishments and skills, and puts less emphasis on job titles and dates of employment. These can be appropriate if you have had a number of unrelated jobs and if you have had periods of unemployment.

Here you need to carefully examine your previous duties and activities and create specific skill areas, like leadership, writing, communication, research - all of which should target the position you seek.

This type of resume is best for those seeking jobs outside of the academic or professional sphere, where the position sought is seeking qualities and potential rather than experience and formal qualifications.

Whichever type of resume is best for your job-search, ensuring that it is laid out and presented in a professional manner is very important. Try to be concise, don't go into unnecessary details - that can wait for the interview!