What type of resume should I create? What kind of formatting makes sense? How much information should go into my job description? The answers to these questions often vary from person to person.
A resume is essentially a tool that helps potential employers see who you really are. While some consider resumes obsolete, they are important tools that can get you noticed by hiring managers.
There are three main types of resumes. This article explains what each of them looks like and how they differ.
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What are the 3 resume types?
Functional Resumes
This type of resume highlights your skills and experience rather than your education or work history. They also tend to be shorter in length.
The most common example of a functional resume is a “resume book” which includes only your relevant skills and abilities along with references for those skills. This format gives an employer a quick overview of your qualifications without taking up too much space on their website.
When to use it?
If you have little or no experience, a functional resume could be the best way to show off your skills and accomplishments. But keep in mind that if you don’t have enough experience to fill out a traditional resume, you might struggle to write a functional resume that showcases your skills and accomplishments.
In addition to helping employers identify your value, a functional resume helps you showcase your accomplishments. It makes it easier to find the things you’ve done that matter to the employer.
And because recruiters spend less time reading resumes, they tend to focus on the functional elements—like the skills you possess—that make you stand out.
Chronological Resumes
A chronological resume highlights your work history. Most people are familiar with this type of resume because it is still widely used.
Chronological resumes typically start with the most current employment and end with the earliest jobs you had. They tend to favor bullet points over text boxes and contain little else besides a summary of your professional background.
When to use it?
A chronological resume is a good option for someone whose job history has been relatively stable over the course of his or her career. If you have had a few jobs since graduating college, it makes sense to stick with a chronological style because it allows employers to see how you progressed throughout your career.
For those who have changed industries or fields entirely, a chronological resume provides a clear view of your professional background. This type of resume is best suited for someone who wants to highlight accomplishments rather than focus on education.
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Combination Resumes
A combination resume combines the strengths of chronological and functional resumes. Like a chronological resume, it focuses on your career history and lists your job duties and responsibilities. But like a functional resume, it highlights specific skills and competencies.
Because your skills and employment history are likely to take up most of your resume space—and because employers often prefer to see a combination resume over a chronological one—you might want to consider eliminating optional sections such as a brief summary or volunteering section.
When to use it?
A combination resume is useful when you want to highlight your relevant work experiences while simultaneously showcasing your unique qualities. In other words, it can show recruiters what makes you stand out from the competition.
Combination resumes are designed to display your professional background and skill sets in one place. They’re meant to give employers a quick overview of your qualifications without having to read through dozens of résumés. Plus, they can help you avoid the dreaded “resume gap,” where there’s a noticeable absence of information about your most recent jobs.
The Best Resume Format for Your Situation
The best choice of the resume depends on your goals. If you are looking to land a new position within your current company or industry, a functional resume will likely do the trick.
However, if you want to make your way outside of your current organization, a chronological resume may help you stand out.
And if you want to transition between industries, combining two different resumes together may be just what you need to achieve a successful outcome.
Conclusion
The goal of the resume is to make sure that hiring managers see what makes you unique and why they should hire you. You want to highlight your accomplishments and show how they align with the role you’re applying for.
Remember, the resume isn’t just about listing every single thing you ever did. Instead, focus on highlighting your most relevant experiences and achievements.
Additionally, if need help with crafting a well-written resume that suits your current situation. Our team of expert writers can help you create a professionally written resume and land that dream job of yours.
