DIFFERENT TYPES OF RESUMES: Which one should you use?
DIFFERENT TYPES OF RESUMES: Which one should you use?
Oh resumes… I’m sure the word itself is making many of you sigh in frustration. The resume is one of the key documents needed in your job search toolkit but yet one of the areas that many people struggle with for various reasons. Getting straight to the point and starting with the basics, we're going to be looking at the 3 formats of resumes that you can use while also look at a few of the existing pros and cons. If you're still unsure which format is right for you feel free to utilize some resume services available here.
#1 The Classic Chronological - Experienced
The most common and most preferred format for a resume is the chronological resume. This format is fairly easy to read and focuses primarily on your actual experience, which would include specific tasks and duties accompanied with previous employers. This is listed out in reverse chronological order (most recent to least)
*Best format for those who have work experience 1 or more jobs.
Pros
Most common and preferred format by employers
Easy to follow
Good for those with consistent timelines of employment
Cons
Gaps in employment and lack of relevant experience is easier to spot
Challenging for people transitioning into another career because of the existing industry specific experience
#2 The Functional - The Skills Based
The functional resume is more skills based and is usually used by individuals who do not have work experience - in other words students or people changing careers with irrelevant experience. Instead of focusing on your actual experience (since you don’t have any) this format speaks on general skills that can be transferred into the workplace. This is usually exhibited in three clusters/categories, which includes a header and skills listed in bullet points. For an example for the categories, three areas of focus could be Technical Skills, Communication skills and Leadership skills. Under each header, you would then begin to list relevant tasks or skills.
Example:
Communication Skills
-Bilingual; Fluent in English and French
-Previous experience handling multiline phones
-Articulate and present information for over 30 viewers
-Prepare and proofread reports for submission
*Best format for job seekers with no previous work experience
Pros
Allow job seekers to expand on their skills
Takes away focus in employment gaps as dates of employment generally aren’t seen
Cons
Can be challenging to come up relevant skills
Employers can easily spot that the job seeker may be inexperienced
#3 Combination -The Hybrid
The combination style resume is basically what would be born if the chronological resume and functional got together and had a baby. This is a great option for people who have limited or extensive experience. Your resume will include 2-3 clusters of skills with supporting bullet points and will have a section that will list your employers in chronological order.
*Best for experienced workers who’ve held similar roles with various employers or workers with very limited experience that might want to expand more on their skills.
Pros
Allow you to condense information and avoid redundancy
Allow you to enhance your resume with tasks and skills that might not be listed for the listed employers
Cons
There aren’t really any aside from the fact that the chronological format is still the winner of the bunch for employers.
This is a quick and basic introduction to resumes as it relates to format types. Each format will be expanded on in the near future. Saying that be sure to subscribe to get notified when the next blog will be posted!