What Type of Resume Format to Choose

We’ve already discussed resume writing hacks and tips for stay-at-home moms, and now it’s time to talk about different resume types and the benefits of every format. I know how hard and tedious it is to put your application document together. Your resume is the introduction to prospective work relationships with a potential recruiter, so you need to try your best to make a wonderful first impression and get noticed. 

If you do catch the eye of the recruiter and they like your CV, you will get the chance to make a second impression during the phone call or the job interview. Otherwise, your application will end up in the trash, and we definitely don’t want this to happen. The first and the most important step towards having a great and impressive CV is to select the right format out of different resume types: chronological, functional and combination.

Chronological Resume Format

Most job hunters are familiar with the chronological type of resume. Here, you need to put your work experience in reverse chronological order so that the most recent job comes first and can be easily noticed by the hiring managers. First, you place your personal and contact details on the very top of the page together with your address, email address, and phone number. Then, while listing all the jobs you’ve had going from the most recent one backward, make sure you state the time during which you occupied that position.

Then, give a brief description of each position. Follow your work experience section with a part about your education and mention degrees and certificates you have earned. So, when is this resume type beneficial and most suitable to use? I would recommend it to job hunters who are willing to show their career growth. However, it’s not the best option for people with unsteady work history or for stay-at-home moms with career gaps.

Functional Resume Format

Out of three different types of resume format, a functional resume is the best to use for candidates who are changing careers. Why? This resume format allows you to emphasize your transferable skills. You may not have the right experience for the job you are seeking, but you do have skills and abilities you’ve got through other experiences and projects, both paid and unpaid. Make a section for every ability and skill you want to highlight. Then, place related work experience underneath each section heading.

However, don’t overestimate yourself and don’t list all the possible functions and skills you think may be useful for the job search. Mention three or four functions maximum so that the hiring manager has enough time to notice your key strengths and look through each of them. For instance, you can make sections “Accounting,” “Management and Supervision,” and “Writing and Editing.” Under each section write a small description of your achievements and results that will best describe your skill. By changing the objective of the resume you will be able to target it to various recruiters. There is only one drawback of a functional resume type as it doesn’t mention your job history, which may be crucial to some recruiters.

Combination Resume Format

This format of your application document can solve the problem of the previous type and tell the potential recruiters your employment history. It’s exactly what it’s called – a hybrid of a chronological and a functional type. Such resume type is perfect for job hunters who are changing careers and have enough work experience that might seem unrelated, or those who had just one place of employment but spent a huge amount of time there.

Here, after personal and contact information with your objective, you should put a section describing your skills and job functions. After that, follow our advice from the functional resume type but keep the description of each position shorter because we don’t want to write a novel here. Your second part will be “Work history” or “Employment experience” which will tell the hiring manager all they want to know about your previous career.

Choosing the right resume type for your job search objective will give you the opportunity to show the potential recruiters why you can be the perfect fit for their position.