Career: Introduction to Resumes

Even though many people might claim that there are a lot of resume styles the most important three types of resumes according to me are chronological, functional, and combination. The type of resume must be chosen keeping in mind your experiences and industry or one that you are comfortable with. Here I will give a brief description of each type of resumes.

Chronological Resume:

Chronological resumes present information in a timeline approach. Typically, the most recent work or educational experience is listed first, followed by the next most recent. Employers typically prefer this type of resume because it's easy to see what jobs you have held and when you have worked at them.

Keep in mind that this type of resume is best if you have demonstrated experience within your desired career field. It highlights the positions you have held and the companies for which you have worked. So for a fresh graduate with little work experience choosing the chronological resume type may not be a very wise decision.

Advantages

• Many employers and recruiters expect and prefer this format
• Employers can easily scan chronological resumes
• Provides a straightforward history of your work experiences

Disadvantages

• Can demonstrate a lack of work experience
• Will show any gaps in employment history
• Employers can guess your age if you include older experiences

Sample Chronological Resume

Functional Resumes:

Functional resumes group work experience and skills by skill area or job function. Use functional resumes pointing out your skills over your specific employment history.

You can showcase the work experience that is most important to your career objective. The functional resume can be used to minimize employment gaps. It highlights more relevant skills instead of position titles. This type of resume may work best for first-time job seekers, those reentering the workforce after a long break from employment, or those changing careers.

Advantages

• Provides a flexible approach
• De-emphasizes lack of experience in a field
• Minimizes possible age discrimination

Disadvantages

• Employers may expect the chronological format

Sample Functional Resume

Combination Resume:

Combination resumes merge the chronological and functional styles. They present the knowledge, skills and abilities gained from work in a reverse-chronological order. With this type of resume you can highlight the skills you have that are relevant to the job you are applying for, and also provide the chronological work history that employers prefer.

Advantages

• Provides employers with the expected chronological format
• Highlights your skills

Disadvantages

• Can be repetitious if similar functions or skills are utilized in different positions
• May be longer than the chronological and functional formats

Sample Combination Resume