Resume builder beware: the fastest way to get your resume promptly inserted in the garbage can is to ignore structuring common practice. There is no space for creativity when you’re crafting your resume… unless you are applying for a graphic design position.
Assuming you don’t fall into that camp, let’s go over some of the most common resume formats. The one that is right for you is a personal decision, but all of them have been field tested and proven effective.
Chronological Resume
The chronological resume is one of the most familiar formats, and for just reason. Instead of wasting space on arbitrary facts, the chronological resume gets right to the point.
The format goes like this: First, you list your work history starting from most recent and descending into older positions. The next section would be dedicated to relevant education you’ve received. Finally, you would touch on specific skill sets that you have as a potential employee.
This type of resume is weighted towards previous experience, which makes for a strong pitch for the seasoned employee.
Skills Resume (A.K.A. Functional Resume)
As a resume builder, the functional resume format is a good choice IF you have more skills than real world experience. Your skills are quickly brought to the forefront, and they remain the theme throughout the resume.
Experience summaries are trumped by professional capability emphasis, and career progression takes a back seat to developed skill sets. The format goes as follows: After your contact information, we move directly into job qualifications. Next comes a run down of relevant skill sets. Finally, job history is comfortably sat at the bottom of the resume.
Combination Resume
As the name implies, the combination resume is a mixture of the two most common resume formats: skills and chronological. The resume builder may very well find this option as the most powerful and flexible.
The general format goes like this: Right after your contact information at the top, we build a section for developed skill sets. This is immediately followed by an in depth look at previous employment experience and titles held. Unlike the typical skills resume, previous experience is elaborated on to the depth of the chronological resume.
Generally speaking, the most qualified candidates use the combination resume. This is simply because they bring so much to the table in both verifiable experience and skill sets. With the combination resume, the resume builder can deliver all of these selling points in a tight, focused and easy to read format.
In conclusion
The resume builder process is simply one of finding out what a potential employer needs, and creating a sales pitch (read: resume) that demonstrates how you fill that need. For your resume to work, you simply must think about the potential employer more than you think of yourself.
And a major part of doing this delivering your sales pitch in a fashion the buyer (employer) is used to and comfortable with. Classic formats like those described above are the way to do exactly that.