Best Resume Format

There is no single best resume format for everyone. There are three basic types of resumes that are used, and within those resume styles, there are also variations.

The ideal resume format for you will depend upon the depth of your skills, accomplishments, experience and education and how closely they are related to the type of work you are currently seeking.

The three types of resume formats are:

• Chronological
• Functional
• Combination (also called combined)

Each of the three types of resumes has strengths and weaknesses, and each highlights your skills and accomplishments in different ways.

It's important to keep in mind that when employers review your resume, they do it very quickly. You have, at most, 30 seconds, and probably less for employers to make a decision about your suitability for an interview based on your resume.

With that in mind, whatever resume format you choose, you must ensure that employers can quickly gather the information they need to prompt them to call you for an interview.

Chronological Resume

Features

The primary focus of a chronological resume is a detailed list of your work experience in reverse chronological order.

Strengths

• A chronological resume showcases your career history and progression very well.

• When it's well written, it is easy to see job titles, promotions, and employers at a glance on a chronological resume.

• This style of resume is credible to hiring managers.

Weaknesses

• Your work history is front and center on this type of resume, so if there are any weaknesses in your work history, they'll be harder to minimize. For this reason, chronological resumes are usually not the best choice for people who have gaps in their work history, have had several jobs in a short period of time, or who have very limited work experience.

• Employers often review resumes to ensure you have the basic skills that they require. There is no single place to highlight your relevant skills on a chronological resume (remember, you only have a few seconds to make a great impression), so your skills can easily get hidden in this type of resume.

• Because skills are not highlighted, chronological resumes do not do a good job of showing how your skills from one job transfer to another type of job. This style of resume is usually not the best resume format for career changers.

• A chronological resume can highlight your age if you're not careful. This issue can sometimes be a concern for more experienced workers as well as less experienced workers.

When to Use a Chronological Resume

Consider using a chronological resume when you have a solid work history and career progression and your most recent jobs are an excellent match with the type of work you are currently seeking.

A chronological resume is the best resume format for highlighting your work history, so you would consider using this type of resume when your work history is the main thing you want the employer to notice.

Related Article: Sample Chronological Resume

Functional Resume

Features

A functional resume is simply a very detailed list of your skills and accomplishments as they are related to the type of job you are currently seeking. A purely functional resume completely omits work history, and sometimes education is also omitted from this type of resume.

Strengths

• Functional resumes are sometimes used to hide any weaknesses in your work history because work history is completely omitted from the resume.

• If you have gaps in your work history, have had several jobs in a short period of time, or have very limited work experience, these issues (in theory) are hidden on a functional resume.

Weaknesses

• Employers do not trust functional resumes. They know that they are used to hide issues related to the applicant's work history, so when they see a functional resume, they assume you are trying to hide something.

• The fact that functional resumes are not trusted by employers is a significant disadvantage and should not be taken lightly when you are deciding on the style of resume you will use. Also, there are other, more subtle and effective ways to deal with those concerns related to your work history.

When to Use a Functional Resume

A functional resume is rarely the best resume format to use. I can't imagine ever suggesting to someone that they should use a functional resume. In fact, I've written over one thousand resumes, and I can't think of a single time when I wrote a purely functional resume with no experience listed.

The fact that functional resumes carry no credibility with employers is such a profound weakness of this resume style, in my mind, means it is just not a viable resume option.

Although I am no fan of the functional resume, it is a style that some people use. Since it exists, I do want to present it as an option and outline all of the pros and cons of using this style of resume. That way, you'll be able to make up your own mind about using a functional resume.

Some people who have absolutely no work or volunteer experience, such as students seeking their first job, consider using a functional resume. Keep in mind, though, it is extremely rare for people to have absolutely no experience to include on a resume.

In the very rare case that this occurs, I would strongly recommend that you find ways (such as volunteer work or a school placement) to gain some experience.

Functional Resume Template

Combination Resume

Features

A combination resume (sometimes also called a combined resume) is a combination of a chronological and a functional resume. It highlights both a summary of your skills as well as your work history.

Strengths

• It's easy to see skills and/or accomplishments at a glance on a combination resume.

• It also includes a work history section so employers know in what context, how long and where you used those skills.

• Combination resumes are credible to employers.

• If your work history is limited, a combination resume has the benefit of allowing you to highlight your skills first.

• The combination resume allows you to show how your skills and accomplishments are relevant to different types of jobs.

Weaknesses

• Your work history is front and center, so if there are any weaknesses in your work history, you'll need to find ways to minimize those concerns.

• A combination resume can highlight your age if you're not careful.

• Because you will describe your experience and your skills in two different sections, a combination resume can get repetitive if it's not carefully written.

When to Use a Combination Resume

• A combination resume combines all of the strengths of the functional and chronological resumes. This resume works very well for most people most of the time.

• A combination resume is the best resume format for people who want to highlight skills and accomplishments as well as work history.

• Combination resumes are typically the best resume format for career changers because the skills section allows you to show how your skills are related to the new job that you are seeking, and the work experience section gives credibility to the resume.

Combination Resume Template