Which Resume Style is for You?
Before you sit down to decide what you’re going to actually say in your resume, you
have to decide which type of resume you should be writing. Type doesn’t mean the
design or basic look of the resume- the color paper you chose, the typeface, and so on. It
refers instead to the way you organize, sequence, and control the emphasis of the
information that you include in the resume.
Fortunately, you won’t have to rack your brain to make the appropriate choice. You have
only three general options, each with its own rationale. And the third one is a
combination of the first two. The three types of resumes are as follows:
9 Chronological
9 Functional
9 Combination
Now take a closer look at each type.
The Chronological Resume: By the Numbers
The chronological resume shown on the following page lists your work experience in-
guess what? - a chronological sequence-except that it’s in reverse. This is, by far, the
most commonly used type of resume today and the one that is the most familiar to
employers.
Advantages
The principal advantage of a chronological resume is that is gives employers what they’re
looking for: an easy-to-follow snapshot of your work experience. Employers prefer this
type of resume over others because it gives prominence to what many people consider the
most important criteria for hiring: what you are doing and accomplishing right now- at
this particular stage in your career, as opposed to what you did ten years ago or when you
were a sophomore in high school. The chronological resume is especially recommended
if you fall into either of the following categories:
9 The position you are going after is in a field in which you have a solid and
consistent record of progress.
9 The strongest aspect of your work experience is reflected in your most recent job,
especially if it is a job that you still hold or have only recently left.
Describing your work history in reverse chronological fashion showcases your
qualifications and strengths to good advantage.
Disadvantages
The principal disadvantage of a chronological resume is that it can lock you into a
sequence that may not work to your benefit in certain situations.