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| Resume Formats |
There are several popular resume formats in use today these are;
chronological, functional and accomplishment. Each has it advantages and
disadvantages. It is important to use the best for format for your job
search.
Chronological Resume: This format is the most popular format in use
today. Advantage of this format is that it is well recognized and easy to
read. The arrangement of the headings can be rearranged to show your
stronger qualifications. For example you can place your education towards
the beginning after the objective. This works well for students and
young people with impressive educational credentials. On the other hand
older workers may want to place experience towards the beginning. The
basic headings are;
Heading
Objective
Summary of Qualifications
Experience
Education
Note: the summary of qualifications will give the potential employer an
overview of your strongest qualifications. Your experience should be in
reverse chronological order with your last position first.
Use only when it may aid in achieving your job objective. This is a
good format when…
You've worked for a while in your chosen field and want to call
attention to a stable work history.
You want to call attention to consistent upward mobility and
promotions.
You are applying for a job in a very conservative field.
You think your next employer would be more comfortable with a
traditional looking resume.
You like the look of the straightforward look chronological resume.
If you choose the chronological resume, be sure you don't load the
resume down with boring job duties. Make sure instead that you talk about
what you accomplished on each job. Also how your actions benefited your
employer. Focus on activities you want to do in your new job. Be
prepared to discuss them in an interview.
Functional Resume: This format places the relevant experience towards
the top of the resume. This lets potential employers see the
qualifications and related experience up front. A disadvantage to this resume is
sometimes hard for employers to match your experience with your work
history. This format has a separate experience and work history heading.
You place your relevant experience and accomplishments under experience
and your employers are listed below under the work history section,
just the name of firm, position held, position and periods of employment.
The function headings would be;
Heading
Objective
Summary of qualifications
Experience
Work History
Education
Again the sections can be rearranged as with the chronological resume.
This is a good format when…
You have little or no paid work experience.
You are making a significant career change.
Your most impressive skills or accomplishments came out of volunteer or
unpaid work.
Your job titles don't do justice to your accomplishments and responsibilities.
You want to draw attention to your skills that are useful in the future
job and play down past job content.
Your best accomplishments and most impressive work experience are not drawn from your most recent job.
Your work history is complicated or has long stretches of unsalaried positions.
If you chose a functional format focus on skills that support your new job goal. Try to tell where your accomplishments occurred, so employers will not have to go back and forth between experience and work history
to figure it out.
Accomplishment Resume: This format takes advantage of an impressive
list of career achievements. These accomplishments should be no more than
one to three line bullets. The work history section lists only, job
title, company, location and periods of employment. The standard section
would be.
Heading
Objective
Summary of Qualification
Accomplishments
Work History or (Experience)
Education
This format is a good choice when…
You have quit or been laid off from a responsible position.
You haven't worked in your field recently.
You have been out of work longer than a few months.
This format assumes that the basic natures of the positions you've held
are familiar to most employers so it doesn't need to be spelled out.
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