Step 3 Format Selection

           Chronological

Functional

Combination

What it is

It's time oriented and consists of Contact Information, Objective, Education, and Experience. Work experience is listed with the most recent first and is useful to demonstrate continuous employment.

Start with your most recent job and work backwards, typically focusing on the last 10 years of experience.

Employers usually prefer this format because it quickly shows relevant skills to an employer.

Focuses on professional skills that may have been developed from a variety of experiences and minimizes your work history.

Gives you greater control than a chronological format over the way in which skills, experience, and training are presented. Dates of employment, employers and job titles are less important than the skills you have developed.

You must have a strongly focused job objective. Skills areas are clustered together under appropriate headings, such as Managerial, Sales, Communication, and Purchasing etc.

Utilizes the best of the chronological and functional styles and is often the preferred format of those with a strong performance record.

In addition to the Contact Information, Objective, Education, and Experience, it allows you to focus more thoroughly on your marketable skills and qualifications first and foremost before presenting your employment history. In almost all instances, the combination format is a better choice than a straight functional format.

Positions, dates and employer information are listed towards the bottom of the resume.

When to use it

You are currently employed.

When you are looking for a position in the same field.

You have had steady progress and increased responsibilities in your career path.

You can quantify results from your work.

You've worked for well-known and respected employers and or held notable job titles.

There are no gaps in your employment history.

You are switching careers and drawing upon your transferable skills.

You've been working for the same company for a number of years.

You have held several positions that are either very different OR very similar in nature.

You are a new graduate with limited work history, but DO have relevant coursework and or training.

You have gaps in your employment history.

Each position you have had involved a different job.

You want to highlight internships or volunteer positions that are related to your field of interest.

Significant skills are highlighted and supported by your employment history.

Cautions

This format will call attention to the gaps in your employment history.

Your skills can be hidden in the job descriptions and may be hard for the reader to find.

Employers prefer chronological resumes, so you have to make sure this format will serve you the best!

The functional format is often used to hide unfavorable elements in a candidate's employment history;  and may be viewed with caution by HR professionals, i.e., causing them to ask "What is this applicant trying to hide?" This is particularly true when the work history is omitted entirely (which is not recommend).

Be sure your objective is supported by format.

The format should be easy to follow and logically arranged.