There are three basic resume types: chronological, functional, and hybrid. But which is right for you? That depends on your work history, job objective and skills.
If your work history is steady and extensive, and you want to stay on the same career path, opt for the Chronological Resume. It lists your accomplishments and where you worked in reverse chronological order. Include job titles, name of employer, and dates of employment (in years only). The goal is to show ever-increasing accomplishments and responsibilities. Remember to use action verbs to briefly describe key tasks and indicate results you achieved using numbers/percentages to gauge your accomplishments.
On the other hand, if you're ready to make a career change, or if you have gaps in your work history, you might want to present a Functional Resume. It should be organized by skill sets or functions, instead of chronologically by dates. A functional resume lets you highlight skills that relate to the job, and to marginalize non-applicable skills. In creating this type of resume, identify your major skill sets, including those gained outside of traditional work environments—like volunteer work or hobbies. Make sure that the skill sets line up with the specific job you're pursuing. List the most relevant, readily transferable skills first.
Finally, there's the Combination Resume. Here, you'll unite chronological and functional formats. In other words, you'll start with a chronological list, then itemize the main functional skill sets, followed by specific quantifiable accomplishments.
For an informative video on resumes, check out Marketing YOU: Resume Types and What's Best for You.
As a freelance writer who has worked for nearly one hundred clients, I prefer the Functional Resume along with my website.
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Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients.
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