Even with the current use of social media for job searching, resumes are still very essential when it comes to job hunting. But you’ll agree with me that not just any resume format is the best to land you the chance in the business even if you meet the minimum qualification. And, of course, I bet you won’t want your resume to be disqualified by the HR or management, right? Different situations call for a different format to be used. The following are the top three formats and when you should use each of them. Please read on.
- Chronological Resume
This format of a resume is the most widely applied. In this format, you’re required to list your work history information in reverse chronological order. This means that you should start with your most recent job all the way to your first job. Most employers would prefer this format owing to its ability to provide a quick snapshot of work history. Your employer will, therefore, easily identify your most recent positions up front. Sounds great, right? But when should you use this resume format? Well, you should apply this format if you’re having a solid work history with no lapses between jobs and your main aim is to boost your career. The format is also a perfect fit for you if your work experience is aligned with the job you’re interested in applying. Perhaps, you’ll need to submit a well-written resume to increase your chances. And using reputable and professional resume templates can greatly save you the hassle. For instance, you can use these resume templates for your next job hunt.
- Functional Resume
This format frames you in terms of the skills and abilities that you believe mostly relate to the job opening you want to apply. The format, unlike chronological format, does not emphasize on when and where you acquired or put your skills into practice. It rather focuses on putting the skills in order of the most relevant to the least relevant at the top of your resume. And by “least relevant,” it doesn’t mean the skills are irrelevant to the job opening, but just the least relevant of the relevant skills. Such a format is relevant if you’re having unusually large employment gaps and are interested in promoting a specific set of skill. You can also use this format if you’re interested in changing your career into a new industry.
- Combination Resume
As the name suggests, this format combines both the chronological and functional resume formats. In this format, you’ll start with the functional part where you normally state your qualifications summary or professional profile by highlighting your skills, achievements, and abilities that are relevant to the job you’re interested in applying. The chronological part then follows. Here, you state your reverse-chronological experience, education background, and other relevant sections. You should use this particular format when you’re a master in what you do and are interested in showcasing a specific and well-developed skill set. You should use the format also when you’re transferring to a different industry.
Conclusion
Whatever the format you’ll be using, you should ensure that your resume is brief and easy to read to increase the chances of acquiring yourself the job opening in a certain business. In this case, using the professional templates can be a good way to accomplish this. Also, look out for other relevant blogs to learn more about job hunting resumes and the best format for specific options. Good luck!