Functional vs. Chronological Resumes
by ResumeEdge.com - The
Net's Premier Resume Writing and Editing Service
There are three basic types of resumes--reverse
chronological, functional, and a combination of the two.
A reverse-chronological resume arranges your
experience and education in chronological order with the most recent dates first. One of the most
frequent questions I am asked as a resume writer is, "Do I have to list all of my jobs? It makes me
look so old!" My answer is always, "No, you don't have to list every single position you have ever
held. The trick is to pick and choose the ones that are relevant to your objective." You can also
eliminate low-level positions and positions that duplicate later experience. Relevant is the keyword
here!
More than half of the resumes on this site are
reverse-chronological, but that doesn't mean a different type of resume might not fit your needs
better. This section will show you what is possible with a functional resume in case that style better
fits your needs.
A functional resume organizes your work
experience by the functions you performed regardless of date. The functional resume highlights your
skills and potential instead of your work history. It allows you to play down gaps in your experience
and is especially good for those people entering the job market for the first time. If you are
reentering the job market, for example, after raising children, this type of resume also allows you to
list volunteer experience and community or school activities.
List your functional paragraphs in their order of
importance, with the items listed first that will help you get the particular job you are targeting.
Refer to the twelve-step resume writing process for ideas on how to
rearrange your resume sentences to better capture your reader's attention.
You should know that there are very rare times
when I would recommend a purely functional resume, however. In the 1980s, true functional resumes
developed a bad reputation because applicants were not listing where they gained their experience. It
made recruiters suspicious that the applicant was trying to hide something, and they normally were. A
combination functional/chronological resume will avoid this problem. Always list a brief synopsis of
your actual work experience at the bottom of your functional resume with your title, employer, and the
dates worked.
Click here for ResumeEdge.com, Give Your Resume
an Edge!
From Designing the
Perfect Resume, by Pat Criscito.
Copyright 2000. Reprinted by arrangement with Barron's Educational Series, Inc.
<<< Back |
| 
