Resume Formats

There are three basic resume formats that are customary: chronological, functional, and combination. Your qualifications and career goals will help you choose from among these three resume styles.

The chronological resume is the most common format and is familiar to interviewers from all backgrounds. It organizes career and educational history in reverse chronological order, beginning with the most recent and working back. 

This format will work for you if

• You have a steady employment history
• Your goal is a job in your present industry
• You are looking to advance along a vertical career path

The functional resume is the format of choice for individuals who are planning and seeking a major career change. It organizes career and educational history by functional areas.  Functional resumes focus on skills rather than on past employment.

This format will work for you if

• You have a very little experience in the area you are pursuing
• You have gaps in your employment history
• You are entering the workforce after a long absence
• You have changed jobs frequently

The combination resume is the most flexible format. It organizes career and educational history by emphasizing functional experience within a reverse chronological order.

This format will work for you if

• You have had a long tenure with a single employer
• You wish to draw attention to the places you have worked and what you accomplished there .