What are the advantages and disadvantages of different resume styles?

1 Chronological resume

A chronological resume is the most common and traditional resume style, where you list your work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent or current position. This resume style is ideal for highlighting your career progression, showing your consistent work history, and demonstrating your relevant skills and accomplishments. However, a chronological resume may also draw attention to any gaps, frequent job changes, or career shifts that you have in your work history. It may also not be the best option if you are changing careers, have limited experience, or want to emphasize your transferable skills.

2 Functional resume

A functional resume focuses on your skills and abilities, rather than your work history. You group your skills into categories that match the job requirements, and provide examples of how you used them in different contexts. This resume style is useful for showcasing your transferable skills, highlighting your qualifications, and overcoming any potential drawbacks in your work history, such as gaps, career changes, or lack of experience. However, a functional resume may also raise some red flags for employers, who may wonder why you are hiding your work history, how recent or relevant your skills are, or how well you performed in your previous roles.

3 Combination resume

A combination resume combines elements of both chronological and functional resumes, where you highlight your relevant skills and achievements in a summary or profile section, and then provide a brief chronological overview of your work history. This resume style allows you to balance your skills and experience, and tailor your resume to the specific job you are applying for. However, a combination resume may also be longer and more complex than other resume styles, and may require more editing and formatting to avoid repetition or confusion.

4 Targeted resume

A targeted resume is a customized resume that is specifically tailored to the job description and the employer's needs and expectations. You carefully match your skills, achievements, and keywords to the job requirements, and emphasize how you can add value to the organization. This resume style is effective for demonstrating your fit and interest for the job, and increasing your chances of getting noticed and invited for an interview. However, a targeted resume may also be time-consuming and challenging to create, as you need to research the employer and the industry, and adapt your resume for each job you apply for.

5 Creative resume

A creative resume is a resume that uses unconventional formats, designs, or media to showcase your personality, creativity, and uniqueness. You may use colors, graphics, images, fonts, or even videos or websites to present your resume in a visually appealing and memorable way. This resume style is suitable for certain industries or roles that require or appreciate creativity, such as design, marketing, or media. However, a creative resume may also be inappropriate or distracting for other industries or roles that value professionalism, clarity, or simplicity. It may also pose some technical or compatibility issues, depending on how you create and share your resume.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?