The 3 Best Resume Formats to Use

While there are many, the three most commonly used formats are chronological, functional, and hybrid.

The chronological format is the most traditional and is often preferred by employers. It lists your work experience in reverse chronological order, with your most recent position listed first.

The functional format focuses on skills and abilities rather than work experience. This can be a good choice for individuals with gaps in their employment history or for those who are changing career fields.

The hybrid format combines elements of both the chronological and functional formats and can effectively highlight your work experience and skills.

When choosing a resume format, it is vital to consider your own unique qualifications and experiences.

Overall, the best resume format is the one that will help you to secure the job you want. You do this by sharing strategic value and supporting your resume with metrics and richer results.?

??Reverse-Chronological Resume

A reverse-chronological resume is the most common type of resume format. This format lists your work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent position and working backwards.

It is the preferred resume format for most employers, making it easy to see your work history and how it has prepared you for the role you are applying for.

A reverse-chronological resume is an excellent choice if you have a solid work history and no significant gaps.

Otherwise, if you have relevant experience that is not in chronological order or significant gaps in your employment history, you may want to consider using a different resume format —functional or hybrid.

??Example of how to write the reverse-chronological resume

• Start with your present or most recent employment
• Follow it with the previous one, then the previous one, etc.
• In each entry, include your position, employer, and dates of employment
• Put up to five bullet points under each job. But don't just list duties. Focus on successes.
• Use active voice. "Supervised" should replace "responsible for overseeing."
• When possible, quantify.
• Add a "Key Accomplishment" section at the bottom of the page. Describe your proudest professional victory.
• List only some of your professional responsibilities and successes. Focus on what is significant for this role. Customize your resume based on the job description.

?Further References??

• Top Resume Builder
• Use our resume scanner to scan your resume
• How to write a resume like a guru
• Free cover letter builder

???Functional Resume Format

Unlike a chronological resume, which highlights your work experience in reverse-chronological order, a functional resume emphasizes your skills and qualifications.

This type of resume can be a good choice if you have gaps in your employment history or have held several jobs that are outside your current career goals.

To format a functional resume, list your skills and qualifications in a dense text block. Then, include a brief summary of your work experience, organized according to theme rather than chronology.

For example, you might group all of your customer service experience, even if it was gained at different jobs over several years. But always show in which organization you performed a duty or achieved the results you mentioned.

Finally, conclude with a section detailing your education and any relevant professional development courses or certifications.

While the functional resume format can effectively highlight your skills and qualifications, it is critical to use it sparingly. Hiring managers may view this type of resume as suspicious, particularly if you have significant employment gaps.

As such, it is generally best to use a chronological or hybrid resume format when applying for most jobs.

?Example of how to write a functional resume

• In the objective statement at the start of your resume, briefly describe your purpose for pursuing a particular career and the most important talents you've acquired to date.
• Add a link to your online portfolio, blog, or personal website to the resume objective if you have one.
• For the skills summary, choose four to five skills that are most relevant to the position for which you are seeking.
• Don't just list your skills. Be specific. Provide instances of when and how you implemented these concepts. Mention software in which you have the expertise and quantify whenever possible.
• Use bullet points or simple paragraphs.

??Hybrid Resume Format

A hybrid resume is a combination of chronological and functional resumes. This type of resume format simultaneously emphasises your work experience and skills.

Typically, the first half of a hybrid resume is devoted to listing your professional experience in chronological order. The second half is devoted to highlighting your skill set.

This type of resume is often used by job seekers who are making a career change or have gaps in their employment history. By including both your work experience and your skills, a hybrid resume can help you paint a fuller picture of your qualifications for a new role.

??Example of how to write a hybrid resume

• ?Start by outlining the most relevant talents to the position you're seeking.
• Add up to four bullet points outlining your professional accomplishments that demonstrate you possess each skill.
• Concentrate on quantifiable and measurable results.

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More References

• Free resume scanner to scan job descriptions and resumes
• 30-60-90-Day Plan for scaling every interview
• Free Cover Letter Maker