Answering common resume questions: Which resume format is the best?

As professional resume writers, we get asked this question a lot.

Many job seekers are anxious to know the types of resume formats that work best for them based on diverse factors such as their career level, industry, profession, and career history.

Let us talk about the differences between the three main resume formats to answer your question.

The chronological resume format

This is the most common and most popular resume format in the job market. The chronological resume format lists your experiences and qualifications in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent ones. The chronological resume format is built to emphasize the chronological career history of a candidate and highlight the path of their career progression.

The chronological resume is the ideal resume format for nine out of ten job seekers. This resume format highlights your career progression and professional achievements in a way that is easy for hiring managers to navigate and understand. It also doesn’t make the hiring manager do a lot of sleuthing to figure out your career history. However, a chronological resume might not be the best choice if you are making a career shift or are just starting out in the field.

The functional resume format

The functional resume format is not a crowd favorite, but it is used by many job seekers who don’t want to draw the hiring manager’s attention to their career history. The functional resume format is also known as the skills-based resume format. It is built with the primary purpose of highlighting the skills of a candidate. The functional resume format does little to build up a chronological career history of the job seeker.

The functional resume format is widely used by candidates who want to minimize their career gaps. As the resume does not list past jobs in chronological order outright, there is less chance for an employer to spot a large career gap. However, hiring managers have years of experience vetting resumes, and can spot that you are trying to hide something when you apply for a job with a functional resume.

The hybrid resume format

If you want a resume format that combines the features and benefits of both the above types, you are looking for a hybrid resume format. This resume format is built to highlight the chronological career progression as well as the skill set of a candidate. It equally pays attention to all parts of your career. This resume format is also used by job seekers from all stages of their career, so it works for many cases.

The hybrid resume format is used by recent grads and seasoned professionals alike. It helps professionals pay equal attention to their skills and accomplishments, allowing them to create a richer job application. If you are applying for a senior position within a company, you must use a hybrid resume format to bring out all the necessary skills and experiences.

Not sure which resume format to pick? Our professional resume writers can certainly help you out. Visit www.resumemansion.com and start working with us to build the perfect resume for you.