Which resume format should you use?

There are three types of resume formats widely used by job seekers. Not all these resume formats would benefit you or suit your unique situation. Choosing the right resume format to match your skills, experiences, and qualifications is the first step to writing a successful resume.

Today, we will talk about the advantages and disadvantages of each of the three resume formats to help you decide which one to use.

The chronological resume format

This is the most popular resume format out of all three. All over the world, the chronological resume format stands as the format widely known and accepted by hiring managers. The chronological resume format has a logical flow, making it an easy read for anyone. Hiring managers prefer to receive this resume format because it makes it easier for them to scan a resume quickly. The chronological format is ideal for demonstrating the growth in your skills and responsibilities to the reader. If you are in a rush, the chronological format is quite easy to prepare as well.

However, this resume format is not ideal for every candidate because it emphasizes employment gaps, which is seen by recruiters as a resume red flag. Job seekers with no or less work experience also are at a disadvantage using the chronological format. This resume format highlights frequent job changes, giving you the appearance of a job hopper.

The functional resume format

Although not as popular as the chronological format, candidates also widely use the functional resume format. This resume format is built to emphasize skills instead of work experience. It can be used to organize a range of experiences including paid work, unpaid work, volunteer work, and other professional activities of a job seeker. If you have had multiple employment gaps, this resume format is ideal for you. Also, if you have changed jobs frequently in a brief period, this format will help you. That is because the functional resume format can sort of conceal gaps in its layout.

However, the biggest downside of using the functional resume format is that employers and recruiters are not familiar with it. It will present a difficult read for someone who is trying to figure out your employment timeline. As a result, hiring managers view functional resumes with a degree of suspicion, because they feel that the resume format omits a lot of information such as important dates and chronological work history.

The combination resume format

The combination resume format is a combination of both previously described resume formats. It offers you the best of both worlds. The combination, or hybrid, resume format highlights your most recent and relevant experience and achievements while putting less weight on your employment history in unrelated jobs. It lists your key skills as a complete skill set, without categorizing skills. With a combination resume format, you can easily de-emphasize employment gaps, job hopping, and other resume red flags .

It isn’t easy to create a combination resume. You will have to invest considerable time and effort into doing it because you will be combining properties of two resume types. A combination resume can easily become confusing to the reader if not organized properly. Also, this resume format drags the employer’s attention somewhat away from the work history of the applicant.

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