About the 3 Different Types of Resume Forms
Resumes are a marketing tool used to gain employment or to recruit the most qualified employees. Resume formats differ in what types of information are showcased and how education, work and volunteer history, skills and contact information are organized. The three types of resumes are: chronological, functional/skills and hybrid/combination. Choosing the format that best prioritizes your training, experience and accomplishments creates a concise document that proves how you are the best fit for certain positions or companies.
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Chronological
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Chronological resumes list your education, work history and volunteer history in reverse chronological order. Each school, program, and employer is followed by specific descriptions of results and responsibilities. Work and volunteer experiences are listed in a separate section from education and training information. Depending on your level of experience, or if you are a recent graduate, your education information will either be listed as the first or last section of your resume. This format works best if you are experienced in the field in which you are applying. Dates are listed as a range from the starting month and year to the ending month and year.
Functional/Skills
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A functional or skills-based resume focuses on your abilities instead of your work history. This is a popular choice for people who are attempting to change careers or anyone who does not have extensive experience within a field (like recent graduates). Functional resumes either use skill headings (such as leadership, communication, computer, problem solving, numerical or data entry) with work history integrated under the appropriate section. Because each position held is not individually described, skills are supported by past experiences or training; when possible, awards and accomplishments are quantified. For example, Leadership skills: coordinated a team of 50 volunteers and increased production 10 percent in 1 month.
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Hybrid/Combination
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Hybrid or combination resumes pair the reverse formatting of a chronological resume with the emphasized skills of functional resumes. The sections may be divided according to skill headings with short education and work sections, or they may have a larger skills section followed by experience and education sections. Often, a separate section for accomplishments or specific awards are included. Whether skills are used as section headings or listed in one section, each skill is followed by supporting experience, training or results.
Dr. Randall S. Hansen, founder of quintcareers.com, states "combination resumes suit a variety of job-seeker needs, such as a diverse job history that doesn't add up to a clear-cut career path and situations where the job-seeker has work experience that is related but not an exact link to desired position."
Misconceptions
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Resumes are not exhaustive lists of all of your information. They should be tailored instead as general and succinct instead of lengthy. General resumes often include information that is irrelevant to certain postings; listing specific information and tailoring your resume for each position streamlines your resume. Using key words (qualifications specifically listed in a job posting) shows a prospective employer exactly how you are the best fit for the job posted. A resume should be one to two pages and should never exceed three pages. Because recruiting managers only spend about 30 seconds reading each resume, longer resumes are overlooked in favor for shorter and more eye-catching resumes. Using bullets and phrases and tailoring each resume for specific positions helps shorten resumes.
Considerations
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The most common resume pitfalls are organization and grammar. Organizing your resume makes it easier for prospective employers to scan it quickly; this shows you know how to prioritize your information. Grammar and spelling mistakes are the easiest to fix, and a single slip up may cause the hiring manager to ignore an otherwise well-crafted resume; repeated proofreading and having someone else look over your resume prevents these errors.
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