Types of Resumes

 Why can’t all resumes have a uniform structure and format? Wouldn’t it make our task simpler if there were just one layout that could be applied to every resume? However that is just like saying that every candidate should have the same traits, skills and background. This is as impossible as it sounds. Just as people vary in their aptitudes, situations and temperaments, so must the resumes that represent them.

There are three types of resumes:- Chronological, Functional and Combination. It would be a good idea to know when to use each of them so that you could judge for yourself the one that best suits your requirements.

The Chronological Resume  

This is the traditional type of resume and is still used in many conventional professions where a long, unbroken employment history and a steady career growth are the attributes that are most valued ones in a candidate’s profile. This type puts the entire focus on work experience which is listed in reverse order, ie. starting from the latest and going progressively backwards towards the earlier ones. The chronological resume charts the progress of the candidate over the years and emphasizes on the reliability and professional competence that shine through in the long employment history.

While they make the perfect choice for people with a strong work history, chronological resumes would just not work for people with an unsteady and diverse career experience or for those who wish to change their professions. This is one of the most obvious disadvantages of chronological resumes making it necessary for several people to opt for the other kind.

The Functional Resume

Functional resumes aim to highlight the skills of the candidate putting little or no emphasis on work experience. It brings forth the finer aspects of the candidate’s personality which play a vital role in professions like psychology, acting, music, designing, art and history. In the case of such unconventional professions, a mere listing of prior experience would certainly not do justice to the calibre and potential of the aspiring candidate.

Functional resumes also work well for fresh graduates or for those who have had long gaps or frequent changes in their career. In this type of resume, each skill is matched with the job profile sought and is backed by a substantial proof of success. It would be the ideal choice for those who have planned a career change and for those candidates who want to remain vague about their age. Another plus point is that this type of resume allows you to include mention of skills acquired through voluntary or unpaid work, especially if the skills are relevant to the job sought.

Functional resumes are however not so popular among the employers who tend to doubt the lack of work experience and hesitate to hire a candidate who has not been tried, tested and proven.

The Combination Resume

The combination resume tries to bridge the gap between the other two resumes by taking the best aspects of both. This resume begins with a summary and skills which are then followed by the work experience. The inclusion of employment history lends a marked credibility to the resume, making it the current favourite of both the employers and candidates alike. This resume merges the advantages of the chronological and functional resumes and minimizes the flaws of either. Most job seekers today pick the combination resume as it showcases their skills and supports it with solid evidence of their prior experience, making for an attractive candidature.