Chronological and Functional Resume Formats

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There are two basic resume formats: chronological and functional. To decide which will work best for you, here are some guidelines:

Chronological Resume
The chronological format is the most traditional resume format. It highlights your job titles, places of employment, and dates of tenure by presenting them as headings under which your achievements are listed. (See template for chronological format.)

The chronological format is most useful when:

You are staying in the same field.
Your overall work history shows growth, making your job objective a natural next step in your career path.
Your most recent (or current) position is one you are proud of.
You have no gaps in your work history.

Functional Resume
The functional format presents your experience under skill headings, giving you the freedom to prioritize your accomplishments by impact rather than by chronology. In this format, your work history is listed very concisely in a section separate from your achievements. (See template for functional format.)

The functional format is most useful when:

You are changing careers.
You are reentering the job market.
You need to emphasize skills or experience from an early part of your work history.
Your volunteer experience is relevant and needs to be highlighted.
Your most recent position is not impressive.
Your job titles don't accurately reflect the level of responsibility you had.

The trendy format
Some job seekers think the functional format is the more popular resume in today's job market. Not so! The chronological resume is still the preferred version among most employers. However, if the chronological format doesn't work for your situation, the functional resume is a very effective alternative.

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Use of this Guide
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