Free Resume Format Information

Free Resume Format Information
There are three common resume formats: Chronological, Functional, and Combination. Each resume format has its own strengths and weaknesses. What makes the determining factor in the format you choose is YOU: your skill base, your past work experience, your education and your personal situation. Your career objectives will also influence your choice. Having the following free resume format information can prove very useful in making a decision about which format best suits your needs.

Chronological Resume Format -
The emphasis of this format is on a chronological listing of employment and related experiences. The format focuses on recent employment, while de-emphasizing experiences further back in time. The chronological resume is great for people with a consistent employment history, no gaps in employment, and whose past employment experiences are directly related to their current employment goals. A steady work record with increasing responsibilities can be effectively showcased using this format. Include dates, names and contact information such as address and phone numbers. This may NOT be the best format for individuals with job gaps, new graduates or a person changing careers.

When listing your experience, go back 5 to 10 years of your employment history. Experiences prior to 10 years ago begin to lose impact and could open the door for age discrimination. If you have valuable experience beyond 10 years, you may want to consider a Functional and Combination resume format.

Functional Resume Format - The functional resume highlights skills, experience and accomplishments without identifying specific dates, names and places. In this format, information is organized by functions or skills, advertising the specific qualifications needed for the occupation. This format works very well for people changing careers, including military personnel moving into civilian employment. It is also effective for people who are reentering the workforce after a gap in employment. First time job seekers and people who want to emphasize experience that may be viewed as outdated will also want to consider using this format.

In a functional resume there is no chronological listing of employment. Because of this, many employers do not like this format; it creates suspicion that the person may be trying to hide something. The employer may suspect a job hopper, an older applicant trying to disguise age, a lack of career progression, underemployment, employment gaps, or too little relevant experience.

Combination Resume Format -
The combination resume brings the best of both the chronological and functional resumes. It features a functional section that highlights skills, accomplishments and experience. It also includes a chronological listing of employment and education. The combination resume is a very effective format for many job seekers. The best chronological resume can be enhanced with a section highlighting skills, accomplishments, and experience. The functional resume can be strengthened with a chronological listing of employment experiences. It's the best of both worlds.
Choose the resume format which best meets your needs. Better yet, create your resume in more than one format and see how it works for you. Which one do employers respond to most favorably? This free resume format information can help you create a resume that employers WANT to read.

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