Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
In this section, you will learn about two different types of resumes -- the chronological
resume and the functional resume. A Chronological resume
Is the most frequently used and most accepted type of resume. It lists work experience in
reverse order It typically shows career growth and development
-- and exhibits a traditional career path and movements. Later, in this course, as we
go through the sample resume and discuss how to structure each section, we will be reviewing
a chronological resume.
A Functional resume on the other hand, Provides an emphasis on skills or competencies
and qualifications, rather than specific employment experience
This type of resume is typically used when experience comes from unrelated or disconnected
jobs and can be helpful when making a career change
When creating your resume, you need to determine which type makes more sense for you to use.
If you are searching for a position in the same field or industry that you have been
working in, it would be best to use a chronological resume, so the prospective employers can see
your employment history, previous job titles and career growth.
If you have decided to change careers, or go in a new direction, you may want to emphasize
your skills and competencies that are needed. Being able to exhibit the qualifications and
skills may be more important for the employer to see, rather than your previous roles and
companies. If you have decided to go back to school after
working for many years to pursue a degree or certificate in another field, you may still
be able to use a chronological resume for this transition. You can use your recent education
to help sell yourself to the employer, along with emphasizing your transferable skills.
Transferrable skills are the skills used with one employer that are also used with a new
employer in an unrelated or disconnected field. Be cautious when using a functional resume,
as they are not the most commonly used type of resume and some people may not be as familiar
with them. In addition, sometimes recruiters or employers may think you are trying to hide
something by using a functional resume. For example, gaps in employment, or they may get
the impression that you job hop a lot. If you feel a functional resume is the way
to go, you can also consider a "hybrid" format that incorporates functional with chronological
resume. In this case, you would still highlight your skills, qualifications, and competencies,
and then after that, list your previous employers, titles, and years of employment. This way,
in addition to seeing your skills, they also can see your work history, which may eliminate
their suspicion and show that you are not trying to hide anything.
You now know the difference between chronological and functional resumes so that you can determine
which format is best for you!