The Chronological or Reverse-Chronological Resume

The Functional Resume

The functional resume format is one that is used to assert a focus to relevant skills that are specific to the type of position being sought. This format directly emphasizes specific professional capabilities and utilizes experience summaries as its primary means of communicating professional competency. In contrast, the chronological resume format will briefly highlight these competencies prior to presenting a comprehensive timeline of career growth via reverse-chronological listing with most recent experience listed first. Individuals with any of these conditions may effectively consider a functional resume:

· A mixed career background with a collection of jobs not specific to the type of position being sought.

· Someone returning to a previous profession, where the most recent experience is not as directly applicable as transferable to the job currently sought.

· Someone ready to develop a professional career from less than full-time experience, either from part-time or pastime related experience while one’s full-time occupation differs from the previous full-time background.

· Job seekers returning to the workforce after a considerable lapse in employment.

The outline for a functional resume will generally follow this type of pattern:

Name and Address Header

Opening Headline, Objective or Occupational Title

Summary of Qualifications

Experience Highlight

Work/Employment History

Education and Specific Computer, Software or Equipment Skills or Training.

Breakdown: The functional resume format uses a summary introduction section followed by a detailed description of the job seeker’s skills and expertise in specific functional areas. This "functional" section serves as the main area of content. Work History will be listed below (usually in reverse chronological order). Work History is represented as a simple listing and does not include descriptions of the job. Education and other sections are listed below.

The chronological resume (also referred to as reverse-chronological) format is the most common resume layout in use. In using this format, the main body of the document becomes the Professional Experience section, starting from the most recent experience going chronologically backwards through a succession of previous experience. This resume works to build credibility through experience gained, while illustrating career growth over time.

Individuals with any of these conditions may effectively consider a chronological resume:

· A successive career background in the field or of similar distinction to the next job being sought after.

· Someone with limited work history, however, gaining experience in areas of competency applicable to the sought position through some previous work.

· Job seekers with a steady track record, without significant lapses in employment.

The outline for a chronological or reverse-chronological resume will generally follow this type of pattern:

Name and Address Header

Opening Headline, Objective or Occupational Title

A Brief Summary of Qualifications

Professional Experience as main body of the document

Education and Specific Computer, Software or Equipment Skills or Training.

Breakdown: This resume format starts with a brief summary or objective section. Qualification Highlights sections are optional and are considered to be part of the summary section. Experience is then listed to follow the summary. Job descriptions are listed in reverse chronological order starting from most recent experience to least recent experience. The education section is next and then can be followed with additional sections such as: Publications, Professional Affiliations, Awards, Honours, Volunteer Work, etc.

Key aspects of students’ resumes

· Student resumes need to be fairly simple. Without much professional experience, you won't have a lot of information about previous jobs and you certainly don't need to get into great detail regarding unrelated jobs.

· If you have had internships or a regular position in your field of study, then it's a good idea to provide some detail. When it comes to producing content, it’s a good idea to include as much pertinent information about your studies as possible. If you are struggling with content, build a section about large projects, job specific classes, undergraduate or graduate studies.

· Keep the resume to one page. It is more common to include more detail in the education section and move that section towards the top of the resume rather than at the bottom. Many students will include information in the education section about key classes, scholarships, academic and social fraternities - sororities, honours and awards.

Дата добавления: 2014-12-26