Best Resume Formats
Your resume must stand out enough to make it to the next round of the selection process. The format of a resume is very important. Since the employer will spend only 30-40 seconds per resume on an average.
This is very subjective, and each employer may has its own preferences, so there is no such “best resume format” that can be suitable for all the jobs, but yes there are general formats of resumes which can be altered as the demands of the profile.
The best suggestion would be to analyze the industry and each company you are applying for to adapt each resume layout for a specific position. Some conventional formats of resume are –
1. Reverse Chronological Resume Format
It is undoubtedly the most commonly used resume format, and it is generally acceptable as well. In this format of resume, a list of every job you’ve had, starting with the most recent is made and stated in that order.
Chronological resume formats are most suitable for –
- College students looking for internships or campus placements.
- Professionals with an extensive employment experience
- Candidates with a work experience that shows progress and forward movement along a relatively narrow career path This format also contains other sections like – a. Career Objective b. Educational Qualifications c. Professional Skills d. Any other additional sections depending upon the job. But this resume format should not be used by candidate:
- Who have gap years in their career
- Who are planning to change their field
- New college graduated with no relevant experience in the field
- Who are working with an executive recruiter
2. Functional Resume Format
Functional Resume Formats are also used by people nowadays because in recent times as they focus on highlighting one’s abilities and achievements, in spite of just the work experience. While some potential employers and executive recruiters may still prefer a chronological resume, but more and more have started to shift to the functional resume. Functional Resumes are more suited for:
- who have gap years in their career
- who have relevant skills that they can emphasis on
- who frequently change jobs
- people who want to change their fields While deciding on the information that you want to mention in a functional resume, keep in mind that you must focus on roles and responsibilities, relevant skills, experience, and achievements.
Functional resume format can be used by everyone. But while adopting this format just keep in mind that you mention all your achievements and skills related to the job.
3. Combination Resume Format
Here comes another format of resume. In case your candidature doesn’t fit in the above two formats of resume you can go with combination resume format. Combination resumes format is most suited for:
- Candidates with in demand skills that are a major part of the position sought
- People who are applying for technical, scientific, or IT positions
- People looking to change industries and fields. Candidates who shouldn’t use a combination resume format: College students or recent graduates without any relevant skills
