Understanding the Different Formatting Styles Used in Resume

Resume is an important instrument that allows people to showcase their abilities, highlight competencies, and communicate specific objectives. This document serves to offer opportunities for individuals to pursue their target positions.  Learning to identify the different resume formatting styles is essential in demonstrating skills, employment history, and other related information in a professional manner.  There are three general types of resume formatting: chronological, function, and combination.

Chronological Resume

A chronological resume is a formatting style that provides lists of employment history. It is important to note that the information should be written in reverse format, wherein position and responsibilities begin with the most recent job and backwards depending on previous working experience. The advantage of using this format is that a person can highlight different positions occupied through the years. However, limitations related to showcasing skills and gaps in employment are common in this style. This is why chronological resumes are used to show an individual’s growth in employment and position through the years. Similarly, this type of resume can also be used if a person is applying for a position in a specific industry where employers know one another.

Functional Resume

People who write functional resume focus on highlighting skills acquisition rather than listing of employment history. The strategy tries to incorporate key strengths relevant to a specific position or employer. The format also tries to remove emphasis on dates and places. The main advantage of using this resume style is the ability to address limited work history in the field and emphasize critical skills that cannot be portrayed effectively using the chronological style. The use of this approach, however, creates specific drawbacks from employers who perceive such style as a way to deviate from showcasing experience, expertise, and/or progression in positions. This is the reason why functional resumes are often used by students who just graduated from college or those professionals seeking changes in their career.

Combination Resume

The last resume formatting style integrates the features of a chronological and functional resume to create a hybrid. Writing this type of document creates flexibility for the individual and also taps into key strengths of the two other resume formats. The evident advantage of using combination formatting is the potential to demonstrate qualifications through elaboration of skills and employment growth. It can also highlight information about transferable skills, if necessary for the chosen position. The main challenge, however, is the issue of length since the resume might exceed one page. This format best serves to complement individuals who have both the skills and employment background to offer an employer/position.

Each of the three resume formatting styles has its own corresponding use, application, as well as strengths and weaknesses. An applicant must be responsible in gauging his/her current skills and capabilities to determine the right format to highlight relevant experiences. Patterning experiences and/or skills according to these standards can be advantageous in creating a good first impression to employers.