Career resources — formatting your résumé
Common résumé formats
| Chronological (reverse) | Functional | Combination | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it looks like | Work experience and education are presented chronologically by position—from the most recent to the most distant (usually 10-15 years). | Skills and accomplishments are presented in the order of highest importance. Jobs are listed with minimal information at the end. | Focuses on skills, but also includes education and work/volunteer history. |
| When to use it | Applying for job in the same field Work history shows progress and increased responsibility Work experience demonstrates appropriate and relevant skills Jobs are relevant and impressive No significant gaps in work history |
Changing careers and demonstrating
transferable skills Extensive experience with one organization Several jobs are either dissimilar or very similar Student or recent graduate with limited work experience, but with relevant training or coursework Gaps in work history |
Applying for job in a similar, but not same
field Transitioning from school to professional position Experience demonstrates appropriate skills and experience Extensive non-work, relevant experience (i.e., internships, volunteer, informal) |
| Pros | Highlights related experience (if staying
in the same field) Shows progression of increased responsibilities or promotions Emphasizes work history Common style |
Highlights transferable skills and
abilities Skills demonstrated via a variety of different positions (no need to be listed under job heading) Minimizes past employment positions |
Highlights skills and work history Demonstrates skills obtained in different, and perhaps dissimilar, experiences Provides flexibility in content/style Minimizes small gaps in work history |
| Cons | Highlights any employment gaps or job
inconsistency Hides relevant skills under irrelevant positions Calls attention to the position first, then skills |
Difficult to demonstrate skills (rather
than listing) Less common style—may feel foreign to employer De-emphasizes work experience: may suggest questionable employment history |
Must ensure content is laid out in logical
manner Difficult to keep concise May be somewhat unfamiliar to employers |
June 2009