How many different types of resumés are there?

Hi Joel!

That is a great question! There are a few different types of resumes out there, and I would suggest looking carefully at each in order to find the one is best for you. First, there is the chronological resume, which contains all of your experiences, starting with the most recent. You will generally format this type by listing your job title and company, the dates employed, followed by a few points discussing the responsibilities you had while employed there. This is generally considered the most common type of resume.

Second, there is the functional resume. This one is a bit different because instead of listing work history chronologically, it showcases accomplishments and professional experience gained across a variety of positions. It often highlights skill sets and accomplishments, with only a brief overview of the person's employment history discussed at the bottom. It is most often used by those who have gaps in their work history or are changing careers.

There is also the hybrid, or combination, resume. This uses pieces from both chronological and functional types in order to best showcase both skills and work history. You are able to highlight your accomplishments and related experience while still giving an employer information about your work history.

Finally, there are nontraditional resumes that feature visuals or graphics. These are best suited for careers in design.

I would recommend reflecting upon your own experiences in order to figure out what type of resume would fit you best. What careers are you exploring? What does your work history look like? Taking inventory of your goals as well as your professional experiences may help to narrow down the option that is best for you.

I hope this helps! Have a great day!

Sincerely,

Madeline

Hi Joel!

You have gotten some great advice above. To that, I would add that there are differences depending not only on the type of work you are pursuing, but also, where you live! Most employers in Texas still expect to see a chronological resume with a conservative layout. New York or California are of course, different. I've been experimenting with a two column format, which seems to be gaining popularity in Europe, but have not had good feedback.

What I recommend for the majority of job applicants is to use the chronological resume, because employers (at least here), tend not to like the functional one. However, if you are doing an on-line application, and the work history section on that application is basically a copy/paste from your chronological resume, then, if you have the option to also attach a resume, attach the functional one. Why? Because you are being given two chances to market yourself - you don't want to use the same sales pitch twice!

So, start out by first making a strong chronological resume. When that is good, work on a functional one. If you need help with formatting , look to the website, gotresumebuilder.com (at least for chronological resumes).

Be careful about using "responsible for . . ." over and over in the resume. I have seen some that use it 25 times! Just say that you did it!
Instead of "responsible for training new employees" you could say "trained all new personnel."
Use words like "selected for" "chosen to" or "appointed to" if appropriate.
The challenge is to show that other people think highly of you, so special assignments beyond the scope of the normal job are important.
Also, instead of saying that you "covered" another position from time to time, you can say "cross-trained in multiple departments."

You don't have to re-write the resume each time you apply to a job, you simply "tweak" it, adding in things that are important based on how the job description is written, or, changing wording to match that used by the company. Many companies use "Applicant tracking software" that looks for keywords, so be alert as to what words stand out in the job description.

And yes, while a resume of a young person should fit on one page, that is not a rule that is etched in stone. So as you gain experience, it is okay to spill over to the next page if necessary.

Also, feel free to include experience gained outside of work. You can list it either in the "experience" section, or in "volunteer activities." If you had a leadership role in an organization, and planned events, etc, go ahead and list it. Simply listing memberships, without stating your role, will not add much value to the resume.

Finally, if you are in a line of work that requires a portfolio, by all means, get a portfolio together, and, have it posted on-line. (drafting, interior design, etc.)

Hope this has helped! Feel free to follow up with any questions!

Kim

Hi there! I think that Madeline's response is fantastic in outlining the different types of resume formats out there. Depending on the field of work you're interested in, your resume style will likely adjust a bit (ie if you're going for a creative profession, take some artistic freedom in structuring your resume to be unique!). Pick a format that makes sense for you, and build out a basic resume template and stick with that. Rather than having a few different "types" of resumes, I'd recommend choosing a format that you like and making adjustment's to it's content based on each job you're applying to. (ie your resume when applying to a finance intern should highlight qualities than if you were applying to work in marketing, ect)

Here are a few general rules of thumb that I follow for a typical resume structure:
-Tailor your resume for the specific job that you're applying for. Take specifics from the job posting and weave those ideas into your resume. Make your resume directly relevant to the job posting to increase your chances of getting called for an interview.
-Put your most relevant work experience or academic achievements towards the top of the resume and build these ideas out the most. If you're applying for a restaurant position and worked at a different 3 years ago with various jobs in between - put the restaurant experience at the top and add more color when describing it.
-Have your bullets detailing each prior professional experience, or applicable life experience, should be concise and should "SHOW" them the type of worker you are rather than "tell" about what you specifically did. Example: instead of saying "I worked with dogs at a veterinary hospital twice a day and cleaned their cages" you could say "Responsible for total care of pets during their stay with us to ensure client satisfaction." Don't just say WHAT you did but how you did it and the positive impact that it had.
-Your resume should not be longer than one page

I hope that helps! Let me know if you have any questions in followup.

Everyone is different with different set of skills and work experience. The resume should reflect your experience in your unique style. You may refer to the format of another resume, but do not copy the entire template, keep your resume unique and be creative about it.

Resume should not be too long, don't use very long and confusing sentences, use bullet points. There should be a summary of your skills in the resume, your education, certifications and work experience with dates. Simple fonts should be used, nothing too fancy and no funky font colors either.

Good luck!