Functional resume format

The functional resume format is best used by applicants who want potential employers to discover what they are capable of as opposed to when and where they ve been employed. When using this resume format to showcase your skills and capabilities, you will be answering the question, "What specifically can you do for the employer "... 

If you choose to create your resume using the functional resume format, select five or six of your most marketable skills that are applicable to the job for which you re applying. As you list each marketable skill, also include between one and three specific achievements from your past employment experiences that required use of that skill. You will also want to mention where you were employed when the skill was used. 

A functional resume format begins with a heading and objective. Next, include a section that lists "Experience and Accomplishments." Within this section, list one of your skills at a time followed by two to four bulleted points describing what you achieved in the workplace using that skill. When describing your accomplishments, it s appropriate to mention the specific employer. 

For job seekers whose career path thus far doesn t fit nicely into a chronological resume format, the functional resume format is probably the next best thing to use. This resume format works best for ... 

Most HR professionals prefer to see chronological resumes, because this format allows them to evaluate someone s entire career path in a matter of seconds. When an applicant doesn t use a chronological format, the reader might assume the applicant is trying to hide something about his or her past. When reading a functional resume, it s harder for a potential employer to put together an applicant s employment history or career path. To compensate for these potential drawbacks, it s critical that the information included on your functional resume be extremely relevant to the reader and to the job. 

Exhibits 4-1 and 4-2 are two sample resume formats available to you as a job seeker. The first is the most widely used—the chronological format, and the second is an alternative—the functional, which you might use instead in order to focus on your skills as opposed to your employment history. As you look over these sample resume formats, think about how you will plug in your own information. 

It doesn t matter which resume format you decide to adopt (chronological, functional, targeted, etc.). When creating a traditional printed resume, how the document appears on the page is the first thing a reader notices. 

As you ll soon discover, there are many different resume formats and types of resumes you can create. If you need a traditional printed resume, you can choose to follow a chronological, functional, or combination format there s also a keyword-based resume format, which is becoming more popular as many employers currently use applicant-tracking software to evaluate resumes. As a job seeker, you will also need to determine if your resume should be scannable or if you need an electronic resume so you can easily apply for jobs online. 

If you are using a recruiter in the industry where your experience lies, always use the chronological format. It s difficult to highlight your actual job experience in a functional format. You might miss out on a wonderful job opportunity if you don t seriously consider the format of your resume."... 

Format your resume content so it fits the selected resume style (chronological, functional, targeted, etc.). 

Functional format This arrangement places the reader s focus more directly on the job seeker s education and skills than on limited work experience. It is better suited for job seekers who are new graduates or those just entering the workforce. Most resumes of this type are one page. 

The resume that follows was designed by a recent college graduate. Because she did not have an extensive work record, she chose a functional format to emphasize her education, business skills, and scholastic honors. 

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