Resumes format

No matter which resume format you use, the document itself gets divided into sections that make it easier to read and understand. As you read the next chapter of Resumes That Get You Hired, write down the pieces of information about yourself that fit into each resume section. Later, you will condense, organize, and rewrite this information, using action words to add impact. 

After you have prioritized each piece of information that needs to appear somewhere on your resume, you will need to rewrite the information to fit within the resume format you select. Eor a traditional resume, write consciously and use action words that add impact and emphasis to key points. At the same time, keep your sentences short (under 15 or 20 words each), and determine if bulleted points could communicate information more efficiently. 

What a resume says is as important as how it s said and how the overall document looks from a visual standpoint. This chapter helps you determine what information you need to include in your resume. Later, once you know what needs to be said, this book will help you determine the best way to convey that information. Later chapters also help you choose the best resume format to meet your individual needs, select the best possible wording, and then format your resume so that it looks professional. 

For now, don t worry about specific wording, resume format, or anything else. Simply focus on what information you believe needs to be conveyed within your resume. The following questions will help you summarize your skills, educational background, professional accomplishments, past work experience, career objectives, and other information you need to tell a potential employer. 

No matter what resume format you decide to adopt, the basic information included will be the same. As described in Chapter 1, typically, a resume includes the following sections ... 

The resume format you choose should be based on several different criteria, including ... 

As you read this chapter, think about the types of jobs for which you will be applying, and determine which resume format best suits your needs. Keep in mind, it may be necessary to create several versions of your resume based on the type of job you re hoping to land. For example, you may want to have a traditional printed resume ready to submit to companies where you know an HR person (or executive) will be reading the resume, and also have a keyword version of your resume ready to send to companies using applicanttracking software. 

The chronological resume format is the most popular. This format requires you to list your educational background and employment history in reverse chronological order (by date), starting with your most recent schooling and job. This format makes it easy for a potential employer who reads your resume to quickly see a summary of your qualifications. This resume format also allows you to demonstrate a progressive work history. 

Using the chronological resume format. Exhibit 3-1 is an example of what one of the listings might look like under the Employment section of your resume. 

The primary purpose of this resume format is to show you ve been steadily employed. It can demonstrate upward or lateral mobility in your career path as you have moved from job to job. Assuming you have work experience to properly use this resume format, you will be able to demonstrate career direchon. The job for which you are curently applying should be the next step up from your most recent work experience. 

Although this is definitely a favored resume format among HR professionals, if you fall into one of the following categories, you should strongly consider using a format that better showcases your skills, capabilities, and potential, as opposed to your weaknesses. Don t use the chronological resume format if ... 

If there s only one gap in your employment history, you can still use a chronological resume format, but don t make it obvious that there was a period of time you were out of work. Never include a line within your resume stating, "Unemployed" or "Out of Work" along with the corresponding dates. For the time being, pretend it never happened. 

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 ... 

If you pinpoint a specific job opportunity with a specific company and you want to create a customized resume specifically for that potential employer, you might consider using this resume format. All of the information included within this type of resume is used to support the statement, "I am the perfect applicant for this job, because.. Use this resume format if you already know the exact requirements and skills the job requires. When using this resume format, focus on why you re qualified to meet the job s requirements based on the skills you already have. 

When looking at a resume, what I first notice is a consistency in resume format. I look at the order the candidate lists his skills, make sure the fonts are consistent, and check that the way he lists his education and experience is consistent. An inconsistent format signals an inconsistent worker who isn t detail oriented."... 

In terms of popularity, this style of resume isn t too common, so by submitting it to a potential employer, chances are you will stand out. Unless you have extremely impressive credentials, you should not use this resume format. 

If you read other resume books or speak with resume-writing experts, some recommend using alternative, but less popular, resume formats. The linear, accomplishment, professional, and academic curriculum vitae resume formats are among the others you might read and hear about. 

Although you want to stand out from the other applicants, it s important to provide HR professionals or recruiters with the information they desire and need—in the format they re used to receiving it. Thus, although you should incorporate some of your own creativity into the design of your resume, it s an excellent strategy to stick with a popular and widely accepted resume format. 

By completing the questionnaire in Chapter 2, you have already gathered the information to incorporate into your resume. As you read Chapter 3, you should have selected the resume format that fits... 

The resume format you choose should be based on a variety of criteria. Most important, choose a format that allows you to showcase your skills, education, and work experience in the best possible light. Once you ve selected your resume format, review each piece of information you believe should be on your resume and determine where it belongs. 

As you begin to formulate the look and contents of your resume, consider the following examples to determine how the information should be presented. No matter what resume format you choose, each piece of information needs to be conveyed using the fewest possible words and in the most exciting and impressive way. 

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. 

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