Resume Writer Matthew Greene

Resume Tips:

What is the Best Resume Format For You?  Chronological? Functional? Combination? Technical? ASCII?
by

Matthew Greene, M. Phil.

Author of Winning Resumes – "Sure-Hire" Tactics ... (Penguin)

To choose the best resume format for your needs is not a simple matter. It's more challenging than deciding  what to wear to an important job interview or social event! So, please don't rush to use someone else's design. Will it also showcase your unique job history and achievements?

Even worse than blindly deciding on any format, is to use a preformatted resume template! Unfortunately, most of those templates are outdated. They were created in the '80s and '90s and won't help you in today's job market. Anyhow, do you really want your resume to look exactly like thousands of others?

It is essential that you choose your resume format wisely. Your goal is to find a suitable layout  that will help you highlight  your strengths and hide or disguise your shortcomings or other resume blemishes.

Because a resume is a marketing document, your format must help you to present your best self (or "sell") on paper. In fact, a busy reader wants to see what you are offering in the first 10-15 lines. He or she will also look for your value by scanning the entire document. Fortunately, there are several resume formats to choose from.

The length of your resume is also a factor and we even outgrow certain formats.

The crucial question is how and where will you  record your skills, strengths and experience in the most effective manner? How and where will you sell yourself? Here are a few of your options and the advantages and disadvantages of using a few of the best resume formats:

Combination Resume

A modern Combination resume is a very good answer because this will combine the best features of the traditional Chronological (dates in reverse order) and Functional (skills) resumes. This format is ideal  for an entry-level candidate as well as for senior executives with 20 years' experience who need a stronger and better resume.

This type of resume has a crucial 15-line section at the top for writing an audience-oriented Job Objective and a Summary or Profile or Qualifications Statement. The Combination resume enables you to present your "CAN DO's" as well as a summary of your "HAVE DONE's" in the top half of Page One. Managers and executives will also be able to include two to three columns listing their areas of experience or expertise. This always impresses a reader.

Nowadays, a Targeted resume that addresses an employer's specific needs is the best resume format. It focuses your resume towards a specific career objective or job advertisement in a specific company, environment or industry. The targeting takes place mainly in the first 15 lines. A Tailored ("Just-for-You") resume shows the reader what a good "fit" you are for the position advertised.
Such resumes will be effective in any job market. They are always the best resume formats.

Chronological Resume Versus Functional Resume  
 

The traditional Chronological resume (dates in reverse order) is popular but very "basic".  It does NOT allow someone with 5-20 years' experience to do justice to his or her skills, strengths, and accomplishments because this format is limited to the facts of your Work Experience and Education. (It's like a C.V.) Where will you write about your abilities? Where will you offer your value? How will you sell yourself? Much of what a recruiter needs to know - your "sell" -- will be missing!

It may therefore surprise you to learn that the widely used Chronological resume is actually incomplete! It is definitely weak as a sales/marketing tool. Unfortunately, this type of resume relies too heavily on selling yourself in a separate cover letter which may or may not be read.

Should you therefore go "Functional"? In my view, too many people rush to use the Functional format. The awful reality is that many employers do not care for it.

Here you develop a resume which has a big skills section at the top (under different headings such as "Management Skills" or "Production Skills"). The skills statements are followed by one-line items setting out brief details of dates and names of employers in the bottom third of the page. The resume is therefore "top heavy".

Unfortunately, many employers don't care to read a lot about your skills, abilities and achievements unless they are also given a chance to match up these claims with the job titles and dates to which they refer. Most employers prefer a "normal" Chronological resume with dates and job descriptions. Many distrust a Functional resume because they know it is used by those with something to hide or disguise. It makes them very wary and suspicious.

In short, choosing the best format (or sections of different formats) to create an effective resume in your case is not an easy matter and you may need to seek professional resume help. There are many factors to take into account, including the length of your resume, your accomplishments, as well as possible shortcomings or potential negatives or "red flag" items.

A first-class writer deals with problems of resume design every day and has the necessary skill and expertise to find or develop the best solution for you.

He or she will also advise you about the advantages and disadvantages of using Electronic (ASCII) resumes in Notepad and what can be done to make them look better and be easily scanned.

So, please do not rely on your limited knowledge of different formats. Your resume is your most important job search tool and it will always pay you to consult a resume expert with much more experience than you might have.
 

E-mail or call me for a free consultation or price quote.

mattgreene@aol.com
Tel.: 718 436-3504

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