All resumes share similar characteristics, the only difference is how they are organized.
The four most popular formats:
- The chronological or "basic" résumé
- Employment history is listed in reverse chronological order. For most employers, chronological resumes are the preference. They want to know what the progression of your experience has been. This format makes it easy for them to quickly identify your work history and they are easier to verify.
- The functional or "skills" résumé
- Describes skills and talents and puts little emphasis on dates of employment or job titles. Functional resumes are usually used by job seekers to highlight skills versus past jobs or to avoid emphasizing large gaps in employment history. This format is ideal for students or people who are changing professions.
- The educational résumé
- A listing of educational courses and experiences relevant to employment.
- The "combination platter"
- Includes some or all of the above elements. If you went back to school and would like to showcase some new course work, a combination résumé might the better choice.
Try several of these formats and request feedback from career counselors and professionals in your field. Your résumé should be concise; one page is preferable. Keep the sentences short and tight. Avoid the use of "I," and use action verbs wherever appropriate.
The presentation of the résumé and cover letter is vital. This is the interviewers first and possibly only impression of you. Your career hangs on whether they are impressed by your resume and moved to call you for an interview. Be sure to use the same kind of paper for both the resume and cover letter. Use a high quality paper in either a white, ivory or pale gray color. Select a professional-looking font in a 10- or 12-point size, and always use black ink. Avoid trying to make your resume “stand out” with the use of colors, images and unusual fonts – it only looks immature.
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