Deciding On the Resume Format
The three most common resume types are the chronological resume, the functional resume and the combination resume.
Here are some guidelines to help you decide on the right format:
· Chronological Resume
Ø A chronological resume is best for people who have advanced in their professional life by working in different companies.
Ø This type of resume can basically be considered as a time line of a person’s progress from one job position to a superior one.
Ø If you have many years of experience, filled different positions and roles within different companies and would want to show a career up-curve, the chronological resume may fit your needs.
· Functional Resume
Ø A functional resume is basically used by a person who has too much experience or too little, or a singular responsibility.
Ø A functional resume is basically used by a person who has held a number of job-positions in a single or very few companies.
Ø If you have just started out, do not have much experience and are aiming for entry level jobs, the functional resume would suit your needs.
· Combination Resumes
Ø A combination resume is actually a good combination of the chronological resume and the functional resume.
Ø The combination resume makes a note of your work history, as well as giving special attention to your qualities and qualifications on a professional level.
Ø If you haven’t changed too many jobs but filled many roles within a certain company, the functional resume or combination resume would be perfect for you.
Depending on your current professional situation, you’d have to decide which type of resume format to select
Creating a Resume Draft
Realize that you will have to create multiple resumes. Since the point of targeting is to create a specific resume for a specific job, you may find that writing and revising multiple resumes is time consuming.
Here are suggested data to include in this draft:
Contact details
Name
Address: Street, City, State, Zip
Phone (Home and Cell, 2 numbers to list)
Email Address (it is recommended to use your name as an email address, for example your name @ gmail.com)
Career summary (optional)
Describe you major professional skills and expertise with No. of years of experience.
Objective (optional)
Focus your statement on the position you’re aiming for.
Hint about your advantages and the benefits you’d bring to the position.
Work History – Experience & Achievements
Review your experience background in reversed order from the recent to oldest. List job title, company name, location, & employment dates (years)
Use action verbs as an active, expressive way to describe your achievements.
List major achievements per job and also include professional knowledge developed or promotions/appraisals you’ve received.
Key Skills
Highlight technical skills that you have through experience. You can also consider including your key personal skills that can make you an attractive candidate. Use keywords to detail these skills. Related Competencies that you feel are important to the position you are seeking – General personal skills, computer skills and/or technological skills.
Education
List educational degrees and institutions you’ve graduated from. List related professional courses and certifications received that are relevant to the targeted position.
References
Consider including 3 names and contact details of references.
Job target
Make a list of the requirements per each job posting for which you are going to send your resume – Skills, education/qualifications and job description. You will need this information for targeting your resume to this particular job.
What is a good Career Objective to put on a Resume?
Everyone knows the standard resume needs a career objective. But why? Is it because everyone assumes you have to have one? Is it because hiring managers require it? What would happen if you had the most comprehensive and impressive career objective that others were measured against?
The Career Objective should not be:
1. A meaningless set of dribble to fake out the reader
2. A set of words that have no tie to the candidate`s wants, needs or desires for their future.
3. A creation of disconnected terms and ideas that have no business being put together without internal assessment
Companies need to fill positions within their organization with the best qualified individual(s). Hiring managers will review hundreds of resumes with the first 30 seconds being crucial to getting to the second stage.
Your career objective is a one sentence character representation of who you are and sets the stage for the message you want to deliver. - "This is who I am, who I want to be and how I will make your company successful"
Career Objective Examples
a. “Sales manager position where my skills and experience can be effectively utilized for increased profitability and product sales volume by developing a dynamic team.”
b. “Obtain a position as a team-player in a people-oriented organization where I can maximize my customer-service experience in a challenging environment to achieve the corporate goals.”
c. “To obtain a position as a School Teacher that will utilize my strong dedication to children’s development and to their educational needs.”
Work Experience – Work History in a Resume
Your background could be one of your best assets.
The work experience is one of the first things that employers look for. They would want to assess your work history (i.e. background) as the first aspect about you as a potential employee.
Employers do not like reading those long lists of job duties/responsibilities. They are actually interested in the main/major accomplishments and responsibilities per job title – no more.
How to list the resume work experience
- List your previous jobs in reverse order – the most recent first.
- You don’t have to specify months per employer timeline – years are ok.
Resume gaps: Employment gaps, dates and other issues in work history
- Gaps: As a rule of thumb, if you have more than one year of an employment gap for any reason, do not leave these years blank – It will be noticed and considered as a negative point about you.
- Dates: Employers are interested in reading about the years of work history that are relevant and related to the position you are applying for. It is okay to specify any relevant background as long as it provides significant information regarding your skills and ability to do the job.
List Your Achievements in the Resume
What person would you choose if you were an employer? A person with past record, achievements, who accomplished something in career or someone who fulfilled duties, tasks and “was responsible for” – You will undoubtedly prefer a result oriented person.
If you write in term of achievements you prove in the most effective way that you have the required competencies, you are motivated, self-aware and that you’re a performer. What else do you need to communicate to the reader?
Types of achievements
The section which lists achievement in a resume (professional experience mostly), has to show progress or enhancement, such as:
- An organizational problem that you solved.
- Any initiative that led to constant benefits, high revenues or improved quality.
- Any positive difference that you have made in sales numbers, costs and profits?
- Any successful project that increased the company’s reputation.
Sample Resume Achievements
- Saved $15 million annually by reducing fixed spending by 10% and variable overhead spending by 19% through a variety of cost-improvement initiatives through better utilization of resources.
· Developed and implemented client service program, which expanded small-to-medium client base by 35%.