Chronological vs. Functional Resume

Written by: parisalexandra - Posted in: Job Articles

A resume is a way to communicate your skills, achievements and work experiences to potential employers. It is a way for you to open the door to a career opportunity. But, it takes more than a piece of paper to get you in.

Think of it as a marketing literature of who you are as an applicant. If there are hundreds or even thousands of people competing for a recruiter or an employer’s attention, you need something to set you apart. As such, your resume must be written to crate an interest in you – to sell who you are.

Potential employers or recruiters, usually spend about 20 seconds to scan your resume before moving on to the next one in the pile. As such, any skills relevant to the position you are applying for needs to be highlight.

There are two basic resume formats: chronological and functional.

Use the chronological resume format when you are applying for a job in the same field. It would also be the ideal type to use if you’ve been with a company long enough to show significant career growth. This is the most widely used format for resume writing. It is usually written in reverse chronological order, with the most recent job experience on listed first. This type of resume lists your work history, how long you’ve been with a company, your title, job responsibilities and accomplishments.

The functional resume, on the other hand, highlights your competencies and skills. You may also include your accomplishments to demonstrate a particular functional area. This is the appropriate type to use if you are planning a career change, you have been on leave for a long time and are re-entering the job market, or you have inconsistent work history. It may be difficult for some recruitment agents or employers to follow this type of resume and as such, their use should be reserved for special circumstances.

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