How to Write a Resume

Choose the right style of resume for you.  If you are not sure, the chronological resume is the safe and most normal choice.  However, do not be afraid to create more than one kind of resume depending on your circumstances.  You will then be able to use them according to the type of position in which you are applying.

The chronological resume is the most commonly used format. It is the easiest resume to write and lists your experience and education in reverse chronological order.

Benefits

• Highlights the organization(s) you have worked for; this is especially beneficial if you have worked for a large or well-known company.
• If you have attended a prestigious college or university, the chronological resume will bring this out better than the other types of resumes.
• Appropriate if you are staying in the same line of work. Employers will be able to see your progress in a chronological format, which is much easier and convenient for the prospective employer.

The chronological resume is the most common resume to write. Use this if the other types do no directly apply to your situation.

In a chronological resume you have to list your job experience and academic background in reverse chronological order - the most recent first.

Sections of a Chronological Resume:

1. Personal Details
a. Name, Phone (more than one if applicable/preferred), E-mail Address, Home Address

2. Personal Profile or Job Objective
a. Define your career objectives.

3. Career or Related Accomplishments
a. Include if you have relevant accomplishments, using keywords and action verbs.

4. Work Experience
a. Place all work-related experience. A major dissertation/thesis or work at a school may be placed, even if it is not directly based on employment.

5. Education
a. Place this section first (before career accomplishments and work experience) if you are just out of school and have little/no work experience. Place degrees, majors, minors, honors and awards in this section.

6. Professional Affiliations & Interest
a. Place if only relevant and if there is enough space. Leave this section out, otherwise.

7. References
a. You may place: 'References are available on request' if you would like. Normally, just include your reference page with your application, cover letter, and resume.

Sample Chronological Resume

Your skills and abilities are emphasized more than your education and work-related background in the function resume. Dates are not emphasized. If you are entering the job market after a long absence or for the first time (with a lot of skills) the functional resume is appropriate

Benefits

• Gaps in employment dates are less apparent; for a person such as a stay-at-home-mom, for instance, it will not be as noticeable.
• As opposed to where or when you received them, your skills and achievements are emphasized.
• If you have done the same type of work over different jobs, these similar responsibilities are not repeated in order to focus on highlighting additional skills.

In a functional resume you have to include your skills in order of their importance.

Sections of a Functional Resume:

1. Personal Details
a. Name, Phone (more than one if applicable/preferred), E-mail Address, Home Address

2. Career Objective
a. Define your career objectives.

3. Professional Experience
a. The most important part. List your key skills and how you gained these skills.

Format:
Skill 1
Achievement 1 related to Skill A
Achievement 2 related to Skill A

4. Work Experience (optional)
a. Place all work-related experience. A major dissertation/thesis or work at a school may be placed, even if it is not directly based on employment.
b. This section is optional. Skip if experience is irregular or not applicable (little to no experience).

5. Professional Affiliations
a. List any relevant and active professional affiliations. Do not include if it is not relevant or you do not have anything to place in this section.

6. Educations
a. Place highest qualification you have achieved and any relevant special courses.

7. Awards
a. Place relevant awards in this section.


Sample Functional Resume

While difficult to write, the combination resume includes perspectives from the other two types of styles and is appropriate in some circumstances. This is able to highlight your skills and abilities in order to focus them on the job more effectively. You can tailor some creative designs to your prospective job.

Benefits

• Allows you to clearly outline how you will fulfill the responsibilities of the prospective position by detailing your relevant work experience and accomplishments.
• Flexibility. There is no standard way to design this type of resume.
• Disadvantages are able to be disguised.

Sections of a Combination Resume:

1. Summary
a. Place your career objective here.

2. Skills
a. List your key skills and accompanying information.

3. Experience
a. List your relevant experience.

4. Work History
a. List your work history, beginning with the most recent

5. Education
a. List your relevant education. You may place your highest achievement or a more detailed presentation depending on your situation.

Others

6. Memberships

7. Honors

8. Certificates

This type of resume is very flexible. Some sections may be left out, disguised, and others may be extended as needed. There are no right and wrong ways to write a combination resume.

Sample Combination Resume

Writing a letter of interest to accompany your resume is important.