Resume Format – Which One is Best?

Choosing a resume format can be tricky.  You want to select a style that is both aesthetically pleasing, and also meets your personal and professional needs.  There are 3 main types of resume formats from which you can choose.  The first resume format is the reverse chronological resume, the second is called the hybrid resume, and the third is the functional resume. Let’s discuss them individually.

Reverse Chronological Resume Format

The most traditional resume format is reverse chronological. This resume format provides work history in reverse order, beginning with the most recent job. Those with stable work histories who wish to highlight 10-15 years of experience will do well with a reverse chronological resume format.  A headline and branding statement, along with a summary and a list of core competencies will add value to the resume; and these components should be included prior to beginning the professional experience section.

Hybrid Resume Format

I often recommend a hybrid resume format in cases where a candidate is not currently employed, has a gap, or has relevant accomplishments that should be brought to the top of the resume.  As with the reverse chronological, the resume should begin with a powerful headline/branding statement, a summary, and a list of core competencies. However, unlike the chronological section, the next section should focus on career highlights or select accomplishments. These can be listed generally or grouped by job title.

The nice thing about this section is that it does not necessarily need to be in reverse chronological order. If you are applying for a job that will utilize your skills from a position you held prior to your most recent role, you can list these relevant accomplishments first to provide maximum visibility.

Beneath the section highlighting your most relevant and appropriate career achievements you can begin to detail your experience in reverse chronological order. If you have a gap in your resume, you will already have given the reader good reasons to be interested in your background.

Functional Resume Format

Functional resumes highlight specific skills in multiple segments based on the duties you are capable of performing. If you have staff management skills for example, these could be listed in a single section. Your business development experience might be outlined in a separate section. A third section could discuss hands-on technical abilities within your area of expertise.

It has been my experience that functional resumes typically fall flat when it comes to getting interviews. Isn’t that what it is all about?

Functional resumes do not clearly define where the work was performed; they are vague. I have found that candidates who have a choppy career history and are attempting to cover gaps  often use this type of resume.  It seldom hides the obvious and may even raise red flags.

Remember, no matter which resume format you ultimately decide to use, the first portion of your resume is ";prime real estate.";  As such, you need to create a compelling case immediately that will entice hiring managers and recruiters to continue reading and ultimately pick up the phone to call you for an interview.

3.9 Synonyms to Spice Up Your Resume

There are few things more boring than a resume that repeatedly uses the same exact verbs in sentence after sentence. Total snorefest! To engage your readers, you must spice up your resume by highlighting strong action verbs that bring your background to life.

While not every synonym will be the perfect fit to convey your exact meaning, by choosing from various alternatives, you can mix things up and create a resume that is fresh and engaging.

Below are a few more commonly used resume verbs along with some spicy alternatives to flavor it up!

• Managed – Directed, Administered, Guided, Supervised, Executed, Orchestrated, Organized, Headed, Led, Ran
• Developed – Created, Generated, Established, Devised, Initiated, Implemented, Spearheaded, Constructed, Fostered, Grew, Promoted, Cultivated
• Improved – Enhanced, Augmented, Restructured, Rectified, Increased, Revised, Remodeled, Reworked, Amended, Modified, Catapulted
• Planned – Arranged, Strategized, Devised, Orchestrated, Coordinated, Crafted, Organized, Formulated, Constructed, Championed
• Contributed – Collaborated, Partnered, Participated, Aided, Enriched, Supported

The goal is to engage your reader rather than putting them down for a nap. To identify, obtain, or acquire (aka find) some good synonyms to boost the energy of your résumé, I recommend you check out www.thesaurus.com or www.visualthesaurus.com.

If writing is not your thing, you may want to consider leaving it to a professional resume writer who can create a compelling document that effectively uses action verbs. If you do decide to go it alone, be sure to proofread carefully and look for repetition. It is okay to use the same verb more than once in your resume, but if you have a bulleted list of items, you should vary your action verbs as much as possible.

Looking at sample resumes can also help you come up with ideas for your own resume. Beware though – not all resume samples on the Internet are perfectly written.  Conduct careful research and once you have an updated resume, ask a trusted friend or colleague to look your work over.  In addition to reviewing for typos, grammar, and punctuation, check for frequency of word usage and redundancy.

The bottom line: you want your resume to be vibrant and enticing rather than sounding like broken record.