Resume Formats

There are three basic formats for resume preparation: chronological, functional, and combination. Remember that the resume is your personal sales tool; therefore, select the style and sections that will highlight your best qualities and be visually appealing to the reader.

Chronological Resume

Chronological resumes are the easiest to prepare and to read, and they appear to be the most popular style of resume in use. Information about your experience and employment history is listed in reverse chronological order (i.e., most recent first), listing positions, dates, and descriptions of your accomplishments for each experience. The word "Experience" can include both paid and non-paid activities. Example Chronological Resume (available soon)

Functional Resume

The functional resume focuses on your strengths and skill areas and de-emphasizes positions and dates. Action verb phrases are organized into categories that demonstrate your strongest skills. The functional resume is especially valuable for candidates who:

• Have too much or too varied professional experience and wish to consolidate and synthesize it.
• Are attempting a career change and need to emphasize transferable skills.
• Are experienced, but have "gaps" in their work histories they would like to minimize. (You do not need to worry about gaps during the time you have been enrolled in college.)

You should add a "Work History" section after your skill categories to give credibility to your experiences and skills. Example functional resume (available soon)

Combination Resume

This resume allows you to combine the best aspects of the two previous resume formats to highlight your skills to a potential employer. After looking at your skills and the skills necessary for the position, choose two or three skill areas in which to categorize your experiences. Place the top skill area first, and then, within that area, list your relevant experiences in reverse chronological order. Example combination resume (available soon)

Other Formats

• It is advisable to keep a "master resume" where you have listed all your credentials, activities, employment, experience, etc. You can easily keep this updated and then cut and paste from this
  document to create a tailored resume for the current job search.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) - Generally, if you are applying for any academic or educational positions, including graduate schools, you will want to document in more detail all your academic achievements, teaching experience, research experience and related skills. The CV is a specialized type of resume designed for that purpose. For further information on creating your CV, consult the Career Center library in the Career Center for books about CV development and/or talk to a faculty advisor. 
• Plain Text: This version can easily be scanned, sent via e-mail, or cut and pasted into web-based application forms. Modify your resume so it does not include bullets and other design highlights. Make sure to include keywords directly related to your professional field and skill set.