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Do You Know In How Many Ways You Can Build Your Resume?

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Summary: Several ways are there to build your resume apart from some typical types, but, it depends on your level of experience and the things that you want to priorities in your job application. You can build more than one resume for different purposes.

Do You Know In How Many Ways You Can Build Your Resume?

Resume Types



For the sake of simplicity, we will group all resumes into three basic types or formats, standard (or chronological)? Prioritized, and functional. Practically every resume follows, or is a variation on, one of these themes.

The Standard (Chronological) Resume

The standard or chronological format is the resume format of choice. It is the format that resume readers like the best. It is sequential in nature-leading from the present or latest position into past positions-each position following the position or company before it according to dates. Because the dates follow one another in down ward order it is easy for the reader to note any missing or suspicious dates or periods of employment.

For people who fit the above description, who are moving along a progressive career path, whose next position would be a direct, logical offspring of the most recent position, the standard resume is the type to write.

What if you have a gap in your employment record? This raises a red flag. Why, the reader wonders, is that date missing? Then, the reader immediately rejects you or begins to delve deeply into the resume looking for other suspicious and often disqualifying disparities. And so, if you have some gaps in your job history, it is very easy to be eliminated from consideration when you use the standard format.

The sample resume found on the next page is a standard (more commonly called a chronological) resume. You will notice the dates flow from the present to the past in an uninterrupted manner. Actually, it is a reverse chronological resume.

If the job you're looking for is the same as, or a logical step up from, the job you last held; and/or if you have a smooth career track record, you should undoubtedly use the standard format.

The Prioritized Resume

The prioritized resume presents the positions held in the order that best represents the job seeker. If you wish to return to a position you held before the most recent one, this is the resume format you should most likely consider.

For example, your present or last position was engineering manager. You hadn't held the position for more than a week when you began to admit to yourself that you hated it. You now long for the "good old days" when all you had to do was engineer and not resolve people problems. Here is an opportunity to return to that position. Your resume choice? Definitely the prioritized. The first position listed on your resume will be that of Engineer. The position following that will probably be your Engineering Manager position. It might even be another position you held before becoming a manager.

If you have worked for the same employer for a lengthy period of time, it's easy to move the positions around. Simply place the company name, city, and your all-inclusive employment dates directly above or directly below your body of information.

Look at the sample prioritized resume once more and note how the same job seeker rearranged her information to place the position she really would like to land first. Once again, notice also there are no dates after the job titles, just all-inclusive employment dates given after the company name. Using the prioritized format, it is virtually impossible to tell when she held each job.

The stronger your accomplishments, duties, and responsibilities are, the better your chances of having a prioritized resume (or, for that matter, any kind of resume) read. No resume can make a favor able impression if it doesn't have many good things to say about the writer. However, in the case of any resume format other than the standard one, it is doubly essential that what you have to sell outweighs the fact that the dates are missing or don't agree.

Remember, most resume readers frown upon anything other than the standard resume format. But, if you shoot yourself in the foot using it, it won't do you any good. You could be better served by a prioritized resume. Make your decision only after careful deliberation.

The Functional Resume

If you have performed the same types of duties and responsibilities in several jobs, or are trying to land a position unlike those you have held, consider using a functional resume.

For example, suppose several of your positions required that you do many of the same types of things. Secretaries are a good example of this. Typing, word processing, filing, answering the phone, handling travel arrangements and accommodations are the types of activities many secretarial positions require. To keep repeating these activities in a resume makes for pretty dull reading.

In a functional resume, you can place similar activities under specific categories, no matter when or where these experiences were obtained. Group the activities into categories such as: Training, Secretarial, Data Processing, Scheduling, etc. A functional resume can alleviate boring reading and arouse reader interest.

When writing a functional resume, place the function most directly related to the position you are seeking at the top of the page. In other words, if you have both data processing and supervisory experience and are looking for a supervisory position, you would lead off with this category. This is the same approach used when writing a prioritized resume. Study the example found on the next page.

Whichever resume format you use, it is only as effective as what you have to sell to the reader. Of course, "eye" appeal is "buy" appeal. Make your document as attractive and appealing as possible, but once you have captured the employer's attention, you had better be ready to sell.

Other Resume Considerations Introductory Information

The first block of information on your resume-after your name, address, and telephone number(s)-should contain data that most directly relates to the position you are seeking. Once in a while it will be an objective or a career summary. But, for most job seekers, it will be the title of the job they have just left or a closely related position.

New and recent college graduates will use their college education in this lead-off spot-if it pertains to the position they are seeking. Unlike most experienced job seekers, they should also consider placing an objective in the beginning. After all, with little or no work experience, it is difficult for the reader to ascertain what type of job they are looking for if they don't give an objective.

Once again, bear in mind that the opening introductory statement on your resume must contain information to immediately grab the reader's attention. Tell what you want; don't play games. Don't force the reader to resort to ESP to discover what position you are seeking.

Placement and job search counselors sometimes lose sight of the fact that a resume is intended to act on the job seeker's behalf, not the employer's. It should contain only information that can win you an interview. It should not contain information that makes it easy for the reader to screen you out. Your goal is to make the reader eager to meet and find out more about you.
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