How to Choose the Best Resume Styles
When it comes to today’s job market, competition is fierce. You want to be seen as one of the best, and you want a powerful resume. Although there are tons of resume styles to choose from, it’s vital that you choose only the right one.
You may be wondering why there even has to be so many styles. Well, for starters, resumes aren’t just presented as physical documents any more. There’s a growing trend for people to view documents like resumes on the computer. A style that works splendidly as a printed document just will not work as well when sent through email or fax. So, this has naturally led to more styles for each medium.
The particular position that you are applying for may also require a very specific resume style, and you should be prepared to adapt your present resume to best display your skills according to the situation at hand. This after all is what the main purpose of a resume is: to show off your capabilities.
The chronological style is by far the most popular resume format with both job seekers and potential employers. As the name implies, this resume lists all your previous jobs, starting with the most recent.
Then there is the functional style, a slightly newer template that has been getting more attention lately. Instead of listing your jobs and accomplishments by date, you list your most impressive qualifications first and then work your way down to the lesser ones. This kind of resume is easy to skim, which helps a prospective employer decide if you sound like a good match for the job. It also helps beef up your strong points.
These two resume styles aren’t the only styles around, certainly, but most other formats are variations of the chronological and functional resumes. Here’s a good point to remember: Don’t be afraid to try out different resume styles. Change them out to suit your needs and purpose for each situation. Resumes exist to tell potential employers about your abilities, and the right resume will put them in the best light.
