A resume is nothing but a written ad whose aim is to turn your application into your appointment letter. Your education, skills and experiences are products which you describe carefully to make your resume stand out from the crowd. In this post, I’m going to highlight four different types of Resume with their format. Even you will get to know more about them by checking the pros and cons of each resume type. This information is vital. The more you know about Resume and its format, the better application ad you can create. 

What are Different types of Resume?

There are four common resume types

1. Chronological 

2. Functional 

3. Combination 

4. Targeted 

Type #1 Chronological 

It is among the most common types of Resume. Almost 9 out of 10 employers require this Resume from their applicants. From the name of this Resume, it is clear that you put your work history in order of latest to oldest. In your experience section, you mention your existing or recent job and then you start tapping back into your experience in the job. 

An employer gets an overview of your experience from this specific type of Resume. It is a classic resume which has been in the career market for many decades. 

Chronological Resume Format

1. Contact details ( email and phone numbers are a must)

2. Summary ( to-the-point description of you and your professional work)

3. Professional Job Title

4. Highly emphasize on Work Experience Just a few yet powerful skills

5. Education/ degrees

6. Reference (additional, if you have any)

When Is Chronological Resume the Good Option?

Generally speaking, this Resume is acceptable for almost every job. Here are some reasons which make it the right choice of format.

When you:

• Have extensive work experience to put on display

• Don’t have any lapses in your job

• Are applying for a career in an industry where only traditional style of resumes is acceptable.

Pros 

• A quick highlight of work experience can be provided

• It is a widely accepted format

• Employers consider it easy to read

Cons 

• You can’t try creativity in this format

• If there is any job gap, then the employer will identify quickly

• You must have good job experience

Type # 2 Functional Resume 

It is also known as skills-based Resume. In this type, you focus highly on your skills and less on your work experience. Priority is given to skills highlights while employment history secures secondary position. Check 100+ skills you can put on your resume.

Functional Resume format 

1. Contact Information (email and contact number is a must)

2. Summary (In a few line structure, tell them who you are and what you do) /Write the best Career Objective on Resume

3. Professional Job Title 

4. The full highlight of skill (highly relevant- add your key skills in this section)

5. Additional Skills (mention secondary skills )

6. Work Experience (secondary importance, mention a few)

7. Education

When Is Functional Resume a good Option?

• It works great for those people who have an abundance of skills to add but less experience to show

• Many people have gaps in their employment history due to some personal or professional reasons. They can easily hide these gaps via this type.

• Students who have no experience can use it.

Pros 

• Let you display your technical and essential skills

• Hide lapses in employment history

• People with less- or no- experience can make the most of it

Cons

• Many traditional employers consider it a tricky resume format

• It might convey a message that you are somehow “inexperienced.”

Type #3 Combination Resume

It is a mixture of non-popular functional and most-popular chronological Resumes. It means you will show off your skills and work experience by giving them an equal position. You will emphasize both at the same time. Sound tricky? Yes, a bit. But it is an effective resume type which lets you get a job which requires not only experience but also skills.

Combination Resume Format

1. Contact Details 

2. Skill Summary / Know What Job Objective to mention on Resume

3. Additional Skills 

4. Work Experience (know how to add it)

5. Education

Note: This kind of layout requires you to give equal importance to both skills and work experience. Therefore your resume length may extend to more than one page. You can change the order of this format by putting work experience on number two. Make sure skill summary always proceed additional skills section.

When is a Combination Resume a good Option?

It works great when :

• The job description requires you to show your skills and experience at the same level

• You are applying for a senior- or mid-level job position. 

• You are continually changing your job and industries, and you plan to show your diverse skill sets along with vast experience in various fields.

• You have a few lapses in work history

Pros 

• A balanced approach to highlight your skills and experience 

• Offers flexibility to show your competence 

• You can hide the gap in your job history in a smart way

Cons

• You must have a lot of skills and knowledge to work with it 

• It pushes you to summarize your education and interest section 

• You must have to plan it with great care

Type #4 Targeted Resume

It is less common yet the most effective type of Resume. When used with due diligence and smartness, it results in an immediate interview call. Even sometimes, you get a job with a quick phone interview session. So, what exactly it is?

Targeted Resume, as the name implies, is a format customized for a specific job. You add your interest, skills, education, and work experience in a way that they are precisely matched to the job requirement.

How to create a Targeted Resume?

1. Read job description and requirement carefully

2. Quickly spread these requirements in your work experience, education, skills and interest.

Targeted Resume Format

Format of this Resume is precisely like a chronological resume. But you add only those details which offer a clear reflection of the job requirement. Just add those words, which your employers would like to read. 

When is a Targeted Resume a good option?

In my opinion, it is an excellent option in almost every job application. It’s like targeting your customer with a specific product or service they need. You write an ad which checks all the boxes of their basic requirements. 

Pros

• You can quickly get the job

• You act like a real marketer of your talent

• It lets you stand out from the crowd

• Instant employer’s attention is possible

Cons

• Time-consuming

• You need to play smart

• Must have to create different Resume for different jobs

Conclusion

Which Type of Resume do you choose the most? Tell us in your comments.

Must Check:

What skills to Put on Resume?

Understand Resume Meaning and Template

Do I need to add interest on a Resume?