Resume Writing Guide - Three Common Formats

When you create a resume, there are 3 common formats that you can use. There is no best format. So you can use any format you like, as long as it serves your purpose (i.e. get noticed by the interviewers!). Here they are.

1) Chronological format. - This is the most common format. You list your professional experiences and educational history in reverse chronological order. That means the most recent work experience comes first. You don't have to list every single one of your work experience. Just the most relevant ones will do. Interviewers are also most familiar with this format. This format is ideal for candidates with a strong track record.

2) Functional format. - If you have a weak work history, you may wish to adopt the functional format. This format emphasizes more on skills and abilities. It is also great for those who wish to make a mid career change. These candidates may then focus more on transferable skills. Your work experience and educational history will be on the bottom half of your resume.

3) Combination of both the above. - Many candidates will find that just using one of the above formats is too restrictive. For example, you may have many years of working experience, but there are some gaps between jobs which you find hard to explain. So you select the most relevant experiences and then draw attention to your skills.

Use whatever experiences you have to reflect your skills and abilities. For instance, you may not have much working experience. But you can always list other activities to show your leadership qualities (e.g. president of a student leader committee).