There are many resume styles typically used by job seekers today and choosing the right one is essential if you want to stand a chance of making a favorable impression in the current highly competitive job market.
Why so many different styles you ask? For one thing, the wide variety of methods by which documents are sent nowadays requires a different resume style for each one. You cannot expect a resume that is intended for physical viewing to work just as well when it is emailed or faxed and vice versa. The growing trend of viewing documents online has naturally also brought about a need for a resume style that is more appropriate for this medium.
Then you also need to consider that certain positions may call for a very specific resume style. So you’ll need to be adaptable. You’ll want to tweak your resume to suit each situation so that it showcases your relevant skills. That’s what a resume is for, after all: To show off your expertise.
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.
A newer resume style-the functional style-has been increasingly more popular recently. This method involves listing your most significant accomplishments first, with lesser accomplishments following. This will allow any would-be employer to quickly skim through your qualifications and determine if you are right for the job. At the same time, this form also allows you to play up your strengths.
You’ll find a few other resume styles as well, but most of them are just variations of the chronological and functional resumes. By the way, don’t shy away from experimenting with different combinations of resume styles to suit your needs. The whole idea behind the resume is to communicate your abilities in the clearest way possible, and choosing the best resume style gives you the freedom to do that.