Types of Resumes

                         Types of Resumes

              One of the first decisions job-seekers must make when preparing their resumes is how to organize the resume’s content. Today’s resumes generally are:

       1.    Chronological (actually reverse chronological listing all your experience from most to least recent).

       2.    Functional which lists experience in skills cluster.

    3.    A combinational or hybrid of these two types, sometimes nown as chrono functional format.   

   

CHRONOLOGICAL RESUMES:

The traditional, default format for resumes is the chronological resume this type of resume is organized by your employment history in reverse chronological order with job titles of employers of employment working backwards 10-15 years.

A standard chronological resume may be your best choice if most/all of your experience has been in one field, you have to large employment gaps, and you plan to stay in that same field.

FUNCTIONAL RESUME: 

The resume format preferred by job seekers with a limited job history or a job history in a different career field is the functional resume.

COMBINATIONAL CHRONO FUNCTIONAL (HYBRID) RESUMES:

Because the purely functional format has become the subject of employer backlash in recent years, some job seekers have learned to structure their resumes in most recent years, format but also include a base bones work in reverse chronological order creating what is variously known as a chrono functional, hybrid combination format.

DO’S: 

           > A thorough self-discovery of the strengths, skills and potential.

           > Knowledge the required points to be covered.

           > Edit the resume at-least three times.

           > A good job analysis before you draft a resume.

           > Be concise, clear and correct.

DONT’S:

           >  Be arbitrary while stating facts about one self. 

           >  Adding un-necessary information.

           >  Be in haste to list the points.

          >  Finalize the first copy.

           >  Be too long, un-clear and bluff.

WRITING AN EFFECTIVE COVER LETTER:

Writing a cover letter often seems like a particularly daunting task. However, if you take it one step at a time you’ll soon be an expert at writing letters to send with your resume. A cover letter typically accompanies each having your resume ignored so it makes good sense to devote the necessary time and effort to writing effective cover letters.

A cover letter should complement not duplicate your resume. Its purpose is to interpret the data oriented factual resume and add a personal touch. A cover letter is often your earliest written contact with a potential employer creating a critical first impression.

COVER LETTER FORMAT:

To be effective, your cover letter should follow the basic format of a typical business letter and should address 3 general issues:

1.    First paragraph- why you writing?

2.    Middle paragraph- what do you have to offer?

3.    Concluding paragraph-how will you follow up?

RESUME CHECKLIST:

Ø It’s my resume brief and earns to read.

Ø Does all the information fit on one page?  If not, is my experience extensive enough to use two pages?

Ø Have I tailored my resume to emphasize experiences and qualifications that match with the employer?

Ø Are my most relevant and impressive qualifications easily visible?

Ø  Do I use limited amount of bold, italic capital letters and underlining to weight light the important part of my resume.

Ø Is my resume laser printed on good quality, standard “81/2 by 11” bond paper?

Ø Did I use conversation colors (white and irorfull).

Ø Do I have balanced use of blank spaces and margins?

Ø Have I asked some-one else to critique and proved by resuming?

Have I submitted an updated resume for the office of professional development to keep on fate?