Chronological Resume

Most resumes use the chronological format. It is a simple format in which the most recent experience is listed first, followed by each previous job. This arrangement works fine for someone with work experience in several similar jobs, but not as well for those with limited experience or for career changers.

Advantages

• It is the simplest and quickest resume to build.
• Many employers want to know details about where you have worked in the past, including dates employed.
• This is a good resume style to use if you have a good work history in similar jobs to those that you are seeking now.

Disadvantages

• A chronological resume may display your weaknesses.
• It will quickly show things like gaps in work history, frequent job changes, lack of work experience related to your job objective, recent graduation, and other situations.
• If you have one or more of these situations, a traditional chronological resume may not be best for you.

The functional resume, also know as the Skills Resume. In this format, your experience is

organized under key skills. A well done functional resume emphasizes skills that your objective requires. These should also be the same skills that you are good at and want to use.

Advantages
• Allows to you to present accomplishments from all your life experiences and strengths.
• A well written resume presents your strengths and avoids showing your limitations.

Disadvantages

Some employers do not like this type of formatted resume as it does not give a lot details about work history, timelines, etc. It is also a much harder resume to write.

The Combination Resume

A combination resume includes elements of both the Chronological and Functional Resume formats. This a good type of resume to use if you have a reasonably good work history but want the advantages that a Functional Resume has.

When to Consider a Functional Format

If you have held a number of different or unrelated jobs during a relatively short period of time and are worried about being labelled as a job-hopper, the functional resume could be the answer for you. This format also works well for those entering the workforce for the first time or after a long absence (such as recent grads with no prior formal work experience, stay-at-home moms or dads now seeking outside employment, or caregivers who have spent a year or more treating an ill or aging family member). It could also be a good choice if your prior work experience is more relevant to your current job target than what you are doing presently.