There are three types of resume styles: chronological, functional and combined.

Chronological Resumes The easiest type of resume to prepare, this style of resume works well for people who have a strong, consistent work history that is directly related to the job they are currently seeking. When preparing a chronological resume, start with your most recent work experience and education and work backwards.

Advantages

• Presents your career path in a logical order
• Focuses on specific jobs and functions
• Effective for those who know what they want

Disadvantages

• Shows frequent job changes
• Shows sameness of jobs and functions
• No summary or highlights of qualifications/skills

This type of resume is most effective for those who have had a variety of work experience not directly related to the position they are currently seeking. A functional resume is also an effective style for recent graduates with little or no work experience and those who have been away from the workforce for an extended period of time.

Functional resumes allow you to emphasize the important positions and responsibilities that you have held. Instead of a job-by-job account of your work history, relevant skills are grouped together to form categories. Order the categories by their relevance to the position you are applying for. If you are applying for a position as a computer software specialist, your computer and technical skills would be the first thing you would want the employer to see. Head the categories by function performed and list accomplishments and skills underneath.

Advantages of Functional Resumes:

• Allows you to expand on information, emphasize accomplishments
• Provides opportunity to minimize any negatives in your employment history such as gaps, job jumping etc.

• Due to the lack of chronological work history, employers may assume that you are trying to hide the fact that you are a job jumper, an older worker or someone with employment or education gaps or minimal work experience

Advantages of Combined Resumes:

• Takes best features of chronological and functional resumes
• Provides excellent overview of your skills to an employer
• Includes all pertinent information that an employer may be seeking (such as educational and work background)

• None!