Choosing The Best Resume Format

Your resume can be organized in one of two simple formats: summary or chronological.

The summary (or functional) resume distills your total work experience into major areas of expertise, and targets the reader’s interest relating to your collected capabilities.The chronological resume presents your capabilities and accomplishments within the structure of your previous employers. (Actually, it should be called a reverse chronological resume, since your last job should consistently appear first.)Although the data you provide the reader may essentially be the same, there’s a big distinction in the way the two resumes are created, and the type of effect each will have. My experience has shown that the chronological resume brings the best results, since it’s the most explicit explanation of the quality and application of your skills within a certain time frame.

The summary resume, on the other hand, functions well if you’ve changed jobs or careers often, and wish to downplay your work background and identify your level of expertise. If a potential hiring manager is specifically interested in a steady, progressively advancing employment background (as most are), then the summary resume will very likely work against you, since the format will seem confusing, and might stimulate concerns as to your potential for longevity.

However, if the employer’s principal interest is your technical or problem-solving capability, the summary resume should assist your preferences just fine. Either way, you should consistently follow the recommendations mentioned earlier concerning material and appearance.

Crafting Your Resume “Objective”
Most employers find that a cautiously worded declaration of purpose will help them quickly consider your suitability for a given position. An objective statement can be particularly useful as a quick-screen device when viewed by the supervisor liable for staffing several varying types of positions. (“Let’s see; programmers in this pile, plant managers in that pile…”)

While a stated objective gives you the benefit of targeting your employment objectives, it can also work against you. A hiring supervisor lacking in creativeness or who’s hard pressed for time will often neglect a resume with an objective that doesn’t conform to the precise specifications of a position opening. That implies that if your objective reads “Vice President position with a progressive, growth-oriented company,” you may limit your options and not be considered for the job of regional manager for a struggling company in a mature market—a job you may take pleasure in and be well matched to.

If you’re pretty sure of the exact position you want in the field or industry you’re interested in, then state it in your objective. If not, expand your objective or keep it out of the resume.