Choose the Right Resume Format
Your resume is one of the most critical documents you will ever create. A resume is often your first chance at making a good impression on a potential employer or educational institution. It is very important to choose the right resume format in order to stand out from other applicants.
Steps
- Determine what information you are going to include on your resume.
- Although you may have had several jobs, been awarded several awards and have done a lot of volunteer work, you may need to make choices. Even though the one-page resume is becoming a thing of the past, you still need to be selective about the material you include. If you have had only a few jobs and are, perhaps, just out of college, you may choose to include all of the experiences you have had. However, if you have an abundance of experiences, only choose the ones that will show why you are a good candidate for this position.
- Assess the qualifications for the job or school you are applying for.
- It is important to be clear on what the employer or institution is looking for when putting together your resume. You can asses the importance of the qualifications by reading the job description and deciding which of your experiences will highlight your qualifications the best. For example, a functional resume organizes your experiences by the skills you used. In order to do this effectively, it is essential that you know which skills are the most important to the employer. Otherwise, this format can work against you.
- Consider eye appeal.
- Much of a resume format is the way it looks. Obviously the content is the most important, but it is still important to catch the employer or the school's eye. It isn't necessary, and may even be looked down upon by some, to do anything too unique such as use color paper or add an image to your resume, but the resume should be organized and easy to read. Keep the aesthetics of the resume format in mind as you make your selection.
- Weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each format you are considering.
- There may be pros and cons of several of the resume formats that you consider. Make your decision by choosing the one that has the most advantages or the one you think will appeal the most to the employer or school. Remember, you may need to choose multiple formats for many different postings. So, just because you rule out one format for one application, doesn't mean you won't have a use for it later. For example, a chronological resume will be more appropriate for someone that has had a lot of experience.
- Try several formats.
- Plug your information into more than one format. This will allow you to see what the finished product will look like. Try combining formats if there are things you like about some, but not others.
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