Choosing the Best Organizational Format for your Resume

Choosing the most appropriate format for your resume is not always an earth-shattering decision—selecting the “wrong” format won’t necessarily prevent you from getting a job interview. However, a resume that looks good and is formatted appropriately does go a long way towards creating a good impression. There’s no point in leaving anything to chance, so it’s worth figuring this out before writing your resume.

There are three commonly-used resume formats:

• Chronological
• Functional
• Combination (AKA chrono-functional hybrid)

The chronological resume format, which lists your work history in reverse chronological order, is essentially the default format—it’s the preferred form for most employers, because it gives a clear picture of your work history. This is the best format to use if most of your job experience has been in the same field and if you plan to stay there. In general it’s best to use a chronological format whenever possible, unless you have a particular reason for using a different format.

In contrast, the functional resume concentrates on listing clusters of skills rather than work history. Specific details such as employment dates and company names are not included. This type of resume is useful for new graduates seeking their first position, or for people who are re-entering the workforce after a gap of several years. This type of resume is the least preferred by employers.

Combination resumes combine aspects of the chronological and functional formats. This format is more or less the same as a functional resume, but also includes a short version of the work history in reverse chronological order. This emphasizes relevant skills and achievements and de-emphasizes work history.

Combination resumes are suitable for a wide variety of people, including those with diverse work histories, people with long employment gaps, and those who have changed jobs often. They are also helpful for older job hunters who want to de-emphasize their age, and recent graduates who have little work experience. Employers find this format more acceptable than the functional resume, however the chronological resume is still preferred, because this is the only format that provides a clear picture of career advancement. 

Whichever format you choose, some key elements are required in every resume—your name and contact information, achievements, and education. In addition, any resume should be written with a focus on the job, rather than using one generic resume for all types of jobs.

Also, please review our Resume Writing section for resume examples, tips and tools.  If you need more help, please consider using a Career Counselor.