So, you’ve composed your resume sections and put them so that, in your opinion, you list your skills and values the best. Yet, one month later, there is still no reply from the companies you want to work for so badly. ‘What’s the problem?’ you might wonder. Well, believe it or not, as much as companies want to hire pros with decades of experience, they also wish to have professionally written resumes. And this is where the format comes in.
Why is a resume format so often a reason for rejections, and how to choose a proper format that wins jobs? Check the answer from our experts in the article below.
Why Do Resume Formats Matter?
Let’s talk about what a format is. A resume format is a layout of your resume sections like Experience, Skills, Education, and others. An adequately chosen format keeps your career story coherent and provides order to sections. ‘Can someone edit my resume so any recruiter thinks of it as a masterpiece?’ Sure! It is legal to ask third parties for help. But if you don’t know what a resume format is, you will never learn whether those resume editors did their job well.
Why does a recruiter pay attention to a resume format?
The way an applicant combines their sections shows their attention to detail and (one way or another) their writing skills;
A professional recruiter can infer the candidate’s level of professionalism by taking a quick look at the format they’ve chosen. Yeap, that’s true because traditionally, one’s skills and experience are assigned special resume formats;
Imagine there is no such thing as a need for formatting. Some data might get lost, while others will get mixed and difficult to grasp.
With all that said, which resume format should you choose for your resume depending on your skills and career goals? Let’s check them out.
1: Chronological
The favorite layout of most recruiters, the Chronological format, doesn’t suit everyone, unfortunately. Why so? A Chronological resume lists your resume sections starting from Experience. So the possible layout would often look like this:
- Contact Data
- Summary or Objective
- Experience
- Skills
- Education
- Other Sections
As you see, the Experience section opens the body of your resume. The central section attracts the reader’s attention by saying you’re a pro out loud. This format is most appropriate for applicants who are experts in their field.
If your job history includes less than three workplaces and you’ve been in the industry for a short time, you better opt for other resume formats. Another category of job seekers who might want to stay away from Chronological resumes is industry changers. Also, if you’ve stayed out of the market for too long, switch to a different format.
2: Functional
If this is the first time you’re searching for a job, choose this format. A Functional resume is a perfect choice for recent graduates, industry changes, and everyone with career gaps. Why so? Functional format highlights your skills, showcasing that you’ve got enough knowledge to start a new career.
The possible structure of a Functional resume often looks as follows:
- Contact Data
- Summary or Objective
- Skills
- Education
- Experience
- Other Sections
Yes, a Functional resume is about putting your Skills and Education in the spotlight. Some resumes might even include subsections like Courses, Credentials, or Conferences in the Education section. The key is to persuade the reader that you’re already well-versed in the job position you’re applying for.
3: Combination
The name says it all. The Combination or Hybrid format includes the layout features of other formats, most often Chronological and Functional. Commonly, the Contact Data would stay in the introductory part while Other Sections would close a resume.
Your Hybrid resume might have the following structure:
- Contact Data
- Summary or Objective
- Education
- Experience
- Skills
- Other Sections
Here, the central part is the Education section. But let’s tell you a secret. Most recruiters are not fans of the Combination format. It doesn’t provide a practical layout for your skills and experience when focusing on other sections. Also, most ATS bots are aligned with Functional and Chronological formats. Hence, there is a high chance that an ATS system will omit your Combination resume for good.
4: Target Resume
Target resume is more about purpose rather than structure. Such a format is uncommon. Being used very rarely, a Target resume is all about aligning the content of your resume with the reader’s expectations. This format is used for niche job positions characterized by high competition. The possible layout of Target’s resume might be as follows:
- Contact Data
- Summary or Objective
- Experience
- Skills
- Credentials
- Courses
- Education
- Other Sections
Target resumes commonly imitate the structure of other resumes but contain more data. In addition, these resumes are more extended and often include more professional keywords because of the more significant necessity to beat the ATS system and win.
5: Resume-Summary
Don’t confuse a Resume-Summary or a Mini-Resume with the Summary section. Like a Target resume, a Resume-Summary is very rare. However, it’s beneficial when it comes to job positions that don’t require much experience or are manual.
A Resume-Summary might omit some sections or come as a CV. It might be written as a biography to emphasize the core milestones or tell the reader how you applied the knowledge. Some applicants create mini-resumes to show recruiters if they aren’t sure of their fitness for the job. When a recruiter gets a mini-resume, they can quickly assess the applicant’s skills and send an answer on whether the candidate should drop off their resume further.
In short, a Resume-Summary saves both the recruiter’s and the applicant’s time.
Final Thoughts
Resume formats matter. Choosing a proper resume format will bring the recruiter’s attention, while opting for the wrong format will send your resume to oblivion. If you need help with your resume, visit the best resume writing services. Regarding resume formats, consider your career goals, experience history, and skills. The core idea is to let your strengths shine and persuade the recruiter that you’re a valuable asset to the company.