Resume Tips: Functional VS. Chronological? Choosing The Appropriate Resume Format
By Anna Sexton, CARW, B.A., President of Advanced Career Solutions

Choosing the appropriate resume format can be rather tricky. However it is essential in order to put together an attractive and practical marketing document that generates results. Whether you are a new graduate just entering the workforce, or a professional with a solid work history, you will eventually be faced with the important decision of which resume format to utilize.

Chronological Format:
The most preferred resume format for the majority of hiring managers and recruiters is the Chronological format. It takes the employer through a chronological list of professional achievements, usually related to the candidate’s targeted position/profession. This format usually provides a thorough description of what you’ve done and where and when you have done it. Thus dates and names of employers are included, showcasing a strong and stable work history, while effectively eliminating suspicions that you are hiding a previous background as a job hopper or substantial unemployment. Therefore, the chronological format is easily processed and reveals a professional who has advanced within a career of increasingly responsible jobs.

Advantages of Chronological:

• Presents that you are ready to take on a new and more challenging job opportunity given your previous background experience.
• Successfully highlights notable employers, credentials and significant professional development that are transferable to your targeted position.
• Broadcasts a productive and highly marketable work history: successfully alleviating any glitches or other famous ‘Don’t Dos’ within the workforce-substantial unemployment, ‘job hopping’, etc.
• Provides the potential employer/hiring manager with a convenient way to process your professional background information in a sequential and summarizing order.
• Great for senior managers/executives who possess a highly progressive career history. Preferred for professionals seeking an international position.

Disadvantages of Chronological:

• Highly revealing of any unattractive features within your professional profile, such as an unstable work history, unemployment gaps or a long hiatus from the employment world (moms and dads/individuals returning to the workforce.)
• Not suitable for individuals with little or no paid working experience (i.e. new graduates, parents/individuals reentering the workforce, individuals with a significant volunteer background).
  

  Note that there are very few disadvantages of the chronological format. This is because, to a large degree, most employers prefer it.

Functional Format:
While the functional format may not be a favorite among a lot of hiring managers and recruiters, it is in some cases the most appropriate way to go. And depending on how it is developed and displayed (format, writing style, keywords, etc.), it can turn into a substantial success for the job seeker. If you are an individual with little or no paid experience for example (New Graduate, individual reentering the workforce), this layout may be exactly what you need. In this case, instead of focusing on work experience, the job candidate could spotlight a strong educational background and unique professional achievements/characteristics that relates strongly to the targeted position/career. This layout is also suitable for someone who has a lot of employment gaps and jumps from one position to the other. In this scenario, utilizing a functional format alleviates all of your unconstructive blemishes. And a strong list of rewarding achievements/characteristics derived from past work/volunteer experience, combined with an impressive education are what stand out-resulting in a positive representation of your career profile.

Advantages of Functional:

• Great for leveling out a career transition (i.e. military to civilian), or any other change (teacher to customer service, etc.)
• Assists in obscuring issues such as ‘over qualification’ and ‘age’ in ‘non executive searches.’
• Excellent for individuals with very little or no paid work experience (i.e. recent graduates, someone with a strong volunteer background); candidates returning to the work force (i.e. return-to-work mom and dads).
• Disguises the exterior of an unsteady, unconventional, or sporadic career.

Disadvantages of Functional:

• Revealing of any unattractive features within your professional profile, such as an unbalanced work history, unemployment gaps and a nonconformist career.
• Not suitable for the management / executive type professionals.
• Forces the employer to question previous employment gaps, a background of ‘job hopping’, and any other unconventional features within your career history.

Combination Format:
Also referred to as the ‘hybrid’ resume, the combination resume utilizes features of both the chronological and functional formats. Usually this layout includes an introductory paragraph/summary (anywhere from two-three lines-or an extensive paragraph, depending on position and experience), and sometimes is followed by a bulleted list of achievements/skills. It then goes on to demonstrate your work history, with the dates and name of employers usually included.

The combination format can be a great alternative for someone who wants to capitalize on both aspects of the functional and chronological layouts.

Thus, in reference to the facts stated within this article, and based on your own professional history, hopefully you now feel somewhat more guided in deciding which format is appropriate for you.