The Resume.Com Guide to Writing Unbeatable Resumes (4 page)

The next few pages contain a chronological resume template and examples of resumes that follow this format. An introduction to the advantages and disadvantages of the functional resume appears in the next chapter, and if you’re not sure which resume format best suits your needs take the quick quiz in Appendix A to help you decide.

The functional format allows a job applicant to highlight specific skills, responsibilities, and accomplishments,
shifting the emphasis of the resume away from recent employment
.

The functional format is ideal if you fit into one of the following categories:

■
You are changing careers.

■
You are returning to the workforce after a long hiatus.

The functional format showcases your most desirable traits, organizing information into two to four subsections that offer employers a wide range of attractive skills. The primary advantage of the functional format is that it allows you to highlight experiences that have no direct relationship with your recent professional history. This allows your diverse skills to speak to your professional goal, bringing your background to the foreground.

For example, if you are applying for positions in the journalism field after working for many years in information technology, you can create writing, editing, and communication skill sets that will allow you to apply for a vast array of positions not limited to your last job. Bolstering your skill sets with a powerful Summary of Qualifications and Headline will emphasize your transferable skills in an employer’s eyes.

Whereas the
chronological format
defines your background by work history, the
functional format
concentrates on skill sets that let you broaden your objective.

The functional format is ideal for individuals who are looking to change careers. It allows for shifts in professional goals by moving the focus of the resume away from a linear timetable and creating a solid foundation of transferable skills taken from many sources. It also allows students to highlight experiences that are not limited to previous paid employment. These flexible sections allow you to prioritize subheadings to tailor a resume effectively according to your needs.

The functional resume, however, is
not
the ideal format for professionals with continuous work histories who are looking for employment or advancement in the same field or a similar field. As only a small percentage of resumes use the functional format, an employer also might perceive an unorthodox format as an attempt to hide something. This format has been highly successful for many of our clients and can be a great asset to many job seekers, but verify that this format suits your background by answering some of the questions in Appendix A.

■
They are future-oriented
. They emphasize the potential an applicant can bring to a new employer, as opposed to what he or she has accomplished in the past.

■
They highlight responsibilities and accomplishments that are not associated with recent positions or were derived from unpaid work.

■
They are ideal for career changers.

■
They can be rejected when prospective employers expect to see chronological lists of responsibilities and accomplishments linked to specific positions.

■
They emphasize a specific skill set rather than your career path.
They should not be used if you are applying for a position in the same field as your current position.