Comparison of Three Major Résumé Formats

One of the first decisions job-seekers must make when preparing their résumé is how to organize its content. Résumés generally are chronological (more accurately, reverse chronological, listing all your experience from most to least recent); functional, which lists experience in skills clusters. (There are also formats combining those two types, sometimes known as a chrono-functional format.) Curriculum Vitae (CV) are most often used for academic, research and medical positions. The following is a brief summation of the pluses and minuses of these formats:

When writing their résumé, job seekers need to consider what format best shows off their experience and abilities as well as what is the "norm" in their desired field.

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Advantages of CV format

• Easy for employer to determine if the candidate has the stated education and experience because of the high level of detail provided.
• Extensive detail provided on education, teaching and related professional experience, thesis supervision, presentations at conferences, etc., grants and activities, publications, university and community service, and consulting activities.

Disadvantages of CV format

• Can be time consuming to read due to its length (for experienced and published candidates, up to10-15 pages).
• Unfamiliar format outside of academic, research and medical fields, so if you're looking to change direction in your career, a lengthy CV with its specialized elements could be weeded out by human resources staffers accustomed to scanning a one- or two-page résumé.

Chronological Resume

Use of the chronological format is best when:

• The name of your last employer is an important consideration.
• You are staying in the same field as previous jobs.
• Your work history shows significant growth and development.
• You are considering highly traditional fields.

Disadvantages of chronological format

• Not typically used in the medical field.
• If your work history is inconsistent, that fact is visible.
• You are changing career goals.
• Shows if you have changed employers frequently.
• Difficult to de-emphasize your age, if you want to do so.
• Can look static if you have been with the same company or in the same position for a long time.
• Shows if you have been absent from the job market.
• Not a useful format if you are looking for your first job.

Functional Resume (not generally used in medical fields)

Advantages of the functional format

• Emphasizes capabilities not necessarily recently used or if your work background reflects miscellaneous, relatively unconnected experience.
• Useful format if you are changing careers, entering the job market for the first time or re-entering the market after an absence.
• Helps "hide" if your past career growth has been limited or slight, or if your job titles or chronology could be viewed negatively.
• Best format if your work background has been free-lance, consulting, or temporary.

Disadvantages of the functional format

• Does not emphasize a management growth pattern.
• Not a standard format for highly traditional fields.
• If you have performed only a limited number of functions in your work, it's very visible.
• Doesn't highlight recent prestigious employers as a chronological résumé would.