Page 32 - The Editors of VGM Career Books - Resumes for Computer Careers, Second Edition (2002)

Assembly and Layout 23

Types of Resumes

So far we have focused on the most common type of resume—the reverse
chronological resume—in which your most recent job is listed first. This is
the type of resume usually preferred by those who have to read a large
number of resumes, and it is by far the most popular and widely circu-
lated. However, this style of presentation may not be the most effective way
to highlight your skills and accomplishments.
For example, if you are reentering the workforce after many years or
are trying to change career fields, the functional resume may work best.
This type of resume puts the focus on your achievements instead of the
sequence of your work history. In the functional resume, your experience
is presented through your general accomplishments and the skills you have
developed in your working life.
A functional resume is assembled from the same information you
gathered in Chapter 1. The main difference lies in how you organize the
information. Essentially, the work experience section is divided in two, with
your job duties and accomplishments constituting one section and your
employers’ names, cities, and states; your positions; and the dates employed
making up the other. Place the first section near the top of your resume,
just below your job objective (if used), and call it Accomplishments or
Achievements. The second section, containing the bare essentials of your
work history, should come after the accomplishments section and can be
called Employment History, since it is a chronological overview of your for-
mer jobs.
The other sections of your resume remain the same. The work expe-
rience section is the only one affected in the functional format. By placing
the section that focuses on your achievements at the beginning, you draw
attention to these achievements. This puts less emphasis on where you
worked and when, and more on what you did and what you are capable of
doing.
If you are changing careers, the emphasis on skills and achievements
is important. The identities of previous employers (who aren’t part of your
new career field) need to be downplayed. A functional resume can help
accomplish this task. If you are reentering the workforce after a long
absence, a functional resume is the obvious choice. And if you lack full-
time work experience, you will need to draw attention away from this fact
and put the focus on your skills and abilities. You may need to highlight
your volunteer activities and part-time work. Education may also play a
more important role in your resume.