Page 63 - Complete Idiot's Guide to The Perfect Resume

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Chapter 4

Chronologically

Speaking

In This Chapter

➤ Why choose a chronological format
➤ When a conservative approach is the way to go

➤ How a chronological resume highlights the strengths of a work history
➤ How to accelerate a vertical or horizontal career move by using a chronological
resume

Have you ever heard the real-estate adage: “location, location, location”? In resume writing,
the adage would be “format, format, format.” The format of your resume is so crucial that it
can make or break your request for a job interview. The right format will tell the reader right
away that you’re a top-notch candidate for the job.

The two basic resume formats are chronological and functional. This chapter covers the
guidelines, templates, and samples for the chronological resume. Chapter 5, “Get Func-
tional,” describes the ins and outs of the functional resume. In a very short time, you’ll
have made one of the most important decisions in the resume-writing process: choosing the
best format.

Highlighting Your History

The chronological resume is the most traditional resume format. It’s been around for years
and has done well for millions of job seekers.

What It Is

The following template for the chronological resume outlines the content of a resume in
this format. Notice that this format highlights a job seeker’s dates of employment, places of
employment, and job titles (the chronology of the person’s work history) by using them as
headings. Achievements are then listed under these headings.