by Beverly Aarons
4. August 2009 07:35
There are three main types of resumes and each serves a specific function for the job seeker.
The Short Chronological Resume
This resume is great for recruiters who are short on time and need job seekers to get to the point quickly and demonstrate their competence as clearly as possible. Use the short chronological resume when you want to effectively and quickly summarize your career accomplishments over the past 10 years but not overwhelm a recipient with too much detail.
Remember the short chronological resume should contain enough vital information (in a brief form) about your specific accomplishments that you will get the interview.
The Long Chronological Resume
The long chronological resume is most effective when sent directly to a decision maker. For example, if you met the owner of a business at a networking meeting and he/she requested a resume it would be safe to give them your long chronological resume. This resume must highlight your accomplishments in a brief way; but you need to add more detail to distinguish yourself from the competition. In this particular resume feel free to offer a detailed illustration of how you added value to the company.
For example: "While working in the litigation department, I won 10 cases earning the law firm over $3 million dollars and brought in an additional $1.5 million over the course of my 5 years working at the company."
Many "accomplishment summaries" are as long as 4 sentences, so it's significantly more detailed than the short chronological resume. But try to focus on giving the most detailed information on your recent jobs. Older jobs can provide less detail.
The Functional Resume
The functional resume is sometimes effective when a job seeker has large gaps in employment or employment that is not directly related to the job being offered. By using the functional resume, the job seeker can highlight the relevant skills and experience he/she had in a different industry that can be transferred to the new industry he/she is trying to enter. It's important to include a short work chronology at the end of the functional resume because omitting a chronology of your work history completely could raise suspicions.