Current Resumes Styles

Depending upon your employment history, resumes need to be formatted to best illustrate how closely your skills and experience match the required needs of the job. Target your resume specifically to match the job needs . . . but only if you have valid experience and skills in your job history. Always be absolutely truthful with your information. Some of the formats currently being used are:

Basic (entry level) resumes are written so that minimum experience is maximized. They are clean and simple in design, but can be very effective. Because of minimal experience, no keyword section.

Chronological resumes are organized by time frames with dates after each work experience. These formats are great for technical, CIS, and medical resumes. Should be keyworded.

Executive resumes are for candidates who have substantial management experience and supervisory skills. Can be keyworded but many times are better presented with a narrative or paragraph style summary of qualifications.

Functional resumes are organized by job functions. This style needs to be carefully planned and formatted as it is sometimes seen as not being very forthcoming about documenting work history. Can be keyworded.

Accomplishment resumes can be organized by achievements and performance. Along with the Executive style, this is another perfect format for executives, CEOs, and professional managers. Can be keyworded or can use keywords within a strong summary.

Narrative resumes are intended for professionals who require a detailed summary style. No keyword section.

Professional style resumes are geared to candidates in the legal, teaching,  and educational fields. No keyword section but keywords can be used in a summary of qualifications.

Curriculum Vitae are intensely focused on education and training and are mandatory for some medical disciplines, social work, upper level education credentials, and legal areas.  Required for most physicians. No keyword section.

The easiest of all formats to read is the Combination resume which is very popular because it takes sections of other resume styles and combines them for an exciting format. Should be keyworded.

Remember-all resumes can be keyworded except the above listed exceptions. For the exceptions, there are ways to use keywords in the text that are appropriate to these disciplines. A career goal can be added, if necessary, to all keyword styles if it compliments the candidate's qualifications and gives more direction and focus to the resume and cover letter.