Effective Resume Formats

Choosing the right resume format is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when creating your resume. There are three main types of resume formats: chronological, functional and hybrid (or chrono-functional). Each has its advantages and disadvantages. The best format for your needs depends on whether you’re looking to highlight specific experience, gaps in employment or a nontraditional work history.

Chronological formats are ideal for those with a consistent work history or for job seekers who want to avoid raising any suspicion that they’re chronic job hoppers. This format is also the easiest for hiring managers to read since it places a strong emphasis on your most recent positions and their associated duties.

Functional formats are a great option for those with career gaps or who have a nontraditional work history. This type of resume format shifts the focus from your employment history to your skills, making it a good choice for career changers or people who have gained experience through volunteer work, internships or family members.

Regardless of which format you choose, use standard 1-inch margins on all sides to maintain white space and minimize eye strain for hiring managers. This also makes it easier for ATS-parsing software to process your resume. Use a font that is easy to read and consider using special formatting like bolding or underlining for key sections of your resume. This can help them stand out to hiring managers. Adding line breaks between paragraphs can also be useful for improving the flow of your resume and keeping it easy to read. Effective resume formats