3 Different Options for Structuring Your Resume: Pros and Cons of Each
You probably have given quite some thought to the contents of your resume, which is great because that’s what matters most. However, even a resume with the best content may not do a good job at getting the attention of the hiring officer if it doesn’t have a good format to match it.
You have to consider content and format to stand out from the hundreds of resumes that may reach a potential employer for a single or a few employment opportunities.
The Different Resume Formats
There are several types of structures for resumes, but three stand out in terms of preference; the chronological, functional, and hybrid resume structures. While the three are great, all of them vary significantly in structure, and the choice of it may be determined by the nature of the job you are applying for.
Also, your choice may be determined by your experience and job history. Below is a detailed description of each structure, including its pros and cons
1. Chronological Resume
A chronological one is the most popular with recruiters, so it should be your go-to structure if you are unsure about the recruiter’s preferences and want to sound and look as formal as possible.
A chronological resume lists your skills and job experience in reverse chronological order. This way, the recruiting officer can track your career progression from your current position down to skills attained along your career path.
Pros and Cons
The main reason you will want to use this structure is that it is the most preferred by recruiters because it gives them an easy time following your career progression —this works best when you have an unbroken work history.
If you have had long periods of unemployment or parts of your employment history that you’d rather leave out, this option may not be the best for you because it can highlight such gaps. Also, if you do not have much experience, it may highlight it more than other structures or formats, so you may want to avoid it.
2. Functional Resume
A functional resume is structured to highlight strengths and diminish weaknesses. This format is best suited for individuals that blemishes in their work history may overshadow their strengths if they go the chronological route.
It focuses on marketable skills such as your education, experience related to the position in question, and soft skills.
Pros and Cons
This one structure disguises the gaps in work experience and lets you shine in your strengths, which can work well, especially if you are applying for work in a laid down or informal setting.
On the downside, traditional employers can view it with suspicion for leaving out critical information such as dates of employment. So, you may want to avoid it if the kind of job you are applying for is in a relatively formal industry.
3. Hybrid Resume
This resume structure takes a middle ground approach by incorporating the chronological and functional resume. While the chronological part may highlight some blemishes, the functional part tries to cover for the blemishes by putting your strengths forward.
Pro and Cons
When structured correctly, this resume structure works best as it utilizes the best of both chronological and functional formats to find a middle ground.
However, it can be confusing if organized poorly and requires substantial effort to create. Also, it is less commonly used and easily frowned upon by traditional recruiters. So, if you use this format, you must be sure you are good at it.
Check Out These Professional Resume Templates for More Ideas
If you have never created one before, creating one can be overwhelming, and you do not want to create a resume that won’t stand out. Also, you could have created a resume before but feel like it could use some upgrade but don’t feel up to the task.
There are two options you could explore. You could hire a freelance resume creator, which can be costly or use a professional resume template from a recognized resume creation brand that takes the hard work out of resume creation. Also, online resume templates offer several options of structures that can fit any industry.
Final Words
The quality of your resume can mean the difference in landing a job or losing an opportunity even when you could have the best qualifications for the job.
Paying attention to the design and structure of yours means catching the recruiter’s attention, which increases the chances of having them pay more attention to the contents of your resume.
