Resume Structure

Chronological and Functional are the two major types of resumes. The outline of each is shown. The outlines can also be mixed.

Chronological resumes are the most common. They emphasize job history, and are appropriate when you have had steady employment and your career has shown consistent progress as you moved from one position to the next.

Functional Resumes, on the other hand, emphasize skills acquired over the years in various positions. The functional resume does not, typically, detail the specific tasks performed with each employer.

Typical Chronological Resume Sections:

• Objective

• Experience

• Education

• References

• Typical Functional Resume Sections

• Objective

• Accomplishments

• Employment

• Education

• References

In order to choose between the two types, you should compare your experience to the requirements for the new job. Often times, you will want to create both resume types, and use them with different prospective employers.

As a general rule, consider the traditional, Chronological Resume first. It is the most common, and employers expect this particular format. However, you may want to use a Functional Resume in the following cases:

• When you had long periods of unemployment. A Functional Resume can make these periods less visible.
  
  

• When you held positions which are not consistent with your future career goal.
  
  

• When the new position requires skills that you acquired with several different employers.
  
  

• Remember that the two resume types can be intermixed. You may start a Chronological resume with a "Highlight" section which lists your key qualifications. Or, you may write a Functional resume and add a few lines under each position you held.

Resume Sections

Name

This section of your resume is probably the easiest. . . Include your work phone number only if you are willing to accept employment calls at work. If space is tight on a single page, use a space-efficient style. If you are struggling to "fill a page", use a longer style.

Objective

The primary purpose of the Objective section is to help the people who screen your resume send it to the right hiring manager. For that reason, it is important to describe the kind of positions you are willing to assume in very broad terms. You should not be too specific, or you may not be considered for positions you are willing to take.

Objective Examples

• Seeking a Senior Sales Management position in a progressive New Car Dealership.

• A career position in the automotive industry that will fully utilize my experience in management, customer service, and sales.

• A challenging position where my experience and knowledge will enhance the growth and profitability of the company.

Accomplishments (Functional)

This section lists your accomplishments in 2-3 key topics pertinent to the position you are seeking. This is the key section in a Functional resume, and is typically followed by a short Employment section which lists your past employers.

Typical Accomplishment Topics

• Marketing and Customer Service

• Supervision and Management

• Administration

• Personal Computers

Under each topic, list the key accomplishments that demonstrate your skills. These can be further emphasized with bullets.

Employment (Functional)

This section compliments the Accomplishments section and lists your past employers. Most often, the list only includes employer, title, and dates. You may add additional information, but keep it very brief.

Experience (Chronological)

This is the most important section of your resume and deserves the most attention. In each position, describe and quantify key accomplishments. List dollar amounts, efficiency improvement figures, anything measurable that can demonstrate that you are a highly productive individual with a lot to contribute. Try to start your phrases with action verbs.

Education

List your relevant education and school work. If you list a college or university, you may avoid lower education such as high-school. If you only include school and year, you may put it on a single line. Avoid the graduation year if many years have passed since then. You may also list your job-related training and special classes here.

References

It is advised to list the references on a separate page entitled Reference Page. Include at least four business references if you have had automotive experience.

STYLE GUIDELINES

Section headings should be on the left margin. However, one line sections such as Objective may be centered with their heading.

All dates should be on the left or the right.

All paragraphs should start on the left margin (preferred) or be indented.

Bullet points may be used to itemize details under a section