How to write a great resume
Chronological, Functional, Combination
This is the most popular format. It places information in reverse chronological order (i.e. from most to least recent). Employers tend to prefer this format as it (hopefully) demonstrates a candidate’s steady and upward career growth. Thus, the focus is on time, job continuity, growth, and achievements.
A functional resume focuses on skills, credentials, and accomplishments over the course of all jobs held. Emphasis is on what you did, not when or where you did it. Accomplishments, qualifications and experience are grouped together, to emphasize your experience in specialty areas.
A combination resume uses a career profile, which is a functional style listing of relevant skills and accomplishments, and then proceeds to describe employment and education histories in reverse chronological order. In other words, it is a combination of the above two concepts. The experience section directly supports the functional section.
NOTE: Unless a functional resume conveys your suitability significantly better than the other types, a chronological or combination format is suggested for entry-level positions. We recommend that you avoid using a functional resume unless an employer specifically requests that format.
What goes first – education or experience?
Experience goes first
Unless
1. You are currently in school or a recent graduate.
2. You are changing careers and your education is more pertinent to the new career than your job experience.
3. You are seeking a position where specialized education is a prerequisite for employment.
Whatever information is first will be what catches the employer’s attention. So put your greatest asset first – whether that is education or experience.
What not to write
Too much detail about non-work related items. Such as:
- That awesome party you threw in college
- How much you love playing computer games
- How you post pictures of you and your friends on Facebook
Don't try to make basic job duties sound too impressive:
- If you were an Administrative Assistant, don't say you were in charge of a multi-million dollar budget
- If you were an intern, don't claim to have shaped Microsoft's strategy for 2012
- Don't rewrite your job title to sound ultra-impressive. I'll know that if you put down "Egress Expert" you were a security guard.
Anything about your about your age, sex, marital status, and health. This will get the interviewing company in trouble, please don't do this to us. We WANT to hire you.