There are two resume formats that are widely used today.
These formats are: the chronological and the functional.
Each format has its own purposes and advantages.
Which format should you choose? It depends on several factors.
The chronological format presents your education,
work experience and activities with each section described
in reverse chronological order with the most recent at the
top of each section.
You should choose the chronological format if your
skills and accomplishments coincide with your most
significant work experience and if these are in line with
your career goals.
The chronological resume is the most widely accepted of
the formats.
It is unlikely that an employer would not be familiar with the
composition of your resume if you choose this format.
Another advantage of the chronological format is that
it is the easiest of the two to write.
On the other hand, the functional format organizes your skills
and accomplishments into job task groupings that support
your stated career objective.
If you must pull together certain skills and accomplishments
from a variety of past experiences to show your
preparation for what you want to do in the future,
then the functional format is probably for you.
People who have been out of the workplace for several years
-- for example, those people who choose to stay
at home to raise a family while the children are young --
benefit greatly from this format.
It draws attention to what you did rather than when you did it.
Another advantage of this format is that it allows you greater
flexibility in presenting skills gained through personal
experience or low-paying or volunteer jobs.