Things about Resume Formats You Didn’t Know about

Crafting your own application document is a rather tedious and challenging task. It requires a lot of time and effort. And still, you can be stuck with your job searching process trying to land the job of your dreams while applying all resume tips you find.

What is the best resume format? How to make your resume perfect and job-winning? Today, we are going to talk about the things you didn’t know about resume formats to help you outshine the competition and give your career the direction it deserves.

You Don’t Have Much Time

Firstly, let’s talk about the main reason why you need to improve your application and why simple resume format in Word isn’t enough to grab the eyes of prospective recruiters.

An online job-matching platform, TheLadders, have the answer. According to their research, employers spend between five and seven seconds reviewing each resume. Here are the parts of the documents which attract their attention the most during these few seconds: name, present title and company, previous title and company, job start and end dates, and education.

So, if you fail to impress the hiring manager within this time frame, you won’t have another chance. Even the best resumes can end up in the “no” pile because of the incorrect resume format. Choose wisely what you put on your document and how you format it so that you don’t lose the opportunity to land your dream job.

The Chronological Resume Format

This is probably the most popular format of application documents and the most familiar one. Although it is so widespread, it certainly doesn’t mean you need to stick to it.

This resume format may be the right choice for job seekers who are looking for a position in the industry where they have consistent work experience. In case your recent record of progress isn’t relevant to the position you’re applying for, don’t opt for a chronological resume.

If you have employment gaps, little or no work experience, or if you have experience in another field, avoid this resume format and select a different one.

Bear in mind that the format of your application document should showcase your research and organizational skills.

Are you sure your resume format is suitable? Don’t stick to the easiest path by using a Word template. Entry level sample resume format often doesn’t have great final results because the content wouldn’t be visible in the most efficient manner. Instead, use infographic resume writing service if you value creativity and want your application to stand out.

The Functional Resume Format

This type, on the other hand, is more suitable for job hunters who feel the need to attract the HR manager with their accomplishments, experiences, or skill set.

It doesn’t focus on your previous work experience or the dates of employment, which is useful if you have employment gaps or if you are a job hopper. Consider choosing the functional type of application document in case you are a recent graduate with little experience, if you are searching for a job after an employment gap, or if you are an entry-level job hunter.

The Combination Resume Format

This type of resume format works best for people who are changing careers and want to highlight their transferable skills and abilities or those who can’t land a job using their chronological resume for a long time.

How to Format a Resume

Nowadays, most of the HR departments use resume scanners and artificial intelligence to sort out applications. This fact is not very common among job seekers, yet it can be the reason why you keep on being rejected.

Remember to add keywords to the document to emphasize your qualities and skills. There are several online tools that offer hundreds of keywords and phrases suitable for every job profile.

Avoid sending the final document in PDF format as resume scanners don’t read them. Send your resume in a Word document or create an online resume that will be available for recruiters around the clock.

In other words, there is no perfect way of how to format a resume. Each job seeker can create more than one type of resume during their job searching process to see which type works best for them and eventually helps to find the desired position. Also, you may sometimes see the type of format the company is willing to get in the job description, so make sure you read it thoroughly.

Stick to the usual format, usual fonts, and standard types of application documents. Remember that your resume is a static document that can’t be changed after you’ve submitted it, so rather be conservative and leave the more creative part of your personality for the job interview.

By Carol James
Carol James