List in reverse chronological order your employment history, including the positions, companies, locations, dates, duties and skills demonstrated or acquired. You may choose to use active, descriptive sentences or bullet lists, but be consistent. Emphasize responsibilities that involved budgets, teamwork, supervision, and customer service when applying for positions in business and industry, but don’t let emphasis become exaggeration. This document represents you in your absence, and if information is false, at a minimum you could lose your job. Figure 13.10 Sample Work Experience
|
Type |
Function |
Advantage |
Disadvantage |
|
1. Reverse Chronological |
Reverse chronological résumés (also called reverse time order) focus on work history. |
Demonstrates a consistent work history |
It may be difficult to highlights skills and experience. |
|
2. Functional |
Functional résumés (also called competency-based résumés) focus on skills. |
Demonstrates skills that can clearly link to job functions or duties |
It is often associated with people who have gaps in their employment history. |
|
3. Combination |
A combination résumé lists your skills and experience first, then employment history and education. |
Highlights the skills you have that are relevant to the job and provides a reverse chronological work history |
Some employers prefer a reverse chronological order. |
|
4. Targeted |
A targeted résumé is a custom document that specifically highlights the experience and skills that are relevant to the job. |
Points out to the reader how your qualifications and experience clearly match the job duties |
Custom documents take additional time, preparation, analysis of the job announcement, and may not fit the established guidelines. |
|
5. Scannable |
A scannable résumé is specifically formatted to be read by a scanner and converted to digital information. |
Increasingly used to facilitate search and retrieval, and to reduce physical storage costs |
Scanners may not read the résumé correctly. |
You may choose to include references at the end of your résumé, though “references upon request” is common. You may also be tempted to extend your résumé to more than one page, but don’t exceed that limit unless the additional page will feature specific, relevant information that represents several years of work that directly relates to the position. The person reading your résumé may be sifting through many applicants and will not spend time reading extra pages. Use the one-page format to put your best foot forward, remembering that you may never get a second chance to make a good first impression.
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