Below is a brief description of four different types of formats commonly used by job seekers.
Chronological Resume
This resume format is where your information is organized by dates with the most recent position and working back 10-15 years of work experience. This stresses the positions you held and the schools where you worked.
Recruiters and hiring principals tend to like this resume format. It’s easy to read and demonstrates job seekers’ continuous career growth. This format is used when the individual has steady advancement, no employment gaps, and is applying for the same work line.
Functional Resume
One of the worst types of resume formats is the functional resume. It’s organized with sections of relevant skills or functions. These career accomplishments are near the beginning of the resume, rather than with past jobs. The record of employment is listed but without responsibilities.
In this type of resume format, it is easier to disguise any employment gaps or the lack of experience. For this reason, functional resumes are often used for career changers and new teachers / recent graduates.
Although this type of resume is great for highlighting your best skills and accomplishments, school principals tend to like this resume format less as they can tell the writer is often trying to hide something.
Combination Resume
This format mixes the above formats. Information is organized into relevant skills and functions, followed by job titles, schools, and a brief description of responsibilities. The combination resume format is very well received by hiring authorities. This powerful presentation shows relevant skills and accomplishments initially but is later supported by the strong employment section.
Curriculum Vitae
A curriculum vitae is used most often when applying to higher education positions. A curriculum vitae is an incredibly detailed document. It lists employment, volunteer, and education information and any courses, training, publications, presentations, and any other useful information. A curriculum vitae can end up being as long as ten pages depending on the applicant.
Standard Resume Outline
Keep personal information at the top of your resume, including name, address, telephone number, cell phone, fax, and email address.
After your contact and other identifying information comes to the objective statement describing the type of job or teaching career desired. This is not mandatory, but the resume and cover letter should focus on the position and skills required with or without it.
Definitely avoid clichés and meaningless sentences or resume objectives.
Example: “challenging full-time position that will be rewarding and offer room for advancement.”
The remainder of the document depends on the resume format chosen. Education or employment is placed in order of the most relevant. Again professional judgment makes a difference. Various factors in background and experience determine the choice.
Other information such as honors, affiliations, community work, and languages can be listed after education and employment.
Prune unnecessary words and proofread your resume numerous times before sending it out. Get someone else to assist in proofreading – you don’t want any typos.
Don’t let choosing the wrong resume format cost you your future job.
