by Ann E. Smith

Created on: April 23, 2009

Are you currently in the process of updating your resume? If so, you may be wondering about which format to use. Which is the most effective: a chronological or professional resume? If written well, both can be effective.

First, what is the difference? A chronological resume is one that shows a person's career in chronological order. They show someone's background by listing the company where they worked, year's worked there and accomplishments at that job. Usually, they start with the most recent position and move backward.

A functional resume tends to focus more on various skill sets or functions. For example, there may be a heading called public relations assistant. There may be another heading called primary editor. Underneath those, various achievements are listed.

In the functional resume, there is less focus on a timeline. And, there is less emphasis on the companies where someone has worked.

Given this brief clarification on resume types, is the chronological or functional resume more effective? It really can depend on a number of factors.

Recruiters typically say that most decision makers for hiring still prefer chronological resumes, as they show a progression. People are used to hearing stories in chronological order. Books are usually written in that order. So it makes sense that the mind better grasps a resume in this order.

When someone looks through a chronological resume, they can also get a grasp of promotions, development and career progression. They also get an idea of how long a person worked at each position or company.

Chronological resumes are perceived as upfront, and they are the more traditional resume. If you have a well-constructed resume and a solid work history, you cannot go wrong with this type. You can still immediately draw attention to your major skill sets in the summary section at the top.

A functional resume tends to work well for people who change jobs frequently, or for those who only take contract positions. The reason being is that there is less attention brought to all of the job movement.

A functional resume can also work well for people in creative roles, in which there are many projects but some very strong skills. A functional resume can be set up so as to be more in line with a portfolio for these types of jobs.

You may want to prepare both types of resumes, and make a decision as which one to use based on the job to which you are applying. Both can be effective tools.

Remember that the resume is a tool that is aimed to get an employer's attention, and to get you in the door for an interview. No matter which format you choose to use, be sure to do a good job in presenting your skills and achievements.

Also make sure the document is well formatted and that it has been carefully proofed. These days, you do not want your resume to go over two pages either.

There are various online resources where you can see samples of both chronological and functional resumes. Do a bit of research, and find a format you like. If you put some effort in either type of resume, you should find it to be helpful to your job search.

Also be willing to make minor modifications to your final resume document. Reason being, it works well to perhaps move certain skill sets up in the pecking order for certain positions. You can use your resume as your base document, but just tweak it a bit during your job search process.

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