Types of Resumes and When to Use Them

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Landing your dream job requires that you choose the type of resume that can best tell your story to a particular audience. 

There are different types of resumes that can help you increase your chances of getting an interview. Before selecting one, keep in mind that you’ll first need to think about:

• The type of job
• The kind of company you are addressing
• Your current situation
• Your intentions

Keep reading to find out about the different types of resume formats that are available. We’ve included a whole range of types of resume examples to assist you in creating your own.

Let’s begin with the 3 most widely used types of resumes!

List of Classic Types of Resumes

Many jobseekers tend to apply with one of the classical types of resumes because of their proven record. Most likely, they have landed a job with the help of one of them in the past. 

For first time job applicants, research often leads them to these common resume styles, as there is a lot of information and templates on the internet that focus on them. 

No matter what your case may be, it is well worth your time and effort to take a closer look at classical resume types. They are an effective way to present yourself, and they are still the most preferred by many employers.

For those who have little or no experience writing resumes, online resume builders are a great option to avoid common resume mistakes. They offer tips and guidance on how to write a resume and usually focus on the classical types of resume.

What is a chronological resume and when to use it

A chronological resume, also called reverse chronological resume, lists your professional experience beginning with the most recent position. 

Many employers prefer this type of resume over others because it allows them to see clearly how the applicant’s career has evolved. It is also ideal if you know that you’ll be applying through an applicant tracking system (ATS).

ATS are widely used on the internet. These systems search for keywords in your resume and serve as a prescreening. If your resume doesn’t pass the screening, a human being will most likely never see it.

Chronological resumes should contain the following elements:

• A brief summary of your experience
• Your employment history in detail*
• Your education (including certifications)
• A list of skills relevant to the position you’re applying for

*Don’t forget to include any promotions in this section. Check out this article on how to include your promotions in your resume.

You should use a chronological resume format in the following cases:

• If you have consistent work experience in a field
• If you have few or no gaps in your career path
• If you have worked for several companies in a particular sector

What is a functional resume and when to use it

A functional resume puts the spotlight on your skills instead of your career history. This type of resume is ideal for first time jobseekers or those who want to change careers.

A disadvantage of using functional resumes is that they aren’t very popular with recruiters. As the employment history section doesn’t include a lot of detail, some candidates use it to conceal their lack of experience or gaps.

The fact that education and experience, the most important information for employers, does not appear at the top of this type of resume also doesn’t help.

Include the following sections in a functional resume:

• A headline that helps identify your uniqueness and suitability
• A resume summary emphasizing career accomplishments and skills
• A brief employment history, avoiding position details*
• Education and certifications

*You might want to add shadowing hours to this section. It increases your chances with recruiters because it tells them that, although you lack real experience, you have a deep understanding of the position.

Use a functional resume if you fit into one of these cases:

• You’ve changed jobs or industry very often
• You have no experience in the position advertised
• You recently graduated
• You have significant gaps in your career history

What is a combination resume and when to use it

Combination resumes are a way for candidates to merge the advantages of chronological and functional resumes. They provide you with the opportunity to highlight your accomplishments and skills, but also dedicate enough space for employment history details.

This type of resume can be the ideal choice in many cases because it considers both sides’ interests. 

On the applicant’s side, they can shine by directing recruiters’ attention toward the successes and strengths that are relevant to the position. On the recruiter’s side, they get a chronological and detailed description of the candidate’s work experience.

Add these to your combination resume:

• A short, relevant summary of accomplishments 
• A list of related skills
• Work experience in detail
• Education and certificates

Combination resumes are ideal for the following situations:

• If you are a young professional with less than 3 years of experience
• If you want to change career or industry
• If you have very few or no gaps in your employment history
• If you are a recent graduate with only some relevant work experience
• If you’ve been out of work for a significant period of time

Other Types of Resumes

There are many more types of resumes that can help you in your job search. Before using any of the following, take some time to reflect upon your industry and occupation within it.

Ask yourself questions like, “is this the traditional way to present information to recruiters in my field?” But also consider if it is worth trying to break the rules a little to grab employers’ attention.

What is an online resume and when to use it

Nowadays, jobseekers in most fields are expected to have an online presence. The options to create this type of resume vary enormously in terms of time and resource investment.

Typically, online resumes have features that traditional paper resumes don’t. They can contain media files and links to portfolio samples and other documents.

Consider including these in your online resume:

• A short bio section describing your professional accomplishments
• Links to your publications
• References and testimonials
• Links to social media accounts that you want others to be aware of

Online resumes are useful in these cases:

• If you want to be contacted by recruiters without having to apply
• If you want to be associated with keywords related to your professional field
• If you want your network to be aware of your experience and skills

What is a visual resume and when to use it

A visual resume is unique for its use of design elements to show a candidate’s key qualifications, skills and experience. 

They are a sure way to stand out in recruitment processes, although it is recommended to check first if your field and industry are open to this way of presenting applicants’ career information.

If you’re a professional from a more traditional field such as finance or law, you might want to refrain from using this type of resume, as they aren’t very popular with recruiters in those areas. 

On the contrary, designers, marketers, and content creators can especially benefit from visual resumes, as they offer a great chance to show valuable skills for those jobs.

Here are some ideas of what to include in visual resumes:

• Infographics
• Illustrations
• A sample from your professional work portfolio
• Other elements such as border designs and attention-grabbing typography
• Any charts and timelines that might help understand the information more easily

A visual resume can help you in the following situations:

• If you are active in a creative field, such as graphic design, illustration, or photography
• If you want to show potential employers a particular set of creative skills
• If you’re sure that this type of resume is welcomed in your industry
• If you think challenging the resume type status quo could get you recruiters’ attention

What is a mini resume and when to use it

Mini resumes are a type of resume commonly used by jobseekers at job fairs or networking events. A mini resume should fit into the space of a business card or a notepad page at the most.

The goal of mini resumes is to give recruiters a quick overview of who you are and the kind of position you are looking for. Many jobseekers prefer to include both, a mini version of their resume, and a longer form resume. 

This way, recruiters can have all the information at hand if the mini resume grabs their interest.

Mini resumes should contain the following information:

• Your contact details
• The job title you’re aiming for
• A list of your most relevant skills
• A couple of bullet points summarizing your experience

Here is a list of circumstances when it might be helpful to use a visual resume:

• At job fairs
• At networking events
• By walk-in applications
• Industry conferences

What is a federal resume and when to use it

A federal resume is a resume drafted specifically for US federal government positions. They are somewhere between 4 and 6 pages long and must follow a certain set of rules. Not following them usually leads to automatic rejection.

You will need to pay special attention to resume elements like keywords and headlines. One peculiarity of federal resumes is that employment history is not listed in bullet points. Instead, you have to detail your experience in full sentences and paragraphs.

This type of resume must contain:

• The job announcement number, job title, and job name
• Your full mailing address, day and evening phone mumbers
• Your private email address
• Information about whether your current supervisor can be contacted
• Your country of citizenship if different from the US

The One Type of Resume That Will Make You Stand Out

As you’ve seen so far, there are different types of resume formats that are commonly used by jobseekers. Presently, there is a resume trend that you definitely should consider before applying for your next job.

For those prepared to make a relatively small investment, personal websites are the way to go. Rapidly growing in popularity in a wide range of professional fields, they are a sure way to impress recruiters. 

If you are a creative with digital graphic design skills and knowledge of content management systems, this is a great way to show companies what you are capable of.

Include the following in this type of resume:

• Those one or two things that you do better than most
• Testimonials and recommendations
• Examples of your work (if you are a creative)
• Images of yourself
• A blog about professional and personal interests

Use a personal website in the following cases:

• If you want to increase your career opportunities
• If you want to create a personal brand
• If you want recruiters to find you easily
• If you want to show companies that you are serious about your work

What Is the Most Effective Type of Resume?

And last but not least, let’s talk about the type of resume that has the best chances of landing you the job. From all the different styles of resumes, the targeted resume is the secret weapon amongst them.

This kind can be any one of the resumes we’ve described in this article. The difference with the rest is that you need to customize the content in a way that is most relevant to the employer.

Here is what makes targeted resumes so effective. They use the same language used in the job ad. All you need to do is to write down the keywords and use them in your resume.

This way, you will be speaking the same language as your potential employer. But remember to never lie in your resume. Don’t include anything in it that isn’t true. 

Not having the necessary skills for a job can get you in unpleasant difficulties that even may lead to legal consequences.

Knowing how to choose the right kind of resume for a specific job or industry is a skill all jobseekers should have. More visual types of resumes, such as website resumes, are expected in creative professions.

On the other hand, more traditional resumes are still the norm in fields like law or engineering. However, challenging industry habits could effectively get you the competitive advantage that you need to get the job. 

Check out our free online resume builder for further guidance. Simply select a template, fill in your details and customize it. It’s super easy to use.

And remember, the best type of resume is the one that gets you the job. Good luck!

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