If you’re unsure about how to start writing your resume, you might want to consider looking for a blank resume form for free. Most websites offer templates of common resume formats used today. Before you start filling out the details of the free blank form, though, you should first understand how each format works.
Chronological format
People with impressive and consistent work history usually make use of the chronological format. This is because this resume format showcases exactly that: a strong and impressively long work history.
Most executives vying for a higher position use the chronological resume because it puts them on a higher plane compared to other applicants. However, if you have employment and educational gaps to hide, choose the functional or the combination resume format instead.
Functional format
Students applying for internships and housewives who have employment gaps to hide usually use the functional format because it highlights their skills as an applicant and totally forgets about their work history. The only downside to this resume format is that it’s been used a lot of times in the past, and studies show that it tends to make recruiters nervous.
Combination format
If you must highlight your skills as an applicant, don’t totally throw away the details of your work history. What you can do is use the combination resume which fuses the best parts of the earlier formats we’ve mentioned. The combination format allows you to mention your skills first as an applicant. It does, however, include a chronological list of your work background in the end. While it doesn’t completely hide the fact that you’ve been unemployed for a few years, it does “put your best foot forward” so to speak.
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