What Are The Different Types Of Resumes?

There are multiple types of resumes for different situations and work opportunities, and the one you choose can make or break your application. No matter if you have a lot of work experience or none, there’s a resume type you can use to apply and have a high chance of getting hired.

In this post, we’ll talk about the top resume types and what they’re great for, as well as how to choose the best template for you and some excellent tips for writing your document.

Chronological Resume

A chronological resume is one of the most common types of resume and also one of the easiest ones to write. If you don’t have a lot of work experience but you still want to create a professional and quality resume, then a chronological style is a great choice.

This resume type involves listing your education and experience from the most recent to the eldest, allowing recruiters to quickly read it and decide whether you’re a good fit for the role.

You can also include any relevant certifications or awards in chronological order as well.

Skills-Based Resume

A skills-based resume, or functional resume, focuses on highlighting your skills over your work experience. If you’re a student or an individual who has plenty of skills but not much work experience, this resume can help you land the position you’re applying to.

Skills-based resumes are ideal for graduates or people who are looking to make a career change and enter a different field. With this resume, you don’t need to worry much about dates or how much experience you’ve had in the past.

Volunteer programs, charities, and community events can be included in a functional resume.

Combination Resume

Combination resumes are a mix of chronological and skills-based resumes and are chosen to display a 360 look at a person’s work abilities, including their skills and experience.

If you want to choose this type of resume, beware of the extension of your document and the balance between your skills and abilities, and your work experience. This resume template is perfect for people with plenty of years of experience and skills acquired through their employment, as well as to show off their work continuity.

Combination resumes might not work as expected for people with big gaps in their work history.

Creative Resume

Creative resumes are also known as nontraditional resumes and are the ones that include images, infographics, or visually-appealing icons. This resume template is highly used across creative roles and openings in art-related jobs.

Depending on the industry and company you’re applying to you might need to double-check the resume guidelines just to be sure you’re able to use this type of document.

With this resume, you’re able to combine work samples with written information about your employment history, your skills, and a little bit about yourself.

Targeted Resume

Targeted resumes are designed specifically for the job you’re applying to, and contain only the most relevant information that can help you land the position. With this template, you need to write your personal statement every time you apply for a job to ensure it matches the job description.

The same applies to the information you add, such as your work experience, skills, abilities, and more. Add only what can be useful for that job application, and don’t stress if you don’t reach the end of the page, it is sometimes better to leave space than to fill it with useless facts.

Tips For Choosing A Resume Type & Assembling Your Document

When it comes to choosing the best resume type, the decision should be based on the kind of job you’re applying to, the amount of information you have, and your personality.

If you have a lot of skills and abilities but lack work experience, you might want to choose a skills-based resume or a creative resume, depending on the company. For those with plenty of work experience but not many “unique” skills, a chronological or targeted resume should work excellently.

As for assembling your document, there are a few tips we recommend you have in mind to create a professional and quality resume.

- Write short and precise sentences. Resumes are all about sharing information that is only relevant and is written in very few words. You have limited space in your resume, so use it wisely.

- Stick to writing one or two pages max. Unless you have 20+ years of experience in a field, your resume shouldn’t be longer than a page. If you have plenty of skills of relevant information you want to add, make sure to not overpass the two-page standard length.

- Proofread and edit. We cannot stress how important this step is, and how many people decide to skip it. Once you’re done writing your resume, spend time proofreading and editing details. You can also ask a friend or family member if they can read it if you spend many hours looking at it.

- Be honest. Lying or exaggerating facts will only come at you during an interview, so just be honest with your resume. Eventually, someone will hire you or give you the possibility to acquire work experience.

Final Words

In this post, we talked about the different types of resumes, choosing a resume type, and the best types for assembling your document.

When it comes to writing your resume, you should spend time gathering your information as well as writing it. Don’t rush to create your resume thus it can result in a poor-quality document that will prevent you from landing a job.

Also, don’t send your resume more than one time to the same company. This can make recruiters block your application from being read because you couldn’t be patient enough. Plus, sending your resume a million times will not get you hired, so please try to avoid it.

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