Resumes
Types of Resumes
Chronological Format
- Traditional-style resume
- Experience and education in chronological sequence, starting with most recent
- Experience listed with job title, organization name, dates and description of job duties and responsibilities
Functional Format
- Focuses more on skills and job competencies
- Highlights accomplishments by function rather than work experience
- Often suggested for individuals who are pursuing a new career, reentering the workforce, or have work gaps
Combination/Hybrid Format
- Combines both chronological and functional resume formats
- Focuses less on job duties and more on accomplishments
- Experience section presented in reverse chronological order
Creative Format
- Infographic: Experiences and information presented in a statistical and visual format
- PowerPoint: Presenting data from resume with visual compliments
- Portfolio/Digital Resume: often designed as a website which can link to other creative work examples you have designed
- Video Resume: Information from your resume presented in video form
- Remember: The creative format is applicable to some fields, but not all. Consider the organization and type of position to which you are applying before submitting a creative format resume.
Resume Preparation
Use a resume prep exercise to think about who you are, your career goals and to help you organize your skills and experiences. Below are Resume DO’s and DON’Ts:
DO
- When possible, use metrics to quantify your experience.
- Focus on your career accomplishments and highlights.
- Proofread your resume for spelling and grammar and have someone else review your resume.
- Use content that it relevant to your job search in your resume.
- Use key words that are relevant in your industry.
DON’T
- Include personal pronouns (I.e., I, me, we)
- Abbreviate
- Include personal information, characteristics, photograph
Additional Resources
- NPRC provides 24/7 online support to work with a career coach through the Smarthinking tutoring service. You can submit a resume to be critiqued
- ResumeBuilder