Job Search Secrets: Chronological vs. Functional Resumes

There are always debates about resumes. How long should they be? How should they be organized? Should they be in plain font or bolded and bulleted?

Employers recently surveyed (2005) reported a distinct
preference for chronological resumes over their functional
counterparts. Often, resume experts suggest a functional
format that emphasizes skills, experiences, and
accomplishments and relegates sequential employment history
to a footnote. While employers are obviously interested in
what you have done in your working life, they also want to
know where and when you did it.

The skills and accomplishments of 20 years ago, however
impressive, are only questionably relevant to the workplace
of the 21st Century. Long before they schedule an interview,
they want to know where you last worked and for how long.
Frequent job changes are a red flag suggesting that you
might be a misfit, a problem, or you simply quit when
finding yourself in an uncomfortable position.

You can combine the best aspects of both by listing your
work history chronologically but including descriptive
language for each position that is based on a functional
model - concentrating on what specific activities you
performed and the quantitative results of your efforts. (And
keep it as short and meaty as possible, eschewing bold font
and bullets that scan poorly into the standard company
resume database.)