How to Pick the Best Resume Format in 2019 [+Examples]

How to Pick the Best Resume Format in 2019 +ExamplesHow to Pick the Best Resume Format in 2019 How to Choose a Resume Format in 2019In a nutshell, the purpose of your resume is to tell a (short) story about who you are, what youve done and what you can do.And your personal story better impress recruiters, otherwise, no job for you.Part of developing an effective resume is choosing the right format to tell your personal story. But very few people consider how to format a resume in a way that showcases their specific skills and experiences.Dont assume that one resume format fits all.In this guide, well give you some simple resume format tips that you can use to update and improve your resume. Heres what well coverThree main resume formatsHow to choose the best resume formatPros and cons of each format for resumesBest resume format for studentsThe 3 Main Resume FormatsChronological Resume FormatFunctional Resume FormatCombined Resume FormatNo, a resume is not a CV. And that means that t here is greater flexibility in choosing a format that best highlights your qualifications. Here are the three most common resume formats that recruiters expect to see.1. Reverse chronological resume formatThis is the bread and butter choice for most job seekers. Its also the most simple resume format and the one recruiters see the most, which can make a reverse chronological resume seem ordinary.With this resume format the work experience section receives the most emphasis, with items listed in order of most recent to oldest. The resume layout places the work experience section before skills and education.What to include in the chronological resume formatContact InformationResume SummaryProfessional TitleWork Experience (bulk of content)SkillsEducationAdditional sectionsCreate My Resume2. Functional Resume FormatThis resume format has also been called a skills-based resume format. It is the least popular format for a resume being used today. And a lot of recruiters arent familiar wi th this format because the emphasis does not fall on work experience. Instead, the layout devotes more space to skills that are relevant to the role being pursued.What to include in the functional resume formatContact InformationResume SummaryProfessional TitleSkills Summary (bulk of content)Additional SkillsWork ExperienceEducation3. Combination Resume FormatYou guessed it, this resume format combines the reverse chronological and functional resume formats. Call it the best of both worlds, or a happy medium, this format places equal emphasis on skills and work experience.Because you want to give plenty of attention to both, you may not have much room left for other sections, such as a resume summary, volunteer work, interests, etc.Resume Best-Practice ReminderMost recruiters want your entire resume to fit on one page, but a maximum of two pages is acceptable for those with an extensive work historyWhat to include in the combination resume formatContact InformationSkills Summary*Add itional Skills*Work Experience*Education*The layout for this type of resume is flexible, so you can choose the order of the skills and work experience section. But Additional Skills should always follow Skills Summary.How to Choose the Best Resume FormatNow that weve covered the different types of resume formats, its time to help you pick the right one for your circumstances.As already mentioned, you want to choose a resume format that is suited to your personal profile. Heres a small matrix for choosing a resume format based on your level of work experienceKeep in mind that work experience isnt the only factor to consider when selecting a format. You should also consider the position, company and industry that you are pursuing.Formatting is just one way that you tailor your resume to a specific job or company, and an eye-catching resume layout can your job application to stand out amidst hundreds of others. So, if you are applying for a job in a more creative industry, like marketi ng or design, then you probably dont want to use a traditional resume format.A reverse chronological resume format is good forPeople with all levels of work experiencePeople looking for a job in a field similar to their work experiencePeople without large gaps in their work historyPeople applying for a job in a more traditional industry (accounting, finance, engineering, etc.)A functional resume format is good forPeople with high levels of work experiencePeople making a career change to a field unrelated to their work experiencePeople with unusually large gaps in their work historyPeople applying to more creative or skills-based roles (design, computer programming, etc.)A combination resume format is good forPeople making a career change with skills or work experience that apply across industriesPeople with some employment gapsPeople with a diverse range of skills and experiencesPeople applying to either creative or traditional rolesYoull notice some overlap in the above description s for choosing a resume. The fact is that its hard to place an individual into one definitive category. To help you choose whats right for you, lets look at the pros and cons of each resume format.Pros and Cons of Different Resume Formats1) Reverse Chronological Resume FormatProsShows a clear career progression and highlights relevant experiencesFamiliar format to recruiters, making it easy for them to readSuited to applicant tracking software (ATS) that automatically extracts employment history Cons Accentuates any employment gaps you might haveLess creativeRequires a sufficient level of relevant work experienceConclusion The reverse chronological resume format is a classic. It is the vanilla of resumes, so people choosing this format should think hard about how to make their resume stand out using different layout elements. Still, this format is great if youve got plenty of work experience that you want to showcase.2) Functional Resume FormatProsHides gaps in employment historyHid es a lack of relevant work experience for career changersHighlights a diverse range of technical and soft skills Cons Can make you look inexperienced in terms of formal work experienceNot a familiar style for more traditional recruitersAutomated systems (E.g. ATS) have hard time extracting key resume sectionsConclusion A functional or skills-based resume format is not advised. Even for people in very creative industries, companies want to know whove you worked for in the past and what your contributions were. Furthermore, these creative jobs often require a portfolio, which is how you will provide tangible proof of your skills. For those who lack work experience or want to make a career change, the combination format is a better choice.3) Combination Resume FormatProsA more exciting format compared to reverse chronologicalFlexible to differing levels of experience and skillsHelps hide employment gaps Cons Leaves little room for educational experienceRequires a sufficient level of sk ills and experience in order to look completeDemands careful planning to avoid overlap or repeating information across the work experience and skills sectionsConclusion The combination resume format is great if you have plenty of skills and experience you can draw from when creating your resume. It will allow you to highlight a mix of both, but you will need to be strategic about where and how to list information. Also, if you are switching careers, this format will let you play up skills you have that are relevant in the industry where you wish to work.Sample Resume Format for StudentsAs youve probably guessed from the above descriptions, the reverse chronological resume is the best choice for students. Dont worry about a lack of work experience. Recruiters expect this.The reverse chronological format provides sufficient space for students to list educational experiences and extracurricular activities, such as involvement in student clubs or community organizations.For students or new graduates who have managed to work while studying, and have gained relevant skills through these experiences, the combination format can be a good choice.Students should resist the urge to develop a skills-based, functional resume since this format is not only less recognized by recruiters, it also requires an advanced skill set, which can only be gained over time.You can get inspiration from the following sample resume example for a student Choose My Student ResumeOther Resume Sample Format ConsiderationsRegardless of the resume format you choose, keep in mind that the layout of your resume should be such that it makes it easy for recruiters to extract key information about you. A proper layout with well-defined sections will make your resume more readable and help you get your message across.