• One of the toughest decisions for a resume writer is to determine which resume style is best. There are a variety of styles, all of which can be effective in certain situations and under certain conditions. Knowing and understanding what these basic styles are can go a long way in helping you become a desirable job applicant.
  
  

The Chronological Style

• Often the most effective and professional resume style is the chronological. With this style your focus in on a consistent, comprehensive work history. The chronological resume lists, in reverse chronology, your work history for at least the last five years. This primary "Work History" category should include each position you have held, the name of the company, the dates of employment, and a brief description of duties. This main category can then be followed with an education section and special skills, but, again, it is the work history that is the focus. This style works best for applicants with long work histories in a specific field.
  
  

The Functional Style

• For applicants who are new to the job market or who have a diverse job history, the chronological style is not the best choice. If that is the case with you, a functional resume may be a good style. A functional resume draws attention not to a long work history, but on a set of skills or attributes that you can support through a variety of experiences. Categories such as "Educational Achievements," "Leadership Skills" and "Professional Development" would be appropriate. Under "Educational Achievements," you might list honors you were awarded or recognitions you earned while in school, such as scholarships or honor society memberships. Under "Leadership Skills," you would mention things such as "Chosen team captain of my track team," or "Appointed youth mentor at local church."
  
  

The Combination or Hybrid Style

• For the hybrid resume style, you would take elements of the previous two. This style can actually be the most effective because it couples work experience with specific skills you want to "show off" to a potential employer. With the combination style, the resume begins with skill categories such as those mentioned above. However, your resume would end with a brief list of jobs you have held over the past several years. Your "Work History" category would include the position, employer and dates, but you can eliminate the work duties since you will have already illustrated your various competencies in the skill categories.