The right resume format will immediately grab the hiring manager's attention and make it clear that you're the best candidate for the job, while de-emphasizing aspects of your career that you'd rather not emphasize.
There are three basic types of professional resume formats:
- Chronological
- Functional
- combination
How to choose a resume format
Some resume formats will work better than others for your situation. For example, if you have agap in your resume, a history of job hopping or a career path that has taken some strange turns, afunctional resumemight be the best choice as it emphasizes skills over linear work experience.
On the other hand, if you have clear progress toward your current job posting, achronologicallyor combination resume might be the best option.
Your choice will depend on your career level, work experience, and work history. The job description can also make a difference. So be flexible when choosing a resume format.
note
If you create multiple versions of your resume, including onecomprehensive, a targeted and a short teaserCV gives you the flexibility to market your references quickly and easily.
Which resume format is best for you? We'll break down the benefits of each type and provide detailed resume layout examples to help you with your decision.
note
When formatting your resume, keep page length in mind. A page or two will suffice for most situations; three or more pages are relevant for senior positions, government positions, and academic positions.
Example and template for a chronological resume
The most common resume format is chronological (example below). It lists your work history in reverse chronological order, with your most recent work history listed at the top. You can also add a summary or a goal, and you should also include your education and credentials.
The benefit of this type of resume is that it shows a linear progression of your career. In other words, if you've focused on one type of career and want to show how you've progressed along that path, a chronological resume is the way to go. It is also standard for some types of jobs, such as B. Teaching or government positions.
You can create your own chronological CVDownload the chronological resume templatebelow (compatible with Google Docs and Microsoft Word) or see the example.
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Download the Word template
Example of a chronological CV (text version)
Jennifer Elliot
1890 Grant Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44109
555-123-1234
j.elliot@email.com
Career Summary
Analytical and detail-oriented legal professional, leveraging recent JD training and 6 years of law firm experience to excel as a Junior Associate Attorney in an established law firm. Well-versed in processes, rules and timelines in federal, state and local courts, with direct experience in commercial litigation and specialized training in e-discovery methodologies. Unmatched multi-tasking and time management skills, adept at managing large numbers of cases from initial client intake through all stages of discovery, drafting, pretrial, trial and appeal.
Experience
US District Court, Cleveland, OH
Legal trainee Intern, 2019-present
- Serveas Law Clerk to the Chief Justice of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.
- conduct legal research; Draft bank statements, statements and memos, carefully checking the accuracy of all citations.
- Communicate with attorney to confirm deadlines and resolve case management issues.
- Use advanced spoken and written Spanish as a court translator when warranted.
Hatchett, Garner and Winn Attorneys, Cleveland, OH
paralegal, 2013-2019
Skillfully managed caseload of approximately 70 ongoing cases for a national law firm specializing in commercial disputes. Scheduled and facilitated client interviews, conducted legal research, prepared documents and exhibits for the trial, and ensured timely filing of all briefs and court papers.
- Proactively earned the Certified E-Discovery Specialist certification from ACEDS.
- Researched, sourced and trained the firm's attorneys on the Symantec eDiscovery platform.
- Tasked by senior partners to create company records for reference during IT and cybersecurity audits.
- Served as Vice President of the Regional Paralegal Association (2014 to 2016).
education and credentials
Legal Physician (JD),2021
Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland, OH
Associate of Applied Business in Paralegal Legal Assistance, 2013
Rhodes State College, Lima, OH
Certified E-Discovery Specialist(ACEDS), 2017
Technical knowledge:Microsoft Office Suite, LexisNexis Concordance, Symantec eDiscovery Platform, Westlaw, MyCase Legal Practice Management Software, Clio und Photoshop.
Functional resume example and template
Functional resumes focus on skills. They are organized by different types of skills or experience rather than by chronological work history. Functional resumes are good for people with gaps in their careers or whose work history is not directly related to the job.
This type of resume lists your skills first. List the skill first, then go into more detail about that skill. Follow your skills with your education and work history.
You can create a functional resume byDownload the functional resume templatebelow (compatible with Google Docs and Microsoft Word) or by following the example.
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Example of a functional resume (text version)
Jennifer Elliot
1890 Grant Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44109
555-555-5555
j.elliot@email.com
Summary of Qualifications
Analytical and detail-oriented legal professional, using a recent JD training and 6 years of law firm experience to excel as a Junior Associate Attorney in an established law firm.
- Legal Matters: Well-versed in processes, rules and timelines in federal, state and local courts, with direct experience in commercial litigation and specialized training in e-discovery methodologies.
- Communication / Customer Relations: Excellent oral and written communication and legal drafting talents. Easily instills trust and confidence in clients stressed by challenging life events; treats private customer data with 100% confidentiality and integrity. Speak Spanish fluently.
- information management: Technical skills include Microsoft Office, LexisNexis Concordance, Symantec eDiscovery Platform, Westlaw, MyCase Legal Practice Management Software, Clio and Photoshop.
- main strengths: Finely tuned analytical skills with the aim of expanding professional knowledge and workplace competencies through continuous professional development. Unmatched multi-tasking and time management skills, adept at managing large numbers of cases from initial client intake through all stages of discovery, drafting, pretrial, trial and appeal.
education and credentials
Legal Physician (JD),2021
Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland, OH
Associate of Applied Business in Paralegal Legal Assistance, 2012R
Rhodes State College, Lima, OH
Certified E-Discovery Specialist(ACEDS), 2017
Experience
US District Court, Cleveland, OH
Legal trainee Intern, 2019-present
Serve as clerk to the Chief Justice of the US District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. conduct legal research; Draft bank statements, statements and memos, carefully checking the accuracy of all citations. Communicate with attorney to confirm deadlines and resolve case management issues.
- Use advanced oral and written Spanish skills as a court translator when warranted.
Hatchett, Garner and Winn Attorneys, Cleveland, OH
paralegal, 2013-2019
Skillfully managed caseload of approximately 70 ongoing cases for a national law firm specializing in commercial disputes. Scheduled and facilitated client interviews, conducted legal research, prepared documents and exhibits for the trial, and ensured timely filing of all briefs and court papers.
- Proactively earned the Certified E-Discovery Specialist certification from ACEDS.
- Researched, sourced and trained the firm's attorneys on the Symantec e-Discovery platform.
- Tasked by senior partners to create company records for reference during IT and cybersecurity audits.
- Served as Vice President of the Regional Paralegal Association (2015 to 2017).
Example of combined resume and template
Combined resumes are a mix of chronological and functional resume formats. They provide a chronological list of careers, but also have a section that focuses on different types of skills. This format shows employers both your skills and your experience. It is a good choice if you are changing careers or have a varied but steady work history.
With this type of resume, you would start with a section to show your skills. The next section would show your work experience followed by your education. You can also add a goal or summary at the beginning. You canDownload the combined resume template(compatible with Google Docs and Microsoft Word) or see the example below.
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Example of combined CV (text version)
Jennifer Elliot
1890 Grant Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44109
555-555-5555
j.elliot@email.com
Summary
Analytical and detail-oriented legal professional, using a recent JD training and 6 years of law firm experience to excel as a Junior Associate Attorney in an established law firm. Well-versed in processes, rules and timelines in federal, state and local courts, with direct experience in commercial litigation and specialized training in e-discovery methodologies. Unmatched multi-tasking and time management skills, adept at managing large numbers of cases from initial client intake through all stages of discovery, drafting, pretrial, trial and appeal.
Experience
E-Discovery
- Proactively earned the Certified E-Discovery Specialist certification from ACEDS.
- Researched, sourced and trained the firm's attorneys on the Symantec eDiscovery platform.
Technical knowledge
- Microsoft Office Suite, LexisNexis Concordance, Symantec eDiscovery Platform, Westlaw, MyCase Legal Practice Management Software, Clio und Photoshop.
Litigation and Records Management
- Skillfully managed caseload of approximately 70 ongoing cases for a national law firm specializing in commercial disputes. Scheduled and facilitated client interviews, prepared documents and exhibits for the trial, and ensured timely filing of all briefs and court papers.
- Tasked by senior partners to create company records for reference during IT and cybersecurity audits.
legal research
- As clerk to the Chief Justice of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, he conducted extensive legal research and carefully checked the accuracy of all citations.
communication and public relations
- Used advanced spoken and written Spanish as a court translator when warranted.
- Served as Vice President of the Regional Paralegal Association (2015 to 2017).
work history
paralegal,US District Court, Cleveland, OH, 2019-present
paralegal, Attorneys at Hatchett, Garner and Winn, Cleveland, OH, 2013-2019
education and credentials
Legal Physician (JD),2021
Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland, OH
Associate of Applied Business in Paralegal Legal Assistance, 2013
Rhodes State College, Lima, OH
Certified E-Discovery Specialist(ACEDS), 2017
Resume formats with headings and profiles
Studies have shown that recruiters spend mere seconds reviewing a resume before matching it to the "yes" or "no" pile and moving on.For this reason, many candidates choose to add a section highlighting their key skills at the beginning of their resume. There are several possibilities for this:
- Continued with heading:The resume headline (aka resume title) is a sentence that summarizes why you are an ideal candidate. It usually appears at the beginning of your resume. Headlines can be used by a variety of candidates to highlight their best qualities and experiences.
- CV with title and profile:Adding both a short headline and a profile allows the hiring manager to get even more information about you.
- Continued with summary explanation:Summary statement is a short paragraph or two along with a short list of your strongest qualifications for the job. It is also known as a summary of qualifications.
- Resume with branding statement:A branding statement is a short, catchy statement (usually 15 words or less) that shows what you have to offer a hiring company.
- Continue with goal: A resume objective is a one- to two-sentence description of who you are as a candidate and what you are looking for in a position. Some employers prefer a resume profile or summary over a resume objective, but it's up to you to decide which option is best. While goals used to be standard, today they vary depending on the industry and position you are applying for. A profile and/or summary serves the same purpose and is preferred by many hiring managers.
note
Employers want to hire candidates who are interested in their specific job posting, not just any position. Adjusting your resume every time will ensure that your resume is appropriately tailored.
How to format your resume
In addition to choosing a type of resume, you must also do thisChoose a font and font sizeand make style decisions (such as when to use bullets, bold, and italics). Choose a font that is legible and professional. Calibri, Times New Roman, Arial, and Tahoma are good fonts.
Keep the font size large enough to be legible. The body should be a 10-12 point font, but you can use a slightly larger font for headings.
It's also important to be consistent when choosing your style. For example, if you decide to list your experience, do so consistently. Once you've decided on a font, stick with it for the entirety of your resume.
Template for writing your own resume
Use the template below to generate the information you need to include on your resume. Next, you can revise your resume so that it is in the format you want. It may take a few drafts to get it right, and it's helpful to have someone check your resume for typos and other issues.
Keep in mind that this is just an example of a resume format. It's a starting point. You may add information not included here, including some of the introductory information listed above, and change the order of the resume as long as your contact information remains at the top.
Sample Resume Format
Your contact information
First and Last Name
Address
City, State, Zip Code
Telephone
E-Mail-Addresse
Career overview (optional)
This customized section of your resume lists key achievements, skills, attributes and experiences relevant to the position you are applying for and can serve two purposes. It highlights your relevant experience and lets the potential employer know that you've taken the time to create a resume that reflects who you arequalified for the specific position.
Experience
This section of your resume contains your work history. List the companies you have worked for, employment dates, the positions you have held, and a list of responsibilities and achievements.
Company no. 1
city-state
dates worked
job title
- Tasks / Achievements
- Tasks / Achievements
Company no. 2
city-state
dates worked
job title
- Tasks / Achievements
- Tasks / Achievements
Training
ImEducation sectionOn your resume, list the schools you attended, the degrees you obtained, and any special awards and honors you received.
college, graduation
awards, honors
capabilities
Include skills related to the job/profession you are applying for such as:computer skillsor language skills.
references
There is no need to include references on your resume or mention that references exist. Better separatereference listProvide to employers upon request.
The central theses
- The basic types of resume formats include chronological, combined, and functional resumes.
- Choose the best format for your personal and professional circumstances.
- Highlighting your most relevant skills at the top of your resume is a good strategy for showcasing your most important qualifications for a job.
- Creating multiple versions of your resume makes it quick and easy to market your credentials.