A comprehensive resume should detail your key traits and abilities as well as your work experience.
It should highlight the key achievements and accomplishments in the workplace.
Your resume should also include brief information about your academic qualifications as well as your interests. There are no one-size-fits-all resumes. If you need some inspiration to beef up your resume, check out four of the most popular templates below!
Chronological resumes
The chronological resume is probably one of the most common resume templates used today. It helps recruiters get a quick and thorough understanding of your most relevant and recent experiences.
This format is ideal for jobseekers who have had several years of experience in one industry. If you have worked for various companies in a particular industry, then this template would be useful in exhibiting your key skills and abilities.
Pen your own chronological resume
Your resume should include contact information as well as relevant employment history. Ensure that you incorporate the following in this order:
- Your name and contact information (mobile number, email, and social media platforms)
- A brief introduction about yourself
- Employment history in chronological order
- Educational history in chronological order
- Skills and interests
Try to keep your resume to one page and exclude all irrelevant job experiences as most recruiters do not spend any longer than a minute on one applicant.
Functional resumes
Unlike chronological resumes, a functional resume focuses on skills, qualifications and job experience. It also places emphasis on qualities and personality traits.
If you are a mother who has taken extended periods of time off work to care for your children or a jobseeker who is researching for opportunities outside of your industry, you might want to consider using a functional resume instead of a chronological one.
Craft a functional resume like a pro
There is no strict template for a functional resume. Regardless, make sure to include these details in the following sequence:
- Name and contact information
- A short summary of your qualifications
- Work experience
- Group your primary skills and abilities
- Document your academic qualifications
The trick to nailing a functional resume is choosing the right words that get your resume noticed. Research some of the keywords and specific qualities recruiters look out for and weave them into your resume.
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Combination resumes
The next format is a combination of chronological and functional resumes. Like a functional resume, a combination resume is ideal for jobseekers who have skills and abilities that are more relevant than employment history. Essentially, a combination resume exhibits what you can do, not what you have done.
However, a combination resume does not neglect employment history. Instead, it includes relevant employment history and also lists key skills and knowledge you have developed from them.
A template combination resume
While the combination resume is more flexible in nature, incorporate these important pieces of information:
- Name and contact information
- A brief summary of your skills and qualities
- Professional experience
- Education and credentials
Feel free to get creative with a combination resume!
Targeted resumes
The final resume format on our list is a targeted resume. This resume is customised based on the position you want and the industry you would like to enter. Not only will aligning your resume get you noticed but it would be easier for you to demonstrate that you are the perfect fit for the job. Click here to learn more about how aligning your resume can increase your chances of nailing a role.
Tailor your resume to impress recruiters
Like combination resumes, there is no fixed targeted resume format. Insert the following in a cohesive manner and your resume should be good to go:
- Name and contact details
- Summary of qualifications
- Professional experience
- Work history
- Education and training
Make sure all experiences and qualifications are related. For example, if you are thinking of applying for a role as a writer, include information about your written abilities as well as past projects you had to work on that involved a great deal of writing.
Or, consider crafting an online resume. Read on to find out how.