Resume
Purpose
A resume is a self-marketing tool. It is designed with one purpose in mind – to “sell” your skills, knowledge, and experience to an employer so that he/she will invite you for an interview. An effective resume speaks to the employer’s needs and requirements and demonstrates a match between what you have to offer and those requirements. It stimulates interest in you by summarizing information: unique qualities, well developed skills, relevant work or academic experiences, or accomplishments that clearly differentiates you from the competition.
It needs to demonstrate:
- That you are employable
- How you meet the job and the organization’s requirements
- That you have the right qualifications and education
- That you have the right experience and skills
- That you have the right level of professionalism for the job
Types of Resumes
1.The Chronological Resume
The most traditional way to organize a resume is chronologically. It lists work experience or education in reverse chronological order.Describes responsibilities and accomplishments associated with each job or educational experience.
When in Use
- When last employer is well known highly respected.
- When job history shows progressively more responsible positions.
- You are applying to a traditional organization.
When not to Use
- When jobs has been changed frequently.
- When you are changing your career goals.
- You have been away from the job market for sometime.
- You are applying for your first job.
2. The Functional Resume
In functional resume you emphasized your areas of competence by organizing around a list of accomplishments and then identifying tour employers and academic experience in subordinate sections.
When in Use
- You want to emphasize capabilities not used in recent jobs.
- You are changing careers.
- You are entering the job market for the first time or are re-entering after an absence.
- Your past career progression has been disappointing.
- You have held a variety of unrelated jobs.
- Your work has been of a freelance or temporary nature.
When not to use
- You want to emphasize your career progress.
- You have performed a limited number of functions.
- Your most recent employers are well known and prestigious.
- You are applying to a traditional organizing.
3. The Targeted Resume
A targeted resume is organized to focus attention on what you can do for a particular employer in a particular position.Immediately after stating your career objective,you list any capabilities that pertain to it.
What in Use
- You are very clear about you job target.
- You have several career objectives and want a separate resume for each.
- You want to emphasize capabilities that you may not have performed for a regular employer.
What not in use
- You want to use one resume for several applications.
- You are not clear about your capabilities or accomplishments.
- You are just starting your career and have little experience.