Reverse Chronological, Functional & Mixed Resume Formats
By Sue Campbell, 1st-Writer.com

When writing your resume, which format is better to follow: a reverse chronological format that lists your most recent positions and responsibilities in priority and in detail, a functional format that highlights your various areas of expertise without addressing where or when these responsibilities took place, or a mixed format that attempts to present relevant skills and experience in priority by presenting this information under the split headings of “Relevant Experience” and “Additional Employment History?”

For most job candidates, a reverse chronological format is the best choice. It provides the reader with a logical history of the job candidate's experience and achievements in a format that is easy to follow and reference. If written well, this format will also take advantage of the job candidate's areas of expertise and give the reader a full sense of what the job candidate has to offer.

For others, a functional format may be viewed as the best choice, particularly for those who have gaps in their employment, are reentering the job force after an extended absence, are targeting positions that are more in line with positions held in the distant past, or are changing careers and want to bring skills outside their applied titles to the forefront.

For example, an administrative assistant who wants to apply for marketing positions may choose a functional format as a way to bring his or her marketing skills to the forefront, while these skills may be less appreciated or undervalued when placed beneath the title of “Administrative Assistant.”

The problem with using a functional format is that potential employers are quite aware of why this format is used, and may look at a functional resume with some skepticism, initially, as they try to ascertain why a candidate chose to use this format.

Another alternative is a mixed format where a job candidate lists positions and responsibilities most relevant to the targeted position in priority, regardless of their over all chronological order, and includes a secondary heading of “Additional Employment History” at the end of the document to address additional, but less relevant, positions held. The problem with this format is that it can be confusing for the  reader, and it can create a sense of gaps in employment where none actually exist.

When we consider that the resume document is written for the benefit of the reader (potential employer or hiring manager), and that the average resume only receives an initial “reading” time of 15 seconds or less, any perceived value one may have in choosing a functional or mixed format may be lost in its actual application. Therefore, the majority of job candidates would be best served by using a reverse chronological resume. The reverse chronological format remains the format of choice by both job hunters and hiring managers.

(To see resumes in all the file formats used in an effective job search: word processed, PDF, HTML and ASCII files, see "Free Resume Examples.")

Reverse Chronological Resume

To bring specific skills or areas of expertise to the forefront, begin your reverse chronological resume with a strong professional summary section (see Resume Basics and examples of resumes).

A reverse chronological order of employment information begins with the most recent position, and moves backward in time in a reverse chronological format.

Most employers are only interested in that information which is most current (10-15 years of most recent experience) and most relevant to the position being targeted. Therefore, it’s only necessary to go into detail regarding the most recent positions. Older positions can be listed with less detail, with the knowledge that they can be discussed or addressed at greater length at the interview.

Example:

For job candidates who can show progressive growth within a single company, this growth can be illustrated in the reverse chronological format by beginning with the company name, followed by individual titles, dates and responsibilities held within the single company, in a reverse chronological format.

Example:

Whichever order of listing you choose (title or company name in priority), keep it consistent throughout the document.

You can bring skills relevant to the positions you’re targeting to the forefront of your individual job listings by listing them in priority and by using industry specific language. This is true even when targeting jobs that are outside your previous titles. For example, if you’re an administrative assistant wanting to target marketing positions, you can augment your actual title with the area of expertise you want to target and then list those applicable responsibilities early in your list of responsibility statements.

Example:

Education isn’t always listed in its order of historical occurrence, even in a reverse chronological resume. Where education is listed is determined by its ability to qualify you for the position you're targeting. If, for example, your educational achievements are your strongest qualifications for the position, then the education section would take priority over applied experience. However, if you have applied experience that is directly relevant and valuable to the position being targeted, even if your education is your most current achievement, it will usually take priority, as applied experience almost always holds preferential value.

What does this mean? It means that while your educational achievements may be important, and may even be a determining factor in your ability to secure the position (a job ad notes, for example, that a Bachelor of Science degree is required for consideration), a potential employer will likely be more interested in what you've done and where you’ve applied your skills in the past, and how your efforts and contributions impacted previous employers.

Consider, for example, that it’s extremely important for you to know that your dentist has the credentials and educational requirements necessary to practice dentistry, but that you may be more comforted to know that he or she has performed a specific procedure (successfully and with excellent results) many times in the past. Relevant past experience is the greatest indicator of future performance.

If you have little or no applied experience in your targeted industry, then educational achievements can and should take priority in the document. (See New Graduate.)

The basic order of information in a reverse chronological resume:

Name
Contact Information
Objective Statement (optional)
Summary of Qualifications
Professional Experience
Educational Achievements
Relevant Professional Associations (optional)

Functional Resume

A functional resume attempts to bring relevant skills and experience to the forefront of the resume document, with no explanation regarding where and when these skills and responsibilities took place.

Typical headings in a functional resume can include: Sales; Management; Project Leadership, Marketing; etc., with priority given to those headings that are most relevant to the position being targeted.

Following the functional headings, an employment history follows, but with little or no detail.

Example:

Within the functional headings above, the responsibilities and achievements listed could have taken place this year or ten years ago. It will be up to the interviewer to determine where and when these responsibilities took place.

The basic order of information in a functional resume:

Name
Contact Information
Objective Statement (optional)
Functional Headings (Marketing, Management, Project Leadership, etc.) in order of their value and relevance to the positions being targeted
Employment History (in reverse chronological format, with little or no detail)
Education
Relevant Professional Associations (optional)

Mixed Resume

A mixed resume attempts to bring more relevant history to the forefront by breaking the employment history in to two sections: “Relevant Career Background” and “Additional Employment History.” Each section follows a reverse chronological format, but with the relevant section of information taking priority. The first position listed under the "Relevant Career Background" may or may not be the candidate's current or most recent position.

Example:

RELEVANT CAREER BACKGROUND

EDUCATION (listed in priority if it's more relevant to the targeted positions)

ADDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

The basic order of information in a mixed format resume:

Name
Contact Information
Objective Statement (optional)
Summary of Qualifications
Relevant Career Background (beginning with the most recent relevant position)
Education (the priority given this section is determined by its qualification value)
Relevant Professional Associations (optional)
Additional Employment History (in reverse chronological format)