Candidates usually sideline this process and choose a generic template to make their resume. If you wish to land a job and create a concrete impact on the recruiter, you need to think which resume format works best for you

A resume format can define the end results in terms of showcasing the skills, work profiles, and resume structure. Hence, you need to understand what resume format is best for you and choose carefully. However, if you feel that you cannot really choose a resume format or design it in a way that can grab the attention of recruiters, then seeking the help of firms like ARC Resumes can be a good idea. Experts at the above-mentioned firm are known to write resumes that can pass an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) search and attract recruiters’ attention to enhance an applicant’s professional identity.

That said, if you feel, you have the necessary skills to carry out this task all by yourself, then differently give it a go. However, it would be a good idea to go through this article to get additional information to make your resume a hit!

For instance, learning about the five tips that will help you understand the dynamics that involve in selecting the right resume format could be beneficial for you.

Types of resume format

There are three types of resume formats that professionals can choose to make a stellar resume. To choose one that is appropriate for your profile depending on your professional experience.

Let us understand the three types of resume format:

• Chronological format: It is the most common format among applicants as it displays a continuous career progression. It allows candidates to write their work profiles in reverse chronological order that focuses on their current and recent roles.
• Functional format: It allows candidates to focus on the relevant skills rather than creating a constructive career progression by using the reverse-chronological format. To use this format, you need to create a separate section named “summary of skills” and write points that are relevant to the target profile/industry.
• Hybrid format: It is a combination of functional and chronological format. In this format, you can add points in the professional experience section and create a separate section for “summary of skills” to write points relevant to the target profile.

Importance of a resume format

Recruiters receive a good number of unorganized and ill-structured resumes that are often not considered for the job. It is mainly because of the fact that recruiters spend nearly 6 seconds on a resume.

In today’s job market, the structure of your resume has to be top-notch and a resume format helps you achieve that.

It allows you to focus on the skills that are relevant to the job and display information in a manner that does not reduce the readability of your resume.

Best resume format for your profile

To utilize the numerous offerings of a resume format, you need to understand which one will suit your profile.

Depending on your professional experience, we have included pointers that will help you choose a resume format:

• You should use the reverse chronological format if you do not have a career gap. This format will help you create a constructive career timeline focusing on recent achievements.
• If you have a gap in your professional career, then you should use the functional format. Even if you do not have a continuous work history, this format will help in showcasing skills relevant to the target profile.
• A hybrid format is ideal for senior-level professionals as their resume cannot be restricted to one page. This format allows them to write selective statements in the professional experience section along with a “summary of skills” section where they can showcase their domain expertise.

Formatting your resume

The resume sections play an important role in organizing the structure of a resume. After choosing the right format, you need to make sure that the sections in your resume are placed properly with concise information.

Here is what the outline should look like:

• Header: It should have your name, contact information, and job title.
• Resume summary: It should be written in a paragraph form right below the header.
• Skills: You should simply write skills in this section and avoid paragraphs/bullet points.
• Professional experience: Write the company name, location, profile, and date of employment.
• Education/certifications: Add relevant education and certification details.

The sections mentioned above are called fundamental sections, it means that they are highly critical for your resume.

However, there are additional sections such as extra-curricular, training, workshop, publications, language, etc. These are called optional sections, but they can be equally important for your profile. For instance, if you are a researcher, then the “publications” section will be extremely important for you.

In addition to these, you can also attest a cover letter with your resume. As also mentioned by experts in the field such as Austin Belcak, a cover letter can significantly increase the odds of landing a job. This is because cover letters tend to extend the major points written on the resume and help highlight them appropriately.

Pass the application tracking system

Once you submit the resume to apply for a job, it is highly likely that it will go through the application tracking system.

ATS is a software application that helps organizations screen resume based on their relevance to the job profile, but there are still some older models of the ATS that can only parse traditional resume formats and texts.

Hence, you need to make sure that stick to the best practices. For instance, you cannot name the professional experience section as “my professional journey”. It is ideal that you use traditional names. Avoid adding tables, infographics, and pictures, to your resume. Further, use traditional fonts such as Times Roman, Calibri, Arial, etc.