One of your most important self-marketing tools is your technical resume. Your resume is your Self promotional Catalogue. It showcases your experience and accomplishments for potential employers and your strategy should be to emphasize experience and skills that employers you're interested in are looking for.
Three major resume formats exist for you to choose from.Each possesses benefits and drawbacks. Your personal situation should determine which format you select. The Chronological format is the most common resume style, and the one that most employers prefer. If there are no valid reasons for not using it, then select the Chronological format.
The Chronological ResumeThis traditional style resume lists your professional experience chronologically, with your most recent position listed first. In the Chronological format, the emphasis is on employment experience. Most employers are familiar with and prefer this format. BUT if you recently graduated, have held jobs with no relevance to the technical positions you're currently looking for, or you're re-entering the workforce after a long absence, then the Chronological resume will emphasize your lack of experience. In these cases you should consider the Functional resume format.
The Functional ResumeThis format emphasizes your skills and achievements instead of your work history. If your work history is minimal, has gaps, you're a self taught programmer or web designer, or you're changing fields then the functional format will focus attention on your skills and any relevant experience, including your educational experiences. Your job history is avoided completely or very briefly summarized at the beginning of the resume.
The Combination ResumeThis format is primarily a Functional resume with a short chronological order job history. Relevant skills and accomplishments are provided first; then followed by your employment history. This format has been gaining in popularity, but the chronological resume still ranks as the employer's favorite.
Few Resume Writing Tips- Keep it brief and concise.
- Emphasize specific skills and achievements
- Use standard page margins and fonts.
- Eliminate unnecessary resume details.
- Check your resume for proper grammar and correct spelling
- With each viewing and edit your resume becomes more polished and becomes more successful at its purpose- bringing you to employers' attention.
