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Below is a list of the three main résumé types, each with pros and cons for each one.

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Chronological or reverse chronological

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Description

Pros

Cons

  • Lists your experience starting with your oldest first (chronological) or most recent first (reverse chronological) and working backward indicating dates, location, and employers associated with each

  • Most common format

 

  • Easy to read by giving a clear summary of each individual experience

  • Many employers prefer this format as your experiences are clearly listed chronologically, with job titles and dates 

  • Easiest format for ATS to scan

  • Requires you to present information chronologically rather than highlighting your most relevant experience first

  • Calls attention to employment gaps or lack of relevant work experience

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Description

Pros

Cons

  • Emphasizes your skills, abilities and accomplishments rather than chronological work history

  • Skills and experience relevant to the target role are organized into skill areas (e.g. Communication Skills, Research Skills)

  • Experience bullet points included underneath each skill refer to the work context but are not connected to a specific employer or dates of employment

  • Emphasizes your relevant skills rather than job titles, helping to connect the dots between your experience and what the employer is looking for 

  • Can be time-consuming to customize if targeting to a variety of different roles

  • Not ATS-friendly

  • Not typically preferred by employers as layout can be confusing (e.g., may be difficult to connect which skills you developed in which jobs or experiences)

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Description

Pros

Cons

  •  A combination of the chronological and functional résumé format

  • Emphasizes both your career path and the skills you’ve developed

  • Experiences of a similar type can be grouped under customized headings of your choosing

  • Under each heading, experiences are listed in reverse chronological format

  • Flexible format allows you to organize and group relevant experiences under customized headings

  

  • Can be lengthy (e.g., more headings)

  • Can be repetitive particularly if you’ve had multiple experiences that are similar in nature, unless care is taken to differentiate between roles and experiences

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References

Chiu, G (2013, January 14) Resume 101/Part Two/Resume Formats. Simon Fraser University. https://olc.sfu.ca/blog/resume-101-part-two-resume-formats 

University of Victora (n.d.) Build your résumé. University of Victoriahttps://www.uvic.ca/career-services/find-work/apply-for-jobs/resume-examples/index.php