There are several methods of presenting a resume, depending upon the job opening and its requirements. The traditional method which is widely accepted is the chronological resume that lists down the job experience as well as skills in a chronological order. Another style of writing resume is the functional resume that focuses on individual skills and attributes rather than work history. The skills in such a resume are listed in their order of importance rather than their occurrence.

Who benefits from a Functional Resume?

A functional resume is usually recommended for those who want to highlight their skills and not their work history; this includes those with gaps in their job history or students of liberal arts such as History and Psychology wherein attributes and accomplishments are more important. Those aiming for a career change too can utilize a functional resume to their advantage as they can mention previous accomplishments and attributes that are relevant for the new job. In scenarios where your most recent job placement does not hold relevance to your new job, a functional resume can be utilized.

Writing a Functional Resume

Even though functional resumes do not follow a strict pattern, here are a few guidelines that can help you write a winning resume;

 

  •          Write your full name, address, phone number and email address. This information may be aligned in the center or at the left of the resume. This is your main heading therefore it should be in bold and the font size should be 14 or 16.
  •          The next will be a short Summary that provides a short description of yourself and your skills. It is important to note that a summary is not your ‘objective’.
  •          You may now write down the Objective, it should be a single statement emphasizing on what position you are seeking and why you should be considered for the job.
  •          Experience and Accomplishments should be written next. Since it is a functional resume you may begin by listing the most important skill first, the one that is an important job requirement. You can continue listing skills according to their relevance. With every set of skills provide short bullet points that explain your achievements and accomplishments, pertaining to the skills listed
  •          Employment History can be listed next with the most recent first and continue backwards.
  •          Academics are listed next. Avoid dates; start with your highest degree. Remember to list academic honors and leave out the school information if you have gained college education
  •          List any job related certifications and licenses.

 

Remember, functional resumes are open to explore, therefore make maximum use of your creativity and design a resume that speaks volume about your achievements, accomplishments, skills and attributes.