Do Resume Formats Really Matter?
It seems incredible that in the real world only about twenty years ago, resumes were made on typewriters, and creating a resume was time-consuming and pretty much a pain in the neck. Later – not much later, actually – computers came on the scene, and the word processing software that went along with the computer made it so much easier to make a resume and to re-create a resume or cover letter with minimal effort. Then, as if that weren’t enough, those very intelligent software engineers out there developed better and more efficient programs to make building a resume even easier with built-in resume and cover letter templates, but one resume still looked pretty much like any other resume – at a glance, anyway. It was difficult to have an interviewer look at your resume and be able to remember what was written on it just by taking a quick glance at the resume format. That is because there was really only one standard resume format – the chronological, or traditional, resume format.
Nowadays, however, you can do more to improve the readability and uniqueness of your resume by choosing one (or more) of several different resume formats. Samples of resumes and cover letters can be found all over the Internet, and just about every college and university counselling department has a section devoted to showcasing the attributes of the different resume formats that are available today.
Although there are about five or six “standard” resume styles now, any combination of them is really acceptable. You can choose elements from the typical chronological resume format, the newer functional format, the amplified resume structure, and create your own unique resume template. Or, you can go online or purchase a resume formatting software package that will allow you to experiment with various styles and mix and match features of each.
Whatever resume format you decide to use, it is most important to remember that hiring managers often see dozens of resumes for the same position. They are human, and they need a break from the ordinary once in a while, and they also need to be able to read your resume easily and efficiently. Be brief and to the point. Make your case, and do it with a memorable and useful resume format.