Which Type of Resume Should I Use?

There are generally two types of resumes you can use to highlight your employment and educational history.

Chronological resumes

This is the most commonly used format. In this format, you list your work history starting with the most recent job, and list all employment for up to the last 10 years. This is a good option if you have worked several years on one career path (for example, if you have always worked as a cook or computer programmer), have worked in one industry (always in food service, restaurants, or the tech industry), or you have minimal or no gaps between jobs.

Functional resumes

In this format, you will highlight your skills and abilities instead of your work history. This style is best if you have gaps in employment, have little employment history, have no experience in the field you are applying for, or you have held jobs in different fields. It tells the employer the story of all the talents you could bring to their organization. This is where the KSAs (knowledge, skills, and abilities) you possess can be listed to help in your employment search.