Whether you just recently finished school or have been the working world for quite some time, when it comes to finding a job, having an updated resume ready to send out to potential employers is a necessity. When all is said and done, your resume should be:

• A clear, concise and factual presentation of your experience and credentials
• Focused on your employment history, accomplishments, education, strengths and goals
• A valuable self-marketing tool
• Your introduction to a potential employer
• Brief, easy to read, and grammatically well-constructed

Resumes may be written in a variety of formats. This article provides brief descriptions of several formats, plus tips on writing a cover letter. Remember that the purpose of the cover letter is to get a potential employer to review your resume. The purpose of the resume is to get a job interview, and the purpose of the job interview is to get a job offer.

Chronological resume format

The chronological resume format presents work experience and education in chronological order, typically with the most recent dates first, also known as reverse chronological order. The main categories of the resume include Work Experience, Education, Professional Affiliations, and Awards. This format is generally used by candidates applying for jobs in “traditional” organizations or for those who are staying in the same field. You might consider using this type of resume when your job history reflects growth, when your previous employment has been with a prestigious employer and you want to emphasize that work experience, or when readers might be impressed with a prior job title. On the other hand, this type of format may not be the best if your job history is irregular, you are changing careers, you have changed employment frequently, or you have little employment history.

Functional resume format

Functional resumes are designed to help highlight your specific skills and accomplishments that you’ve been demonstrated through specific work-related performance. Note that your skills do not necessarily have to be presented in the order in which they were accomplished. You can list them by order of importance as they relate to the job you’re applying for. Key categories of the functional resume include: Technical Abilities (skills), Work History, Education, and Professional Affiliations. This format works best if you: 1) want to change careers; 2) are returning to the job market after a long absence; 3) if your career growth hasn’t been noteworthy; or 4) if you believe extended work experience is not needed or desired for the job. You should avoid the functional resume format in traditional fields such as teaching or government or when you need to demonstrate continuous growth in responsibilities.

Combination Chronological/Functional resume format

This combination format is used increasingly by candidates to highlight special accomplishments while presenting employment history in chronological order. This format also seems to be popular with employment offices. Major categories include Professional Objectives, Education, Honors, Work Experience, and Summary.

Targeted resume format

If your job goal is clear, the targeted resume format helps place the focus on the specific position you are seeking. Major categories are: Job Target, Capabilities, Achievements, Work Experience, and Education. Keep in mind however that since this type of format is focused on one career field, it may not be the best fit if you’re exploring multiple job options and don’t have time to develop more than one resume.

Curriculum Vitae format

Last but not least, the curriculum vitae format is used for academic positions. Keeping the resume brief for business type employment doesn’t necessarily mean you have to do so when applying in academic circles. A curriculum vitae should include all published works, presentations made at professional meetings, awards, professional achievements, and more detail about educational studies.

Writing the Cover Letter

As mentioned earlier, the cover letter should entice the potential employer to read your resume. The letter serves as your introduction to the company and should emphasize or underscore points that you may or may not have covered in your resume. Remember to keep the letter brief and informative, plus consider the following:

1. Explain why you are writing to the organization. If at all possible, the letter should be addressed to a specific person, such as the Vice President of Marketing, the Chief Information Officer, the Human Resources Director, etc. Include the person’s full name and title and be sure the person’s name is spelled correctly.

2. If you’re responding to an advertisement, give the date of the ad, the publication in which the ad was run, and the title of the position. Analyze your skills and make every effort to match your skills with those emphasized in the ad.

3. Let’s say you’re sending an unsolicited resume. All the more reason to explore the goals of the organization, its regular and continuing job needs, and the climate of the organization to help you match your accomplishments with the organization’s goals and objectives.

4. Finally, indicate a desire to arrange a time for an interview and state that you will telephone to request a time for an appointment.