Chronological - A chronological resume presents your education and work experience in a straightforward, reverse chronological order from most recent jobs to least. If the majority of your work experience is related to your stated job objective, the chronological style can be effective.

Functional - A functional resume differs from a chronological resume by concentrating on skills that you have used that relate to your stated objective rather than on the jobs you have had. A functional resume is particularly effective if your work experience has not been closely related to your job objective, if you are changing careers, or if you are seeking a promotion. In this format you elaborate on the skills necessary to perform the desired job and how you have demonstrated those same skills in different types of jobs.

Combination Chronological/Functional - The combination chronological/functional resume uses elements of both styles. The qualifications (areas of effectiveness) of the functional resume remain within specific job/experience descriptions. The jobs/experiences are then grouped and categorized to show the strengths in two to four categories. This resume format is effective if at least some of your experience is related to the job objective, and also when the job objective has more than one component and you have experience in these different components (e.g., technical and management; sales and organizational).

Scannable Resume - Scanning technology can be beneficial to you—if you understand the technology. The computer can search for just about anything in your resume. You could be qualified and considered for jobs you never thought of. Avoid unusual fonts, graphics, or shading (Times 10 point font can also be problematic).