There are 3 basic resume formats: chronological, functional, and combination. In addition, there is an academic resume or curriculum vita. The type you choose depends on your background and the type of position you are seeking. Choose the one that puts your skills and abilities in the best light.

Chronological
This format lists your jobs or experiences in reverse chronological order with your most recent position detailed first. If you choose this format, give your job title, employer’s name and location, and dates employed. Under each, list your duties and achievements in short, but catchy, bulleted phrases. This format is very easy to read and understand. Use this format when your experiences are strong and relevant to your job objective and/or to show career growth if you are staying in the same field. It highlights your job titles and employers. However, if you don’t have much experience or if you have lots of gaps in your job history, you may want to choose another format. Example(.pdf)

Functional
This format organizes information under functional headings that highlight your areas of strength. Generally, the headings are transferable skills, such as “Leadership,” “Programming,” or “Administrative” (see Functional Headings (.pdf)  for more). In this format, dates, job titles, and work history are de-emphasized and capabilities and transferable skills are accentuated. Draw upon ALL your experiences (employment, volunteer work, extracurricular activities, and coursework) to illustrate your abilities. While this format may take more time and thought to prepare, it may be more effective if you have limited experiences or many gaps in your work history. Example(.pdf)

Combination
This format uses elements of both the chronological and functional formats. It allows you to include both a section about prior work experiences and a section on your functional and transferable skills. This is a good choice for recent graduates with some job experience and career changers. Example(.pdf)

Academic
An academic resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV) is a special type of resume traditionally used within the academic community (educational institutions, institutes, and research associations). Some typical instances when a CV or academic resume would be used are in application to a graduate program, in submission for advancement within an existing position in academia, to outline professional credentials in application to a grant/fellowship, research assignment or sabbatical, or in application to a position at a different academic institution. The CV is traditionally longer and more detailed than a regular resume and lists degrees earned, teaching and research experience, publications, presentations, professional memberships/involvements, conference attendance, and other related information. Example(.pdf)

• More about Academic resumes can be found in the Graduate School section of this site.