When you are crafting your resume, you want it to show you are the ideal candidate for the position. While this can be simple if you have recently worked in a related job or field, those looking to make a change or who have recently graduated from college may find a traditional reverse chronological resume is not well-suited for the task.
Luckily, there is an alternative to the reverse chronological format: the skills-based, or functional, resume.
A skills-based resume is designed to highlight your most transferable skills and experience, allowing you to focus on your assets instead of your work history (though this is still included). It is a trickier format to use, and not all hiring managers appreciate these submissions, but this approach can be necessary if your work history does not do you justice.
If you are interested in creating a skills-based resume, here are some tips for getting it right.
Lead With Your Contact Information and Professional Summary
The start of a skills-based resume should resemble the same format as a reverse chronological one. Begin with your contact information and follow that segment with a professional summary. Use the summary to draw attention to your relevant career highlights and transferable skills, as this will entice the hiring manager to keep reading. Just make sure the content allows you to truly shine while remaining concise.
Present Relevant Skills
Begin by reviewing the job description to determine which skills are considered priorities by the company. Then, decide which of your core competencies best fit that description. Finally, identify a corresponding accomplishment that speaks to that skill, crafting the content as a bullet point.
In this section, you want to concentrate on achievements and results, quantifying the information when possible. This allows your skills to stand out, which is the ultimate goal of a functional resume.
Work History and Education
Since your previous employment experience is not necessarily relevant to the role you are hoping to land, keep this section brief. Avoid using bullet points and instead just touch on the basics, like company names, job titles, dates of employment and the workplace’s location. Follow this with a brief overview of your education, including the institution’s name and any degrees obtained.
Recent graduates may want to reverse the order of these two sections, leading with their education and following it with their work history, as their education is likely more relevant if the degree directly relates to the target job.
Extras
Other information, like certifications and affiliations with relevant professional organizations, can also be helpful to include, particularly if they apply to the role. Further, community involvement should be included if the target company participates in similar activities, as will demonstrate a potential cultural fit.
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