In today’s fast-paced hiring landscape, 80% of resumes are rejected in just 11 seconds*—but you shouldn’t let that intimidate you. There are plenty of ways to optimize your resume so it won’t be overlooked. Here are three sample formats to help you prepare a resume that gets results.
Quick question: What is the purpose of a resume? If you answered to get a job, you’re wrong. A resume has a short life, and has one function only: To get you an interview for a job. Armed with that knowledge, you still might be tempted to put everything you ever did or tried on a resume and wonder why no one is calling you in. The dialogue of your accomplishments is for the interview, the resume should be the most elevator story version of your skills and education–enough to make them want to meet you and see if you are the fit they are looking for.
Make sense? Believe it or not, most people get this wrong and overwhelm the hiring manager with epic novels of how great they are. Try going through one hundred or in some cases, one thousand of those, to find one person… you’ll start to appreciate the brief, concise resume that get’s to the point and clearly matches the vacant job description.
The three resume samples below, can be copied and pasted into your favorite editing program. Keep it to one page when you’re done… seriously, even major heads of corporations use one page to tell their story. The details of each item are meant to be discussed later:
The resume is the first impression a potential employer will have about you, long before an interview or introduction is possible. It’s one of the best ways to showcase your unique skills and experience to employers, which is the first step to getting the interviews (and job) you want.
Here are 3 classic styles that can help you present yourself in the best light. Your Name should be the largest font of any other text on the resume:
1. The Functional Resume – Skills
First Name Last Name
City, State Zip Code • Phone Number
Email Address • LinkedIn URL
SKILLS & AWARDS
- XX
- XX
- XX
- XX
- XX
TRAINING & CERTIFICATES
- XX
- XX
- XX
EXPERIENCE
Role Title
Company Name, City, State
Month Year – Month Year (or Present)
- Responsibilities & achievements
- Responsibilities & achievements
- Responsibilities & achievements
Role Title
Company Name, City, State
Month Year – Month Year
- Responsibilities & achievements
- Responsibilities & achievements
- Responsibilities & achievements
EDUCATION
School Name, City, State
Type of Degree
Year Graduated
- GPA, Awards, Clubs, Distinctions, etc.
2. The Functional Resume – Education
First Name Last Name
City, State Zip Code • Phone Number
Email Address • LinkedIn URL
EDUCATION
School Name, City, State
Type of Degree
Year Graduated
- GPA, Awards, Clubs, Distinctions, etc
SKILLS & AWARDS
- XX
- XX
- XX
TRAINING & CERTIFICATES
- XX
- XX
- XX
EXPERIENCE
Role Title
Company Name, City, State
Month Year – Month Year (or Present)
- Responsibilities & achievements
- Responsibilities & achievements
- Responsibilities & achievements
Role Title
Company Name, City, State
Month Year – Month Year
- Responsibilities & achievements
- Responsibilities & achievements
- Responsibilities & achievements
3. The Chronological Resume
First Name Last Name
City, State Zip Code • Phone Number
Email Address • LinkedIn URL
EXPERIENCE
Role Title
Company Name, City, State
Month Year – Month Year (or Present)
● Responsibilities & achievements
● Responsibilities & achievements
● Responsibilities & achievements
Role Title
Company Name, City, State
Month Year – Month Year
● Responsibilities & achievements
● Responsibilities & achievements
● Responsibilities & achievements
Role Title
Company Name, City, State
Month Year – Month Year
● Responsibilities & achievements
● Responsibilities & achievements
● Responsibilities & achievements
EDUCATION
School Name, City, State
Type of Degree
SKILLS & AWARDS
● X, X, X
TRAINING & CERTIFICATES
● X, X, X