Career Changers: Avoid Functional Resumes
Another career change resume came across my desk today, and the job seeker used a functional format…as usual.
Career changers seem to be lured in by the potential benefits of a functional resume, which focuses on relevant skills and downplays employment history. The attraction makes perfect sense, but the problem is that employers often don’t like functional resumes. In fact, this style has been used for so long to hide undesirable aspects of a person’s work history (job-hopping, gaps, career change, incarceration?), that hiring managers may assume there’s a problem as soon as they see a functional resume.
Not a good way to make a positive first impression: “What’s the matter with this guy?”
I’m not saying that a functional resume could never work. But I do think that most career changers have sufficient transferable skills and accomplishments that can be highlighted by using a combination resume format. This style provides the best of both worlds — the inclusion of a qualifications summary and key skills, plus the reverse chronological work history that employers like to see.
If you’re changing careers and trying to decide on the best resume format for you, consider a combination resume. And please, avoid a functional resume unless you have a highly thought-out strategy or are using the services of a talented professional resume writer.
By Kim Isaacs and courtesy of ResumePower blog.
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