Did you know that recruiters prioritize, above all, soft skills or “soft skills” on 62% of occasions and that it takes an average of only 7 seconds to judge a resume? Therefore, with these data, we can understand that the curriculum vitae must be original, fresh and specific to your needs or to serve as a guide for recruiters.
Now, with the right examples, it will be easier for you to understand how to create a CV that increases your probability of success in upcoming interviews and in your new projects. In addition, you will differentiate which are the most used resume formats and how you should apply it to your personal case.
The 3 preferred formats
To adapt to the different formats, you must first know which are the most common and used formats:
Chronological: where experience is prioritized in the cv descending temporal order
Functional: where your skills are prioritized in the cv or abilities and last experience
Combined or mixed: It is a mixture of those mentioned above, where you can edit and adapt your personal case in the cv to the possibility that both offer you.
Knowing these three formats will make it easier for you to understand how to create a CV that increases your probability of success in future interviews and in your new projects. In addition, you will differentiate which are the most used resume formats and how you should apply it to your personal case.
chronological resume
The chronological curriculum, is based on writing your work experience temporarily in your curriculum vitae, that is, from the first thing you have done, to your latest experiences. In this way, recruiters will be able to know your history as an employee in a specific, orderly and clear way, with content that is not dense and that demonstrates your profession honestly.
It is one of the formats most used today by professionals with extensive experience, since they can highlight everything they have done and the interviewer or employer quickly accesses the most relevant information.
When to use this format in the CV?
Use a chronological resume format in the following cases:
You have a great academic record. To make it clear who you are and where you come from, the chronological format will be of vital use, since it will show in an orderly and clear way, what are the academic titles, training or courses you have and what your entire career has been.
You have extensive work experience. Perfect to show that you are constant and very determined. It is important to use this format in your curriculum vitae if you have a long history, since it can be very useful for the employer when it comes to trusting what type of worker you are.
You are a professional specialist in a specific field. If you are applying for a very specific position that you have been preparing for for years, it is important to show in a detailed order what has been the journey that has led you to want to apply for that job.
You have been in the same sector actively for many years. The chronological format in your curriculum vitae will help to express what have been the positions, experiences and learning that you have had in that company, detail all your work experience so that they can get to know you in the best way.
It is not recommended to use this format of curriculum vitae if any of the previous characteristics are not met, since it will not help to highlight the strong points. This is due to the heavy focus on experience or track record that the chronological resume emphasizes.
Reverse chronological format or reverse cv
If your most recent work experience is more prestigious and may have more value in the interview than the previous ones, it is highly recommended to reverse the order of the chronological format in your cv; that is to say: start by describing your latest experiences and achievements and then continue describing the rest of your work experience.
Functional Curriculum
The functional resume format is also one of the most used and valued models by employers, since it allows you to focus on the skills and aptitudes that you consider to be strengths, without leaving certain uncomfortable gaps or time lapses in your career. since it allows you to modify it regardless of time.
Note: We will give importance to motivations, abilities and aptitudes, including soft skills and focusing on our professional profile, having all the necessary information for the curriculum vitae and providing a solid structure.
You can waive or omit the lack of work experience at certain times or even split or separate the resume in the way that works best for you.
This resume template is highly recommended for people who do not have extensive experience or who have just finished their studies.
When to use this format?
This format is quite versatile, but you must choose it carefully. Therefore, use it only if:
You have recently finished your studies. In case you have recently finished your degree, it is important to highlight this fact since some companies highly value being able to teach you from scratch and that you do not come with ideas or preconceived attitudes from other companies. Therefore this is your model if you are a recent graduate or graduate, it will serve as a letter of introduction.
You have little experience in the world of work. When this is the situation, we must highlight other points, the functional format allows us to focus attention on the point that is most convenient for you, such as your motivations, skills or professional objectives.
You have been without work continuously. It is important to ignore any type of doubt in your resume, so thanks to the functional format, we can ignore this information, focusing on the possible applications that you would have within that company, aptitudes, motivations, etc.
You have been inactive several years of your life. The concept is very similar to the previous point, but if you have not studied or volunteered or done any type of activity, it can be hidden with your other motivations or expectations.
It is not recommended to use the functional resume format when highlighting past positions or detailing that you come from a large company.
In simple words, the format will not allow you to approach this aspect in the first place. It will leave it as something secondary and unimportant. Therefore, before choosing this format, analyze if it is the most suitable for your circumstances.
Mixed or combined curriculum
The mixed or combined resume format is used as a mixture of the functional and chronological resume, that is, you can highlight your work experience or your aptitudes and abilities as it suits you in the cv, depending on the company to which you apply, you will be able to adapt the mixed curriculum to the needs of the employer.
It is a format that can be used by all audiences since it can be functional at many levels. This occurs due to the great ease and advantage that a mixed resume has, it can be shaped and adapted to any job offer so that your strong points shine through, yes, in a more general way.
When to use this format in my resume?
Use the hybrid or mixed format if:
You are not sure about the format. If you have doubts about what types of resumes you should use, start practicing creating resumes with a mixed format, it will help you sort out ideas and strong and weak points.
You have doubts about how to create a resume. To learn from scratch, it is good that we highlight what makes us special, that is why we must opt for a hybrid format and shape it in the best possible way.
You seek to adapt and be versatile in your job offer. You can use a mixed format to publicize your concerns and motivations based on the skills you have.
You are looking to create a more general resume. Applicable to people who need to hurry when looking for a job, since you can make a general and clear resume that highlights what interests you without getting too involved with the company you are trying to access. The cv, even so, must contain all the necessary information.
Do not use this format in your resume if you want to stand out, as it is a resume format that can be very general and unspecific.
How to know what type of resume to choose and what its content will be?
It is very simple, starting from the data offered in the article, we can learn that:
In the case of having extensive experience in a sector and being able to demonstrate your great skills, that is, having spent, for example, 25 years in the same company, or having spent 10 years in the same project, we must opt for a chronological format in which cv.
In the event that we want to highlight our skills, soft skills, or our virtues in the cv, we can use the functional format. In addition, with this format, you can also add other sections of interest, such as languages, instruments, events, camps, tutorials, etc…
If you want to apply to a large number of jobs. It is normal that sometimes you need to find a job as soon as possible due to the circumstances, if this is your case, do not forget that the mixed format will be very useful for you.
In the case of having extensive experience and also with certain skills and abilities that you think it is relevant to highlight, then you can use a Mixed format, since you can shape it to add both data in an orderly, clean and clear way.
Frequently asked questions
What are the advantages of a mixed curriculum?
The mixed curriculum stands out for its versatility and adaptability, it is a format that can be used by anyone regardless of whether they lack work experience or skills.
It is a format that also allows you to be more general and faster when creating one. Therefore, you can apply to a greater number of jobs in less time, if what you are looking for is a transitional job towards your goal.
It is also interesting to look at the apa rules to learn how to include references.
What format or model of curriculum vitae is better to look for a job without experience?
The functional format and mixed format will work perfectly for you if you do not have extensive experience. This is because these formats focus on your abilities, soft skills, aptitudes, and motivations. So, leave a little room for experience, which, in some cases, you could skip without leaving any suspicious gaps.
Conclusions about resume formats
It is very useful to know the types of formats that exist, since at different times of your life you may need one or the other.
You should also remember that the most optimal and efficient way to find a job is to adapt to the candidacy and for this it is good to have several models, resume templates or formats that can be useful as a tool to stand out.
Be one of the most outstanding candidates. Work on all the aspects that you think are relevant and advance in the labor line and…