What is a functional resume? Functional resume Definition and Format
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Functional resume Definition
A functional resume is a resume which emphasizes skills and accomplishments in order of their importance. This is rather than the order of occurrence. This type of resume is particularly preferred by a large number of job seekers with specific interest to new jobs and also by those who have been changing careers frequently. This is because they will not have to list their last position of work or even the company. In this process it is hard to notice how they have been changing careers. Though this resume format is preferred by most job seekers, it is least preferred by employers; they have to read it keenly so that they can have an idea of your former position and your consistency in a given profession. When a particular job ad has not specified the use of a particular format, you have the freedom to choose any one of the resume formats available. You should note that the functional resume can be a game changer for specific groups of people.
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Functional resume basically relies on strategically grouping one’s key skills into different categories in order to demonstrate one’s qualification and expertise for a particular job. This skills based focus will allow you to emphasize your strengths and in the process soft-pedal your weakness or absent of employment. The employment history section will contain a brief with only a simple list of position held, company names and employment dates at the bottom of the page. Occasionally some information is intentionally omitted.
Things to consider when creating a functional resume:
A functional resume format will basically include the following:
- Careful consideration if a functional resume will improve your chances of being invited to an interview.
Functional resume basically emphasizes on skills and ability from your strongest. This shift of focus can be helpful in a number of situations: De-emphasizing the chronology will help you better customize you resume to the job which you are seeking, when you have been changing careers and wish to only features skill and accomplishment which were not central to recent jobs. This includes: older experience, skills developed outside work or volunteer experience. When you have not been professionally involved in a certain career for some time
- Brainstorm
List down you skills and accomplishment; don’t worry about sorting you can edit later. Make sure you list everything. This can include: experience while working on another country, industry or job, volunteer experience, clubs and community affiliation, skills especially computer or languages, education, academic background or even on-the-job training. After this, organize what is most relevant selling point on your resume. At some instance, you can subdivide your experience into groups; this can include general people skills and more concrete accomplishments.
- Arrange the resume by category and not time
Rather than having a section of each job, have a section for each sort of skill or experience. When listing experience always begin each line with an action verb. This usually adds punch to the writing and will give the list a consistent structure and tone. For problems which you have solved and achieved specific result should also be included. All the other rules of resume writing will apply but only if the results can be shaped differently.
- Summary
Make sure you have a summary at the beginning of your resume. This is a condensed of your offering to the potential organization or company. Mostly, the busy recruiter is in a position to tell whether a certain resume is worthy reading by reading your summary.
- At the end of the resume a brief chronological order of your work history should be included.
This can be a one line description. It should include the company, title and which year you worked there.
AN example of a functional resume is shown below:
Functional Resume Example:
John James
579 Rosewood Lane
Colorado Springs, CO 44707
(960) 555-1212
johnjames@my.com
This is also referred to as summary e.g:
Executive assistant position allowing for parlay of demonstrated organization, communication customer service and project management skills proven by 15 years of successful, profitable self-employment.
# PROFILE
Create your profile tailored to show how appropriately you fit to a certain job-
Motivated, personable business professional with multiple college degrees and a successful 15-year track record of profitable small business ownership. Talent for quickly mastering technology. Diplomatic and tactful with professionals and nonprofessionals. Accustomed to handling sensitive, confidential records. Demonstrated history of producing timely reports meeting stringent HMO and insurance guidelines.
Flexible and versatile. Poised and competent with demonstrated ability to easily transcend cultural differences. Excellent team-building skills. Thrive in deadline-driven environments
# SKILLS SUMMARY
List all your skill e.g
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# PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Communication: Reports/Presentations/Technology
- List some of your accomplishments under this.
Customer Service/Marketing/Problem Solving
- List related accomplishments and skills under this in order of their importance.
Detail Mastery & Organization
- List some of the related stuffs you accomplished under this.
# EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
List you employment history here. e.g:
ATTWATER CHIROPRACTIC– Cheyenne, Colorado Springs, CO; Pueblo, CO;, WY
Owner/Operator, 1997 to Present
LAKEVIEW RESTAURANT & CAFÉ — Minneapolis, MN
Waitress, 1994 to 1997
# EDUCATION
List your school, year of graduation and related degree/certificate or an award given:
NORTHWESTERN COLLEGE OF CHIROPRACTIC — Minneapolis, MN
Doctor of Chiropractic Degree, 1997
- Four-year advanced degree which required 30-34 credit hrs. per quarter.
- GPA: 3.89/4.0
- Licensed to practice chiropractic in, Minnesota, Colorado Wyoming and Montana.
BARTON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE — Great Bend, KS
Associate’s Degree in Pre-chiropractic, 1993
- GPA: 4.0/4.0
COMPUTER SKILLS
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Though this strategy is a good fit for employees there are a few drawback to this approach. This includes leaving out dates or even titles can raise suspicion. Some hiring manager can think that you are hiding something which in most case is what you are doing. At time this resume can be frustrating to readers who are trying to figure out which company or organization you performed a particular accomplishment. This is because these details are usually listed under skill category instead of job titles
The underlying line is to carefully evaluate your situation, weigh the pros and cons of a given format and choose the appropriate format. New skills-based format could be the solution you need to present you in the best light.
Have a comment about functional resume definition and format? Should we add anything to make the definition more clear? Edit suggestions are welcome!
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