What's the best CV layout: Chronological or Functional?

When it comes to a resume, or a CV (curriculum vitae, depending on the industry in which you are applying), there are countless theories and thoughts about how you should best lay out your work history, format the document, and highlight relevant experience. Very simply, resumes and CVs break down into two different formatting layouts: chronological, and functional.

Both layouts have their benefits and uses, of course, but when it comes to formatting your specific resume, what are the pros and cons of each? And what do you need to think about when you do it? Here is all you need to know about chronological and functional resumes:

Chronological Resumes

Chronological resumes highlight your work experience chronologically, of course, with your most recent work first. This is ideal for employers who want to see your consistent work history, and can function as a great way to show off your consistency and how you have been able to develop a career over time with your experience. They are also perfect for showing your development as an employee though they may not do as much when it comes to showcasing what, specifically, in that experience you have been able to develop into long term work success.

Functional Resumes

Functional resumes do not showcase your long-term work history and development so much, but more so focus on your skills, talents, experience, and how you can tangibly and specifically help out a corporation or employer. These resumes highlight not your work experience, but your technical prowess and expertise. If you have a spotty work history, or if you have gone for long periods of unemployment between working jobs, functional resumes can sometimes be better as a way to showcase who you are, and how you can help a company without highlighting your unemployment history in the process.

So Which is Better?

At the end of the day, there is no right answer about which one is better or worse depending on your specific needs and what you want to accomplish and do with your job and work experience, both resume and CV types can work perfectly for you. It really comes down to one thing: Which format will most professionally showcase you as a great employee and someone who an employer would want to work with in the office?

Whichever format showcases and highlights your positive traits and attributes the best is the one which you should be using to get a job. It does not matter as much which format is the best as much as which format is the best for YOU! Keep that in mind as you work to showcase and brand yourself as a professional and dependable worker that people want to be around, and want to work with in an office setting!

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