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Is a Functional Resume Right for You?

Sometimes a traditional chronological resume will not focus on the skills you want to showcase to a prospective employer. A functional resume may be just what you need.

Here is one of the reasons I like what I do for a living: Last week I received an email from a young man who attended one of my resume and cover letter writing classes. He wrote to tell me he had revised his resume, as per my suggestions, and converted it to a functional resume. He shared that he sent out the new version and within a day received two interviews whereas with his original version he was not getting any replies. Why is this? The information was the same, education experience, etc. It is the presentation.

Functional resumes work well for those who have been out of work recently or for period of time, leaving a chronological gap. This format also works well for individuals with eclectic work experiences that do not reflect a cohesive career path. More seasoned workers may want to use a functional resume in order to deemphasize the number of years they have worked.          

The internet has many examples. I suggest taking a look at a few to get an idea of how you might want to format your resume. A functional resume is organized by skills. You can begin with a “skills summary” section using bullet points. Examples include: customer service, management, scheduling, problem solving.

Next, use two or three sections that highlight a particular skill set. Use bullet points to describe accomplishments under each category. Finally, include your employment history listing company name, location, your title and dates of employment. You should also list your education and any special training.     

Always try to match the skills you have with the skills required for the job. You may not have held the title of the position you are applying to but you may have done many of the tasks required. Packaging yourself using a functional resume may help you land the job you want.

I am waiting to hear back from “K” with the results of his interviews. Fingers crossed!

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Danny May 18, 2013 at 12:20 pm
It is dangerous and a menace to our already horrible traffic on 6. Thank God none of those kids gotRead More hit running in between cars looking for change. Traffic was backed up all through Mohegan...Poor choice of a way to raise monies for a good cause.
W Kelly May 18, 2013 at 05:39 pm
Look who's talking : we have always said we wanted it to remain at HVHC why don't you call Mr.Read More Federspiel and ask him why he is dumping it in a undesirable area that will immensely affect the businesses, real estate, dangerous roads and community at large. You know as well as everyone else he doesn't want it there to tarnish his newly renovated beautiful complex. Ask him how much he is making off his other services. 200 K in the business world is a drop in the bucket. I bet you $10 all those patients that said I am going to contact he didn't even do so. So you are telling me this patients are law abiding citizens? Doubt it I know many people that have confided in me and said their sons, daughters, brother ,sisters have lied cheated stolen, and done time. Guess we will all see what happens in this community. Remember there are kids that will be walking to school. It is going to take one incident to wake up people.
Look Who's Talking May 18, 2013 at 03:17 pm
@ Wendy, there are people that would say your fight against the methadone clinic is ridiculous. ToRead More some people, gay marriage is a very REAL issue. Recovering drug addicts need to be able to turn to a clinic in order stay on a path of sobriety and many people disagree with your views. I have yet to see methadone zombies all over the streets of Peekskill. Instead we see non-recovering addicts and dealers in the news all the time. Those people are NOT the people that seek the help of clinics. Drug dealers don't hang out in clinics, they hang out in their homes and wait for the next call to come in. I'm sorry that you don't consider discussion about how Frank was removed from the School Board for LYING about living in Peekskill is something to discuss. To me it shows that he already has a very real history of being a liar and shady in order to keep himself in the spotlight and feeling important. However, I do agree that any of those GOP members sitting on that board could've EASILY raised money every year to keep themselves out of the hole if that's what the methadone clinic was doing for them. As far as Mary emailing you back within 24 hours, while you are a taxpaying resident, she is a part-time Mayor and she does have a life of her own. Let's not think that we are all so important that we deserve answers immediately. We've been posting directly to Frank's blog for over a day now and he has not addressed a single thing that has been discussed. We all know that he's reading this. Seems that in a world of transparent government, Frank doesn't want to answer many questions.
Peter Goodson May 18, 2013 at 08:58 am
Well MJ, of course you would be against a business being allowed to decide not to lose a substantialRead More amount of money because of a liberal social program. No surprise there. I don't speak or write for anybody, but Dwight Douglas is very respected and had been for many years. He resigned over the mess and for being betrayed. The rest of the board are useless. If they weren't so partisan they would have resigned too. As for the forensic audit, at least we agree on something. When Frank wins I hope he does one right away. Lots of money disappearing over the last 6 years, especially a huge fund balance that is now all gone.
Teleman May 17, 2013 at 05:27 pm
Rose, why is it that you would call me a name? Why not have a productive debate about the issueRead More instead of name call? I'm sure the anti-gun lobby does not like those numbers- but they are the facts. I know it flies in the face of all of the propaganda- millions of gun purchases and gun crime goes down? This is what we've been saying all along. Leave my natural rights as affirmed by the Constitution alone.
Rose Rowland May 17, 2013 at 11:32 am
Go away, you Troll.
Teleman May 16, 2013 at 10:23 pm
Plenty of laws on the books- they are obviously working ok, and would probably work even better ifRead More vigorously enforced.
Teleman May 15, 2013 at 04:11 pm
I stand by my statement- until these contracts are fully re-negotiated and the unions startRead More contributing to their benefits and taking zero % or minimal raises, the taxes will continue to increase year after year- Buchanan will no longer be the so-called "bargain" some claim it is.
Sick of the Lies May 10, 2013 at 10:04 am
Hey Fly, before you make comments, you should check the facts. The contracts are alive and well.Read More Mr. Donahue should try learning to read and checking the facts before sending his brilliant letters to the editor in for publishing. They are almost always entirely fictional....but perhaps he really believes what he says. Yeah, right. He intentionally makes up stories to sucker people like you into believing his nonsense.
Fly on the Wall May 10, 2013 at 02:47 am
All of those lucrative 2% contract raises have since expired! DUH. Unlike the 15% raises yourRead More glorious mayor has doled out with great regularity.