It takes practice to perfect your resume. You need to have some technical writing knowledge and some wit in order for you to bring out your best features in the job market. If you’re just starting out, you should stick to the most common formats to avoid any cringes from human resource staff.

The three main classes of employees that employers most accept are:

1. Chronological

This is the universal format. This format is most commonly accepted by companies. This is accomplished by listing your work experience in reverse chronological order. You can also add job descriptions and dates to show how your work experience is relevant to their qualifications. A chronological resume is ideal for those looking to work abroad or those with recent accomplishments. People who want to change careers should look at other types of resumes that highlight their skills, not their past.

2. Functional

Functional resumes are used by some applicants to emphasize your skills and not past work or achievements. This format does not require you to include a job description as the background is already organized according to your abilities. This format is preferred by some people because it saves space and makes the copy appear shorter than in the traditional format. This format is ideal for applicants looking to change careers or fresh graduates with no job experience. Employers may not accept this design because they believe it is being used by potential candidates to conceal something.

3. Combination

This design is most popular with applicants who want to emphasize their key skills and past achievements but not annoy employers by using the inconvenient functional type. The combination is a grouping of similar histories, arranged according to their expertise and abilities. Although it is shorter than the chronological format, this preserves one’s experience. Combination formats can be difficult to master. Employers may not like it as much as they did in the previous format.

After deciding on a format that suits your needs, and then writing it, it is time to go through the contents to ensure it meets the requirements of the market. You should revise it every so often to make it more appealing to the needs of your prospective clients.

There are many resume formats that can be used to help people create their resumes. It is important to consider the pros and cons of each resume type in order to maximize the effectiveness of these self-advertisements. It is important to choose the type that best suits the applicant’s situation. This is as intelligent as choosing the right tools for the job.

Melinda Edwards is a career consultant. She has been invited to many events and forums on human resource management. She is also a time management expert and effectively fulfills both her career as a mother and career woman.