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Chronological Résumé vs. Functional Résumé

What’s the Difference?

The two most commonly-used résumé formats are: Chronological and Functional. Below you will find descriptions of these types of résumés, plus their respective advantages and disadvantages:

Chronological	Functional
Use if you have extensive, uninterrupted employment in the area in which you are seeking employment Lists, describes and dates the specifics of each job and educational experience separately Listings under each category are placed in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent	Use if you: Lack direct job-related experience Have too much or too varied professional experience and wish to consolidate it Are attempting a career change and need to emphasize transferable skills Are experienced, but have ”gaps” in your work history that you would like to minimize Focuses on your strengths and skill areas, and de-emphasizes positions and dates Skills are organized into categories Always add a Work History section after your skill categories to give credibility to your experience and skills
Advantages
Easy to read, write and follow Has been the most traditional Emphasizes continuity and career growth Usually stresses the most recent employment Highlights the name of employer	Maximizes impact in a functional area without being tied to "paid" work experience More flexibility in organizing information, e.g., according to interests, not chronology De-emphasizes short–term work history
Disadvantages
If done the traditional way, hard to communicate skills and general strengths/qualities Emphasizes gaps in employment Dramatizes short-term employment Most dependent upon past experience	Some employers are not accustomed to this format, and it can be confusing for employers to follow It tends to play down direct work experience with specific employers