{"id":809,"date":"2022-07-13T18:35:06","date_gmt":"2022-07-13T18:35:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theforage.wpengine.com\/?p=809"},"modified":"2023-12-13T13:59:56","modified_gmt":"2023-12-13T18:59:56","slug":"what-is-resume","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theforage.wpengine.com\/basics\/what-is-resume","title":{"rendered":"What Is a Resume? (Definition, Function, and More)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you’ve ever applied for a job or internship<\/a>, you were probably asked for a copy of your resume as either part of the application or during your interview. And while you may have one, have you ever asked yourself, “What is a resume, anyway?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to being an indispensable part of your job search, your resume functions as a historical document about your career. It can remind you where you’ve been, where you’re going, and help define your professional brand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is a Resume?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So, what is a resume, exactly?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A resume is the brief history of your professional achievements, kind of like the inside flap of a book cover. Reading your resume gives the recruiter or hiring manager<\/a> your basic stats, such as where you’ve worked and where you went to school, but it also tells them what you’ve already accomplished. This, in turn, should give the reader an idea of what you could achieve if they hire you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What you’ve done and what you’re going to do are a big part of your professional brand. You might be known for being an Excel<\/a> wizard who creates VLOOKUPS with ease. Or maybe you’re the kind of account manager who saves important clients from leaving the company. Whatever it is, if it’s included in your resume, it helps explain who you are on the job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>MORE: Learn <\/strong>how to use the STAR method<\/strong><\/a> to make your resume shine.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Do I Need a Resume?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Everyone who wants to apply for a new job needs a resume. One big exception is people pursuing an academic career. If that’s you, you’ll use a curriculum vitae (CV)<\/a> instead of a resume. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And why do you need a resume? For starters, nearly every kind of job asks for a resume. This is often true even when you have to fill out a separate application or when you’re applying electronically, like through an applicant tracking system (ATS)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While you could whip up one on the fly, having a resume ready to go makes the application process so much easier. You won’t have to try and remember what you did where or when you worked at this company or that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

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Building Your Personal Brand<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Learn how to build and maintain your professional brand in this free course from Ashurst UK. You'll discover why job seekers need a brand and how to make the most of yours.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSkills you’ll build:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tPersonal brand, brand management, LinkedIn profile, reputation\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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What Are the Main Resume Types?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While there are many types of resumes<\/a>, most people choose a chronological, functional, or combination resume. Each has pros and cons to consider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chronological Resume<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The most commonly used resume is chronological. It presents your work history in reverse chronological order. Your current or most recent job is first, below that is the next most recent job, and so on until you reach the beginning of your work history (or all the work history you want to include). Each job includes details of your accomplishments in the role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main advantage of a chronological resume is that it\u2019s familiar, meaning hiring managers and recruiters<\/a> \u201cget\u201d chronological resumes. They know exactly where to look to find the information they want to quickly evaluate whether or not they should consider you for the role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>Related: <\/strong>Resume Keywords: What They Are and How to Use Them<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But a drawback of chronological resumes is that they draw attention to gaps in your work history. While there are many valid reasons for stepping back from paid work, some employers consider this a red flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Functional Resume<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A functional resume<\/a> spotlights your experience and skills, instead of your chronological work history. It starts with skills groupings (like “communication” or “analytical”), then moves to your employment history, education, and other credentials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pro of a functional resume is that it focuses on your abilities, not how long you\u2019ve worked. However, a functional resume may be a red flag for a recruiter for exactly this reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if resume gaps aren’t a red flag, recruiters often have a hard time finding what they want on a functional resumes<\/s>. It’s not always obvious where to look for what information. And it\u2019s not as easy for them to connect your skills to a particular job  or company. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hybrid or Combination Resume<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A hybrid or combination resume combines a chronological and functional resume into one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hybrid resumes start with a summary of your qualifications \u2014 a brief overview of your top or most relevant skills. Under that is a \u201cskills\u201d or \u201crelevant skills\u201d section where you list the hard and soft skills<\/a> you possess that are most relevant to the role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The next section is a reverse chronological summary of your work history. But unlike a chronological resume, you only include the top three or four accomplishments from that role. Then you add the rest of your relevant information, like degrees or certifications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The advantage of a hybrid or combination resume is that it focuses on your skills without calling as much attention to your chronological work history. And because it’s similar to a chronological resume, it’s easier for someone to look at a specific spot and find what they’re looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As disadvantages go, they are similar to those of a chronological resume. If you have gaps in your work history, they\u2019re more obvious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

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Career Readiness<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Get prepped and ready for your career in this free course from Cisco. Enhance skills like project management, data analysis, and communication. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSkills you’ll build:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tProject management, data analysis, communication, project planning\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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How Many Pages Should a Resume Be?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A resume is an overview of your strengths and abilities, so it should be concise and focused on your top skills. That means the ideal resume length<\/a> is brief \u2014preferably no longer than two pages. You can use your cover letter<\/a> and interview<\/a> to talk about things that aren’t on your resume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have a limited work history<\/a>, a one-page resume is perfectly fine. Including internships, volunteer experience, or virtual job simulations will help demonstrate you\u2019ve got the skills and abilities the employer is looking for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Often Should I Update a Resume?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The best time to update your resume is after a significant event. It will be easier to remember the critical details when that event is fresh in your mind. But it’s also a good idea to review and update your resume every six to 12 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While your updates should include any new employment information (like a new job title or moving to a new employer), it can also include things like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n