Lesson 18 — Activity 1: Different Types of Résumés



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What is a résumé? As you may remember from English 10-4, a résumé is a self-marketing tool. It is a summary of your education, your work experience, and your skills and abilities. You will need to provide employers with a résumé that will convince them that they should hire you. A good résumé will help you to get an interview so you can convince the employer in person that you are the best candidate for the job. A well-written résumé usually includes things like your education, work experience, and skills as they apply to the job that you want.

There are three main types of résumés:

  1. Chronological résumé — Chronological refers to time. A chronological résumé is written in chronological order to show your education and work experience. The résumé will start with what you are presently doing and work backwards. This type of résumé works well to show that you have a steady education and employment history.
  2. Functional résumé — A functional résumé shows your skills and abilities without linking them directly to your work experience. This type of résumé can be a good choice when you have limited employment experience or when there are gaps in your work experience.
  3. Combination résumé — As the name suggests, a combination résumé combines some of the features of the chronological résumé with some of the features of the functional résumé. It allows you to highlight your skills and abilities first, and then list your work experience.

Of the three types of résumés, the most common is the chronological résumé. This type of résumé is what most employers are familiar with. It is often the best choice for you to use when trying to showcase your work experience for possible employers.

Click on the Play button below to watch a short video on the three different types of résumés.


In the next activity, you will look closer at the three types of résumés discussed in this lesson.

Digging Deeper!

Click on the Play button below to watch a video on the five important tips to remember when writing your résumé.