A person's resume is one of the most important pieces in what I like to call their "career advancement puzzle." There are a lot of items to factor into keeping your portfolio, references, contacts and resume up to date. As a result, a resume should not only be treated as a "living document" (i.e., updated on a continual basis), it should also be utilized in the correct fashion.

Not all resumes are the same, and not all resume formats are designed to accomplish the same objectives. The savvy job seeker is able to distinguish between the different formats and to choose the one that fits their job search the best.

There are three basic resume formats: chronological, technical, and transitional. I've presented them in more detail below.
Chronological-This format shows a job seeker's work history starting with their most current position. It's most commonly used when the applicant has a solid work history and is looking to continue in the same general line of work. List your objective first, followed by your work history. (It could be called a reverse chronological resume, since your last job should always appear first.)You may be tempted to use the true chronological format and begin in the following fashion: "I grew up in a small town in Ohio," and then work through your career progression. Resist that temptation. It will only confuse the reader.
Functional or Technical-This format should be used if the applicant possesses skills that they deem to be more important than the position they currently hold or the work they've done in the past. This format is also called a functional resume or a summary resume. You should list your education first, then your certification and skills, followed by your work history. This format is also good for entry-level candidates.
Transitional-This format shows an applicant's basic qualifications and education. The objective on the resume should speak to the specific position that the applicant is seeking and downplay work history. You need to show where technical, academic, and extra-curricular experiences are applicable to the position you're seeking.

Although the information you provide may essentially be the same, there's a big difference in the type of impact each will have.

My experience has shown that the chronological resume brings the best results, since it represents the most explicit description of the quality and application of your skills within a specific time frame.

The functional/technical resume, works well if you've changed jobs or careers often and wish to downplay your work history and highlight your level of expertise. If a prospective hiring manager is specifically interested in a steady, progressively advancing employment history (as most are), then the technical resume will very likely work against you. If the employer's main concern is your technical or problem-solving ability, the technical resume will serve your needs just fine.

Either way, follow these guidelines and don't underestimate the impact of a well-constructed and well-written resume. It could be your first step to a better and more rewarding career. For more articles, check out the Animal Science Monitor and Sign Up Today!

By Dan Simmons

Daniel C. Simmons is a Certified Personnel Consultant who has been recruiting since 1991. Dan has won over twenty awards in the last decade with the Top Echelon Network, America's leading placement network including Placer of the Year in 2009 & 2010.

Frequently Dan also is a recruiter trainer and has been featured at various Top Echelon Conventions and online as a speaker for various webinars. He has also been published in The Fordyce Letter the recruiting industry's #1 magazine.

Do you know what a resume is? It can be defined as a very important document used mainly for promotional purpose. Whether it is a fresher or an experienced person, everyone needs a resume to promote their skill and knowledge on the professional ground. This document must be formatted in such a manner that it will readily grab the attention of the prospective employer offering you the job and will certainly feel interested to offer the opportunity to you. As it is basically meant for a formal surrounding, there are some important factors that must be included in the document.

The resume is mainly created in three respective formats - functional, chronological as well as combination. All these three types have their own strengths and beauty of arrangement. Fresher, who are opting for the professional field for the very first time, may find preparing this document a bit difficult; as they may not be very familiar with the essential components. For proper guidance, one can take the help of various internet sites that provides you with designed resume format for the fresher.

These are nothing but ready-made templates that can be used for put in your respective data. If you do not want to copy the whole thing that you can simply take the idea and create a new completely new one. It will certainly add to your advantage. Combining the positive points of two or three resumes will provide you with a great result.

As fresher does not have a prior job experience so they can highlight their special achievements and educational qualifications. Keeping in mind the requirements of the fresher it can be stated that the chronological patterns are definitely the best for them. Some important components of a resume have been listed below for your convenience:

• Personal Details: The resume starts with this section. In this particular section you are expected to mention your name, age, parental details and other contact information.

• Your Objective: in this portion of the resume you must clearly mention your professional needs and preferences. Stating your career goals properly will let the prospective employers to select you according to both of yours conveniences. State how they can use your respective skill for their organizations growth.

• Educational Qualification: write about your entire academic career in the chronological pattern. The interviewer must be eager to know percentages to determine your capability. So put them properly in the correct manner.

• Additional Achievement: Mention about your extracurricular activities, the awards won and about the certification achieved in various educational and recreational events.

At the end do mention about your hobbies. Keep it devoid of grammatical errors and end it with the date and the signature of the candidate.

The author is famous for providing tutorials to the students planning to learn writing skill. If you want to know more about resume format for fresher and other articles please log on to professorlogan.com.