A resume is not a creative document—in fact, it might be one of the most formulaic things you ever write. The very thing that makes resumes dull is also what makes them easy to create: you follow a formula.
With that in mind, there’s no reason not to use a template to create your resume. Formatting and organizing your work history, education, and skills might seem complicated, but templates do most of the work for you. All you have to do is add your specific details, making the process of writing or updating your resume much faster.
The key is to find a template that suits your experience, so you don’t have to make too many changes. In this deep dive, we’ll show you exactly how to choose both the right resume format and template for your needs.
Resume Formats
A resume template is a sample resume that shows you how to organize your information. You replace the sample info with your own and make some small adjustments, so it fits the job you’re applying for.
Each resume template comes in one of three formats. Before you can choose the right template, you need to narrow it and decide which format works best for your work history.
Chronological
The vast majority of resumes use a chronological format. This arranges your work and other experience (like volunteering or school projects) in reverse-chronological order, so the most recent is first. It highlights the most relevant information since most employers are more interested in what you’re doing now than what you did five years ago.
You should use a chronological resume format unless there’s a compelling reason not to. If you have limited work experience, either in general or in the field you’re applying to, another format might suit you better. Or, if you have highly relevant skills or accomplishments, you might choose a format that highlights those.
Functional
Functional resumes don’t rely on chronological information. Instead, they highlight skills, accomplishments, and other relevant information that’s not time-specific. You can organize this kind of resume by subject (like “customer service skills” and “computer skills”) instead of by timeline.
If you don’t have much work (or relevant) experience, you might choose this format. It works well for a first resume or career transition.
