In general terms, there are three basic executive resume formats or styles: chronological, functional, and a combination of the chronological and functional styles known as the chrono-functional executive resume. Each offers certain advantages depending on factors such as your age, number of previous jobs, level of experience, and appropriateness of your experience relative to your job objective. In other words, your selection should be made in support of your background and future job expectation, and not because you liked the appearance of an attractive looking executive resume.
1). The Chronological Executive Resume - This is the most popular executive resume format and is simply a chronological listing of all your previous employers, job titles, employment dates, key responsibilities and most important accomplishments for each position. Your current or most recent position is always shown first, followed by each preceding job in chronological order. It should be noted, however, that even if you have 30 years experience, you should never show more than the last 12 to 15 years in any detail. Few employers are very concerned about what you did in your ancient past (at least at the executive resume stage), and showing too much of a detailed work history can date you. Don’t feel secure simply because there are age discrimination laws.The chronological executive resume is a good format if you have progressed through the ranks and can show a steady progression of higher-level job titles. In order to use a chronological style, your background must be one of rapid growth within a single profession or functional area. It is not a good format if you have a history of unrelated positions, a prolonged period of unemployment, have had a recent demotion, or are trying to change careers.2). The Functional Executive Resume - The primary advantage of the functional executive resume is that it allows you to downplay your employment record, while focusing on the skills and abilities that are required for the type of job to which you aspire. It is essential, however, that you have a well defined job objective, otherwise the functional executive resume loses its direction and will not produce the type of results you desire. Consider, for example, a school teacher who wants to become a corporate trainer. Lacking corporate training experience, the teacher should focus on the teaching skills, abilities and knowledge that are required in the training field, while de-emphasizing the fact that his or her experience was gained in a school classroom rather than in a corporate training room.While it should be quite obvious that a prospective employer will not ignore your employment history, the functional executive resume will generally give you the best chance to get the reader intrigued by your skills and abilities before focusing on your employers and job titles. To this end the functional executive resume is almost always more effective that the chronological executive resume when trying to downplay your employment history.3). The Combination Chrono-Functional Executive Resume - This format is ideal if you are a successful professional or executive with a well-established track record, since it provides you with the opportunity to combine the strengths of both the chronological and functional executive resumes. The exact format can be varied depending on your individual circumstances and job objective, but if you have a strong track record within a single profession or functional area, it is probably the best format you can use.Regardless of which format suits you best, the final executive resume must be clean and distinctive in appearance. Your goal is to present yourself in the most favorable light possible, while downplaying any liabilities that may prevent you from being taken seriously. The successful executive resume is not only a persuasive soft-sell advertisement of your skills, abilities, experiences and accomplishments, but it must also clearly reflect your ability to express yourself. Above all, a top-notch executive resume will get you interviews.