How do I decide the best resume format for me?

When you are seeking to upgrade your resume, it is tempting to use resumes of your friends or work associates as the model. The problem is that you are different from your friends and their job search is different, especially if that resume is more than three or four years old.

The key in this question is the words “for me.” Your resume has to work for you and it has to reflect current resume writing strategies and standards.

What factors influence resume formats?

  • Industries differ by how conservative the field is and the resulting creativity. You can, in general, be much more creative than 20 years ago but you would still create a very different resume for someone in more conservative fields like law or accounting or even banking than you would for someone who was in a creative field like graphic design, marketing, or even sales.
  • Your own personality. This can be a hard place to judge because your personality may be more flamboyant than your field allows. Your resume should match the type of dress acceptable in the office, not out on the town.

I once had a private wealth manager who told me her fashion sense verged on the flamboyant but yet she knew her resume had to reflect her business suits.

  • Certain fields need certain content. I find that people in management levels in banking and accounting as well as sales fields benefit by a community leadership section because their ability to network and be involved in community roles will benefit their new company.
  • Graphs and charts compliment certain fields. In management and sales, showing results by including a quickly read graph will help your resume stand out.
Of course, though I firmly believe you need the presentation resume which markets you, you also need to transform that resume into the ugly but utilitarian text resume to meet the requirements for online submissions. I keep this page handy to help my clients know how and when to use the text resume.When you look at resume options, keep in mind these factors and review the Design Resume samples to make sure that you are using cutting edge strategies that meet your personal needs, not your neighbors.
Julie Walraven can help you achieve results through using a personalized job search and resume writing  strategy to take the mystery out of the process. To find out how, simply click here!

Resume Design and Job Seeking Tips

Here are Design Resumes' latest articles on job search, resume design, resume writing, and Linkedin optimization articles I've written.

FREE Resume and Job Search Tips by email

Get free tips and strategy direct to your inbox. just add your name and email below. I respect your privacy.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Julie Walraven, Design Resumes

Julie Walraven

Professional Resume Writer

Here are ways I can help you land your dream job.

You may be halfway across the country or the world. When you work with me, we share coffee, laughs, and concerns. This turns the scary job search into creative, consultative writing and learning sessions.