Types of Resumes

Most undergraduates will present a one-page resume which lists entries in reverse chronological order by job or activity. Some students will supply an electronic copy of this resume to potential employers. Davis Scholars and alumnae may wish to consider other types of resumes such as the functional or combination resume, or the curriculum vitae.

Electronic Resumes
If you send an electronic, scanned, or faxed resume, follow it up with a hard copy of your resume via U.S. mail. It's always a good idea to bring clean copies of your original resume to any interview.

Web sites and databases. MonsterTRAK and InterviewTRAK, available through the CWS Web site, offer limited access to resumes by employers only. In addition, employers may request that you upload your resume directly to their web site database. This may involve filling out a preset, electronic form with your information, or posting an electronic (PDF) copy of your resume. An employer or job search Web site may or may not be accessible by the general public; in cases of doubt, it may be prudent to tailor your contact information or use a first initial instead of your first name, for privacy and security purposes.

Email attachments. Depending on the nature of your email exchange with a potential employer, you may treat your email message as a less formal communication, with both formal cover letter and resume attached. If an employer asks you to attach an electronic copy of your resume to an email, make sure that your word-processing program is compatible with the employer's system, or send your document in RTF (rich text format) or PDF form. Again, it's best to send along a hard copy of your cover letter and resume via US mail.

Faxed and scannable resumes. If an employer asks you to fax a copy of your resume, make sure that your resume utilizes a large enough point size and font to clearly transmit through the fax. Again, it's best to send along a hard copy of your cover letter and resume via US mail.

Scannable resumes are rarely requested these days, but if so, submit a resume that has a relatively large font size, and contains no bullets, underlining, italics, or unusual font characteristics. The only special typeface on a scannable resume should be bold. Be sure to include keywords, such as the name of particular companies, colleges and universities, and specific skills, in a scannable resume. As in the case of electronic resumes, be sure to bring clean copies of your original resume to your interview.

Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
A resume generally does not include sections for publications, conferences or presentations, research grants, and fellowships. If you have accomplishments in these areas, particularly in the fields of academia/education, medicine, and scientific research, you may want to write a combination resume-Curriculum Vitae. Alumnae with extensive research, publications, or academic credentials may wish to write a Curriculum Vitae. Please note that in Europe, when people say "CV," they are commonly referring to what we know in the U.S. as a "resume."

Functional and Combination Resumes
A functional resume is one which organizes professional experiences in terms of skills and necessary attributes for a particular position. Thus, with a functional resume, the arrangement of one's experience is conceptual (by skill area) first, chronological second. The upsides of a functional resume include the benefit of covering a broad range of work experiences, de-emphasizing time gaps in one's work history, and the ability to communicate that one is focusing one's skills in a new direction. A noteworthy downside includes the assumption by many employers that something is being deliberately hidden or obscured by the mere use of a functional resume.

According to the functional resume format, one often needs a career objective to focus the resume and to provide a general context for the section headings which are used thereafter. Section headings should apply to the skill areas of the position or career area sought, such as "Management," "Writing Skills," "Teaching Abilities," "Legal Functions," etc. Under each section, you can mix and match job duties from a variety of experiences which fit the conceptual description. Or, you can write a paragraph which describes your skills from various jobs in more general terms. If you select this format, include a section entitled "Work History" towards the bottom, which very briefly lists places of employment, position titles, and corresponding dates.

A combination resume is a resume which combines the conceptual headings of a functional resume but maintains the stricter chronology of a chronological resume. This format is a good way to combine experience gained from both activities and internships. It is also good if your current employment is not career-related, but you had a great internship last summer which was. Thus, a reader would see "Little Brown Publishers" before "Dining Services."

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