As was mentioned in the previous article, your resume is a very important selling tool. Prospective employers know what they’re looking for in your resume, and you should know the basics of proper formatting for the best presentation of your skills.

The first and most popular format is chronological. Employers love this format simply because it is the best illustration of the upward progression of your career. Presented in reverse chronological order, employers get a bird’s eye view of how you have worked (or are in the process of working) your way up within your chosen career, as well as the knowledge and experience that you have developed along the way. Here is a link to a sample: https://resume.monster.com/samples/sampleresume20/

The second format is a functional resume. This resume is set up specifically so that your skills are prioritized and grouped together, as opposed to simply in a chronological format. This is a great tool for employers to see exactly what you have to offer up front. A functional resume, however, is not what I would recommend for college graduates fresh out of the gate simply because when recruiting for entry-level positions, recruiters tend to skim. Therefore, they’re looking for specific information and may not be inclined to search around for it. This resume might be of better use to you when further along in your career. Here is a link to a sample: https://jobstar.org/tools/resume/res-fu1.cfm

The third format is the combination resume. This is a powerful resume in the sense that it puts the information in a traditional chronological format, but provides a very organized overview of your skills. Here is a link to a sample: https://purdue.placementmanual.com/resume/resume-11.html

Finally, a question that’s commonly asked regarding where to put the education section. Of course, this is a significant part of real estate on your resume because it’s basically what you’ve been doing for the last few years leading up to your job hunt. A general rule of thumb for most resumes is to list the education section after the job experience section.

However, there are a few circumstances in which education would precede work experience:
1. You are currently in school or a recent graduate.
2. You are changing careers and your education is more pertinent to the new career than your job experience.
3. You are seeking a position where specialized education is a prerequisite for employment.

Personally, I feel that your experience should shine through first. In this competitive world where students (or former students) are competing for the same entry level jobs, your skills and how they are presented may be precisely what helps to get your foot in the door. Remember that whatever information is listed first will be what catches the employer’s attention.

If you’ve graduated from one of the best schools in the country summa cum laude, by all means, put it first (and write it in the sky if you can).

At the end of the day, it is ultimately your choice which you would prefer to list first, as long as it’s the greatest representation of who you are – whether that is education or experience.

For more information, please visit the links listed above, or take a look at this sample resume for college graduates available here at BellaOnline.com.

For tips on writing a great cover letter to match your winning resume, click here.

For tips on acing the job interview, click here.