Free Resume Formats: What resume format should / shouldn't you be using?

These free resume formats can help you get your next job, whatever type of position or role you are looking for.

We have produced a FREE Report: Is your Resume letting you down?: How to dramatically improve your resume (please click here).

If you are looking for free resume templates to download to your PC then please click here.

The Best Resume Format

What is the best resume format? One that will get you your next job. For most people who have been working for a number of years, we would recommend the following format (if you've recently left education then please see the High School Resume Format below):

• Contact Details: List your name, address, telephone numbers and email address at the top of your resume. You want people to be able to find this information quickly - so that they can contact you easily.
• Profile: This should contain a short summary of your key skills, abilities and experience.
• Major Achievements: List three to six achievements where you have had the greatest impact for your employer.
• Career History: List your work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent job and working backwards.
• Qualifications: List your main qualifications and professional training.

Please see how to make a resume to learn what to put in each section (Profile, Major Achievements, Career History, etc.).

Our example CVs / resumes can also give you a good idea of what to put in your resume.

High School Resume Format

A high school resume format normally takes the form:

• Contact Details: List your name, address, telephone numbers and email address at the top of your resume.
• Profile: Summarise the skills, abilities and experience that you have gained at high school and in any jobs that you have had.
• Major Achievements: Try and list at least three achievements related to any jobs that you have had, academic prizes / competitions, plus any sporting and other personal achievements.
• Qualifications / Education: List your main qualifications and educational attainments. Note that if you have just left high school then you will normally list Qualifications / Education before Work Experience, unless you have lots of work experience that is relevant to the job you want to do.
• Work Experience: List any work experience that you have in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent job and working backwards.
• Hobbies / Interests: Try and make any hobbies and interests that you list sound interesting and do include any positions of responsibility that you have held at high school or in any other activities outside of high school.

Our article how to make a resume tells you about what to put in each section of your resume (Profile, Major Achievements, Qualifications, etc.).

Plus, you will find the sample CVs / resumes a useful place to view a number of different resume formats.

Free technical resume formats

Technical resume formats normally take the following form:

• Contact Details: List your name, address, telephone numbers and email address.
• Profile: This should include a short summary of your key skills and experience, including brief details of your technical skills.
• Major Achievements: Make sure that you include three to six achievements that demonstrate your technical prowess and abilities.
• Career History: You should list your career history in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent job and working backwards.
• Qualifications: Only include your main qualifications and professional training that are relevant to your next technical role.
• Technical Skills: List your key technical skills. You can list this section earlier in your resume if required.

In the article outline to make a resume you will learn about what you can put within each section of your resume (Profile, Major Achievements, Career History, etc.).

Also, check out the CV / resume samples to see a selection of resume formats.

Functional Resume Format

A functional resume format is quite different from the other formats, please see our article titled: What to include in your functional or targeted CV.

• FREE Report: How to drastically improve your resume
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• How to write a resume index page
• Example resumes
• How to make a resume
• Free Resume Templates
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• Which resume / CV format will work best for you?
• How to write a profile / summary for your resume / CV that will grab the reader's attention
• How to highlight your achievements on your resume / CV and improve your interview chances
• Sample resume objectives - Why use resume objective statements?
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