Graduate > Resumes > Functional Resumes

GRADUATE STUDENTS

Functional Resumes

With this format, emphasis is drawn to major skill categories focused on abilities relevant to job function and phrases highlight specific skills as you are directing your efforts toward a particular job. Examples of functions or areas of experience might include: leadership, interpersonal skills, organization, and supervisory responsibilities. Your skill areas could also cluster around content areas such as TV production, computer programming, or management. Actual job titles and work history take a subordinate position in this format. Students formulating a functional resume should definiely have it critiqued by a career consultant.

Advantages of using Functional Resumes

Emphasis of capabilities not used in recent work experience
When changing careers
Entering job market for the first time
Past titles do not represent true levels of responsibility or accomplishments
You have used similar skills in a variety of different, seemingly unconnected work experiences
Much of your work to date has been free-lance, consulting, or temporary

Disadvantages of Using Functional Resumes

You want to emphasize a management growth pattern
Specific past employers are of paramount interest
You have performed a limited number of functions in your work
Your most recent employers have been highly prestigious

Sample Functional Resume

This student had demonstrated a number of capabilities across several seemingly unrelated jobs and roles, but a chronological resume made a reader work too hard to conclude what this student possessed. In consideration of the types of positions this student desired, this functional version was developed to show the skills and accomplishments he had achieved and exhibited. Note that the chronology of jobs, employers and dates is presented at the bottom to give a reader some idea of where the various achievements took place.