Functional resume examples

Everyone had negative moments in life. But it's much better to focus on positive aspects. In spite of problems and conflicts, an intelligent person always could learn a lesson and avoid mistakes in the future.

Each good example of a functional resume seems to be quite impressive and convenient. But it is worth remembering that not all employers are ready to believe in the image of a "sinless angel". On their opinion, if a person does not want to write about the past, then his reputation has some dark spots that need to be hidden. HR managers can be very biased. So it’s worth using this format only if there is a real need for it. If your skills are absolutely identical to the requirements of an employer, it is likely that he will not be too suspicious.

Let's sum up the positive and negative features which are inherent to all examples of a functional resume.

Advantages:

• such a paper emphasizes achievements;
• it hides the shortcomings which are noticeable in a chronological resume (like long breaks between jobs).

Disadvantages:

• HR managers know that applicants usually try to hide details of their professional experience that are not very attractive;
• many employers simply will not read such a paper, as they want (and are accustomed) to analyze the candidate's experience in the usual order.

Tips for functional resume writing

In order to succeed on a labor market, it’s worth reading good functional resume examples and using the following recommendations:

1. The paper should include the name, email and phone number of the job seeker. This data is usually located at the top or bottom of the sheet in the center. If you wish, you can underline it.
2. Compile 4-5 sections with a description of your theoretical and practical background in a certain field of activity. Each section should have a title clearly defining the functional area.
3. Sections should be listed in order of decreasing significance in terms of job search objectives. The sphere that is closer to you and where you want to find a job should be at the top of the list.
4. Mention the most important achievements inside the sections. There is no need for a detailed description of each position. But all items should be associated with a considered sphere.
5. If you have passed a training course corresponding to the described functional field for the last 3-5 years, mention it at the end of the section. General data on education should be provided at the end of the paper.
6. After the blocks with functional areas you are interested in, add a short list of organizations in which you were employed. Indicate only the period of work, the name of the company and the last position held. If you do not have work experience or your track record is very "vivid", skip this paragraph.
7. As a rule, a text of each properly structured functional resume format example is placed on one page.

How to represent skills?

It is desirable to describe the achievements in objective terms - figures, since this is the most visible and convincing option. You may use the following objective indicators: market shares, revenue growth, cost reduction, the number of projects and people in working groups, etc.

Here are the functional resume skills examples with achievements (for different specialties):

• The launch of new products: 10 brands in the last year, from zero market share to 15%.
• Development of electronic document management systems. On average, 25% reduction of the time from the document's creation to its approval.
• Creation of author's model of business processes optimization. The average growth in the income of customers over the past six months (after optimization) is 45%.

There are different types of key skills which are used in examples of functional resume formats. After considering their classification, you will understand how to form the corresponding block in your paper. In general, the following groups can be distinguished:

1. Professional: practical skills necessary for the labor activities of a certain profile. For example, organization of a workflow for a secretary or clerk; synchronous translation for a guide; understanding the principles of visualizing information for a content manager.
2. Technical. These are skills specific to a particular profession. They are associated with the use of different techniques, tools, computer programs, models, etc. If you are looking for a job in the technical field (programming, design, construction, medicine, etc.), then these skills are your main asset.
3. Communicative: skills that are used for coordination of people's activities, interaction within the working group and cooperation with other units.

What skills should be included in a resume?

The content of each specific example of a functional resume for career change or promotion is determined by a vacancy. Its description was compiled by a recruiter. And of course, he knows which skills are the most necessary better than anyone else. In addition to a general list of abilities, you need to create lists for particular jobs, taking into account the requirements of the employers. Such approach multiplies the chances of getting an invitation for an interview.

Here is a convenient technique for drawing up a list of skills:

1. Take an employer's vacancy description and write out his requirements.
2. Then take your list of skills.
3. Compare these two lists, find the coinciding points and get an answer to the question "What exactly to include in the resume?"

It will be a big mistake to mechanically copy the text from the job description. The employer will notice this and regard it as an unwillingness to approach the creation of the resume with enthusiasm. Also, even if a novice specialist has little experience and does not know how to formulate thoughts on paper correctly, it is not recommended to copy a full text of a functional resume example for students.

The self-presentation should be unique, reflect your characteristics as a professional and as a person. It makes sense to use own wordings and write from heart. Perhaps, not all phrases will be perfect. But the resume is not a literary work, it is a purely "technical" paper, that is, a document created for a specific purpose.