Steps To A Functional Resume

Not all job seekers are blessed with an extensive work history. If it's true that employers place a heavy emphasis on experience when reviewing a resume, how is an individual who hasn't yet had much work supposed to get a job?

The answer lies in the functional resume.

A functional resume, as seen in this sample from About.com, is one of multiple types of resumes that can be written. It is best used for applicants with a light job history, as it focuses on skills and experience rather than a chronological work history.

Start your functional resume by writing an objective statement, just as you would do in a standard resume. This will lay out the type of job you are looking for in relation to your skills and experience. The objective statement should be no more than two sentences.

The next step will be to summarize your skills and experience. This can be done either in paragraph form (as shown in the previously linked sample) or as a bulleted list. I personally prefer using bullet points as I find them easier to read. Make sure to list only the skills that apply to the nonprofit job for which you are applying.

The final thing you need to add is a list of your professional accomplishments and your education. These can either be awards you have received or goals that you helped previous employers reach. I recommend listing your professional accomplishments before your education, as this will be what employers most want to know.

Do you have any experience with functional resumes? Feel free to share your stories in our comments section, or tweet at us @nptjobs.