Your resume is your tool to success. In a typical day in the office, the human resources department gets thousands of resumes. They need to select only a few as they do not have the time to interview so many applicants. So how are these select-few targeted? They are judged on the basis of their resumes. We all know a resume is a document that records your employment and educational information. The way the resume is presented is of utmost importance here and not the information compressed in it. Hence, the focus while making your resume is the format. There are different formats that can be used to make your resume effective in getting you the attention you need for a job interview. Chronological Resume Format This is a resume format that throws light on the individual's work ethics and impressive work experience (if any). It is an ideal format for those who do not have unexplainable gaps in their professional career. The very term 'chronological' implies that this resume shows a progression in the professional field. It is not suitable for those who have been making lateral moves in various companies. In fact for these people, this resume just highlights the lack of growth, which at the time of an interview can give rise to uncomfortable questions. It is for all those who have had a steady rise in their profession. A chronological format is perfect for those individuals who despite not having the best education can show their experience in the best possible manner. Starting from your most recent job, you can list down the milestones of your career till your educational qualifications. Being easy for the human resource people to read, this format provides a favorable impression of you (if you have a good working history). It is a universal format. So if you are applying for a job abroad, then you don't have to worry all. Around 80-85% of recruiters around the world prefer this format as it makes their job much easier. Functional Resume Format This format is perfect for all those who want to downplay their experience and throw attention on their impressive skills. For those who haven't had a steady job or a progressive career, this format is like an answered prayer. This format emphasizes on what has been accomplished by you and your skills rather than 'when' and 'what' in your career. The reason why this format is such a hit among freshers and those who've taken a break is because it displays work history at the end and focuses on skills and achievements. Though you need to remember that most companies don't encourage this type of format. This is because companies know that this is a cover up for problems. The work history need not be detailed in this type of format. You can even omit mentioning the time period you spent in the company. Just list down your company names and the title of the jobs. In the functional section of this resume, your skills along with experienced gathered can be written, focusing on all those skills which will prompt recruiters to hire you. Chrono-Functional Resume Format As the name suggests, this is a combination of both functional and chronological formats. If done with precision, it can highlight your skills as well as keep the recruiters happy. However, you need to be careful with this format as it can easily backfire. If you are contemplating a new direction in your career, then you can downplay your other irrelevant work experience, and with the help of functional section, justify your decision of career change. The main emphasis is put on all your transferable skills which you are going to carry to your next job. Even if your resume offers a confusing picture of your career path, you can try this format to clear the resume screening round. However just like functional format, it is not well received by human resources as they are not used to it and might discard it out of annoyance. A resume template is a fixed format that is subscribed or created by a website. You can just fill in your personal data and information in proper places. To get the best possible resume, you need to take some time out and find the most suitable template for your needs. It is necessary to know which type of resume format is best suited for you, because at the end of it all, your format can make or break you. And if you don't think you can do a great job at making your own format, why not use some of the templates that are available so free. Hopefully, these templates will prove useful to you. All you need is a little effort along with research to make your resume effective.