Why Functional Resumes Don't Always Work

The idea of the functional resume is redirect the reader's focus from a chronological past to a subject-based past. In other words, they work to make employers see all of the great things you've accomplished without focusing on when you actually accomplished them.

When you find resume writing help, a professional will likely recommend using this type of resume if you have gaps in your work history, or have no work history at all. But it's good to use these resumes with caution because they don't always work to the job seekers benefit. Here are a few reasons why...

Details Are Not Always Well Organized

One problem that functional resumes pose for recruiters and hiring managers is that they are not well organized because they don't have chronology backing them up. It's true that you have to work harder to create order for your resume when it takes a functional format.

To make sure that you don't frustrate your readers as they hunt for information in your resume, it's good to create clear headings and subheadings throughout, use bold text when necessary and try bullet points. Also, if at all possible, try to give indications of when you've accomplished some of your goals so that they can see some level of progression in your work history.

Context is Not Always Obvious

Another problem that recruiters and hiring managers sometimes have with functional resumes is that they don't understand the context within which your skills and abilities lie. For instance, you may have gain high proficiency in Microsoft applications, but is this in relation to a day care job where you made spreadsheets of children's names or at Microsoft Corporation where the company itself taught you everything about their system.

Without knowing where you learned your skills and when they were taught to you, it's hard to gauge how much depth you gained in proficiency, how new the applications are and how much you've retained. So if you choose a functional resume, it's good to find ways to bring these answers to light.

Recruiters Expect a Cover Up

Recruiters know that the functional resume is very often used as a cover up to something that's lacking in your career history, so seeing one may serve as an immediate turnoff. However, knowing this, you may be able to add pieces to your resume to ensure it won't be tossed in the trash.

You could try adding a clear awards and recognition section that shows how much you've been appreciated by previous employers. Also, you could consider adding testimonials from higher-ups in previous companies to make it known that you're a great employee and you have nothing to hide.

Using a functional resume has the potential to work against you just as much as it could work for you, depending on how it's used. So try your best to disclose as much as you can about your past, even if you're covering up certain issues, to give employers what they need to help decide whether you're the best candidate.