21.1: Function and Organization

The old expression "form follows function" is especially true with résumés. Organize your résumé for the function it serves. For example, are you using the résumé as a "feeler" to look for opportunities with multiple companies simultaneously; a response to a particular announcement; or a specific request from a person or company? Once you know the function, organize your résumé to accomplish that function and use the key terms used by the employer to get noticed.

1. The chronological résumé is an outline of your work experience and periods of employment (in reverse chronological order-most recent information first) that shows steady employment. Titles and organizations are emphasized as are duties and accomplishments. This format is used most often by those with steady employment and/or who want to remain in a current career field. It’s also excellent for those who have shown advancement within a specific career field. Detail the most recent 10 -year period and summarize earlier experience that is relevant to the position you are seeking.
2. The functional résumé emphasizes your qualifications (skills, knowledge, abilities and achievements) as opposed to specific dates and places of employment, and allows you to group them into functional areas such as training, sales, procurement and accounting. List the functional areas in the order of importance as related to the job objective and stress your accomplishments within these functional areas. This format is used most often by people who are reentering the work force or those seeking a career change.
3. The combination résumé combines the best of the chronological and functional résumés because you can group relevant skills and abilities into functional areas and then provide your work history, dates and places of employment, and education. This format allows you to cover a wider variety of subjects and qualifications, thereby showing skills that are transferable from one career to another. It works well for those "special" assignment requirements, for military retirees (those who have frequently switched career fields), and is ideal for people whose career paths have been somewhat erratic.
4. The targeted résumé focuses on your skills, knowledge, abilities, achievements, experience and education that relate to a specific position. It features a series of bullet statements regarding your capabilities and achievements related to the targeted job. Experience is listed to support statements and education is listed after achievements. This format is probably the easiest to write, but keep in mind it must be re-accomplished ("targeted") for each position you are seeking.
5. The federal résumé is most commonly built by the OPM website for federal government jobs. This résumé is commonly five pages by the time all your information is included so it does not follow the "keep it to two pages max" rule. Once you submit your résumé, there may be further forms to complete. When in doubt as to what to include, read the job announcement carefully. If you still have questions, call the point of contact on the job announcement. The OPM website allows users to register and then create and store several résumés within the user’s account. When applying for a specific job, users can then attach the most applicable stored résumé or build a new one to target a specific job.
6. The military résumé is used to apply for highly selective military assignments, such as an aide or member of an executive staff. The military résumé summarizes your qualifications for the position that may not be apparent in your biography or duty titles. Use the format that best showcases your abilities and include the following information:
   1. Security clearance and date of investigation. This is critical for some jobs; in some cases, you’ll need a higher level clearance just to get in the building!
   2. Date of rank. This helps potential supervisors know how your seniority relates to the incumbents in the office ... and helps them know when you’ll be up for promotion.
   3. Professional Military Education. Make sure you identify any schools completed while in residence and any distinguished graduate (DG) recognition.
   4. Service Status. Regular Air Force, Air Force Reserve, or National Guard.
   5. Availability. When will you be available for reassignment?
   6. Special Qualifications. Identify special qualifications such as foreign language skills, Acquisition Professional Development Program (APDP), or Joint Officer credentials.
   7. Flying Data. Even if the position is not a flying billet, rated officers may want to include flying data.