How a Functional Resume Can Bring Your Hidden Talents to Light

With current market conditions and record setting unemployment rates, your résumé needs to reveal all of your talents, even your hidden talents that at first glance, you might not realize you have. Think about it, if there are record setting unemployment rates, you can bet your next paycheck there are a record setting number of applicants vying for the same positions. To land an interview and set yourself apart, you might want to consider using a functional résumé to bring your hidden talents to light.

A functional résumé focuses on your accomplishments, experience, and skills. If you are changing careers, changing fields, re-entering the workforce or “overqualified” and looking for less responsibility, this format might be ideal for you. Company names, employment dates, and position titles are deemphasized and key word headings are supported by relevant accomplishments that demonstrate the manner in which you have achieved success.

Let’s look at Helena Parker who is applying for an Office Manager position. Six months ago she closed her home based day-care center that she had operated for seven years. Prior to that, she worked as an Office Manager and an Administrative Assistant in higher education. As you can already see, a chronological résumé, a résumé format that emphasizes relevant employment-related experiences for those with a consistent employment history and no gaps in employment, would not necessarily make her key accomplishments and achievements stand out.

Your résumé is essentially your “marketing flyer” for a particular “party” you’re advertising. For Helena, she might want her flyer to focus on her management, administrative, and communications skills as she submits her résumé for the Office Manager position. Using powerful phrases under the relevant headings to highlight her accomplishments will really pack a powerful punch. The hiring manager reviewing her résumé will be able to see clearly the key skills that are relevant for this position.

Another critical component for writing a functional résumé is to research the position for which you are applying. Since we know Helena is seeking an Office Manager position, we are able to determine three headings to focus on management, administrative, and communications. Without detailed information on the “party” you are preparing for, you can not construct the best “marketing flyer”. The best thing about parties is that you can create several flyers and not restrict yourself to one. With that said, it’s okay to have two, three, or even four versions of your résumé. The sole purpose is to land the all important interview.

Using a functional format brings several skills to the forefront of your résumé that might otherwise be missed using a chronological format. With hiring managers scanning résumés within seconds, you want to be sure your talents are not hidden and relevant skills are clearly in the light.