Achievement Resume Format: For Really Big Resume Problems ...

Personally, I love the achievement resume format. It's so simple and straightforward... like a big business card with just the hardest hitting punches on the page.

But ? and it's a big "but" ? employers don't like achievement resumes for the same reasons they don't like functional resumes. So I can't recommend you use one, unless you have a real bear of a work history and no other resume format will work.

An Achievement Resume Template

Curious to see what an achievement resume template looks like? Here you go...

How to Create an Achievement Resume Format

Here's a down-and-dirty way of making an achievement resume:

1. Start with a functional resume template.
2. Delete the skill headings under the Experience section.
3. Reduce the number of achievement statements. You can have as few as 3 statements; I recommend no more than 10.
4. Rename the Experience heading to "Achievements" or something that's highly relevant to your job objective. For example, a Civil Engineer's achievement resume might use a heading like "Civil Engineering Projects."

When to use the Achievement Resume Format

This stripped-down resume format might be good if all of the following are true for you:

• Neither the chronological nor combination format work for you.
• You have a very checkered work history (lots of gaps in employment or job hopping that just can't be resolved in a chronological format).
• You have at least three achievements that show you have experience in your field or where you have shown you have the skills required for your job objective.

If you can get either the chronological or combination resume format to work, use one of those two formats. It may take a little effort but if you're able to resolve your work history problems in the chronological structure, don't use the achievement (or functional) format.

The main reason not to write an achievement resume is that employers don't like it. But if you're really stuck (and I mean really, really stuck!), consider using it for your immediate job search. Then, switch to a chronological format for your next job search.

For example, let's say you've been in treatment for a chronic illness for the last 15 years and have almost no work experience to list on your resume. You could put together an achievement resume and use it to get a volunteer job at a nonprofit organization. Once you have that nonprofit job, you can create a chronological or combination resume to use for your new job search.

Wondering if the achievement resume format is right for you? Leave me a comment! I'll do my best to figure it out with you.

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Source: http://susanireland.com/job-lounge/achievement-resume-format-for-big-resume-problems/

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