Grace needed a change. The survivor of a messy divorce, she opted to explore other career options to give her a change of pace. After a long tenure as a classroom teacher, she wanted to pursue customer-service work in the private sector. Her new résumé is a strong example of a functional format and landed her a “fun and upbeat” job in the tourism industry.

Teacher’s Resume Before

Teacher’s Resume After

A “Wonder Mom” Goes Back to Work

Functional résumés are often the best choice for parents entering the workforce with minimal or no paid experience. Marlene, a career mom who did an admirable job of raising three children (I speak from personal experience) used a functional format to sum up several decades of volunteer work. Her only paid experience was two years of secretarial work several decades ago.

With skills in planning, administration, and business-office operations, she now manages business affairs for a production agriculture company. My “wonder mom” was kind enough to let me present her reentry résumé  as an example of how to convert countless hours of volunteer service to an attractive, business-oriented presentation for employers.

Marching to New Orders

James Delano’s résumé displays how a career military officer can facilitate a transition to the business world. Note the emphasis on quantifiable results and supervisor quotes—both of which were gleaned from past military performance evaluations—to help fill in the full picture of James’s capabilities and professionalism. All military-speak (acronyms, project names, numbered forms, and so forth) was translated to business terms.

Business Office Management Resume:

Resume: Qualified for mid-management administratove requiring proven ability to enhance operational efficiency, affect team productivity, and maximize operating funds

Points

Although not a cure-all for every career inadequacy, the functional format can camouflage the appearance of an unstable, unorthodox, or interrupted career caused by

• Gaps between jobs
• Job hopping
• Spouse relocation
• Typecasting
• Limited paid experience
• Returning to a career after time off for family or personal reasons
• Recent graduation with limited experience

Also a valid vehicle for conventional careers, the functional format shouldn’t be associated only with “fixing” employment problems. If you belong to any of the following categories, the functional might be your best fit:

• Career specialization (performed the same responsibilities at multiple employers)
• Overqualified
• Senior citizen
• Military conversion

If your vocational hurdle is included above (from job hopping to military conversion), the skills section in chapter 5 will show you how the functional format can get you back in the race.

Pitfall

The functional format’s greatest plus is also its primary pitfall. Employers know that a functional format will camouflage career glitches, thus raising the question, “What is the candidate trying to hide?”