Resume formats for international development professionals

In the field of international development, job seekers have a range of resume and CV formats to choose from. Knowing these types and where to use them will give you an edge over thousands of candidates vying for positions in development organizations. Here’s a roundup of some of the resume and CV formats used by development job applicants in the U.S. and beyond. Reverse chronological resumeView a sample The reverse chronological resume is probably the most common type of resume, especially in the United States. It lists one’s employment history, from the most recent position to the earliest, and includes dates that indicate the duration of employment for each position. This type of resume format is useful in trying to gain entry into almost all professions and fields, including international development. Functional resumeView a sample The functional resume is skills-based instead of chronological. It may work well for someone who has been out of the workforce for more than a decade or is trying to switch careers. Experts, however, advise against using the functional resume format as it does not show career progression. Employers might also question why an applicant is using it. “Often, there is no connection between where work was done and what was done,” according to Debra Wheatman, a certified professional resume writer and certified professional career coach, as well as the owner of Careers Done Write, a New York-based company providing job counseling services. Hybrid resumeView a sample A hybrid resume, also called a combination or mixed resume, blends elements of the reverse chronological and functional resume formats. A summary of the candidate’s skills is at the top, followed by a reverse chronological description of work experience. According to Wheatman, the format is gaining “a lot of popularity.” As with the reverse chronological resume, the hybrid resume can be used in a variety of fields. Most non-governmental organizations prefer this type of resume when looking to fill both staff and consulting positions. International CVView a sample An international CV tends to include more personal information than a U.S. resume. Personal information is not that important for U.S.-based hiring managers, but recruiters in other countries want more of these details. In addition to an applicant’s contact information and work history, which is usually presented in reverse chronological order, an international CV may include the individual’s date of birth, nationality, languages spoken and marital status. If you are a U.S. citizen looking for a job with a firm in Europe or South America, it would be helpful to have an international CV in the language of the country where the organization you are targeting is located. Be sure to also take particular country requirements into account. In Germany, for example, applicants should include photos in their applications. But in the U.K., attaching a photo is not an application requirement. Accomplishment resumeView a sample A variation of the hybrid resume, the accomplishment resume format highlights qualifications and accomplishments. “[T]he whole resume should be an accomplishment-focused document,” Wheatman says. “A hybrid would allow you to get the accomplishments at the top.” This type of resume is a good choice for seasoned professionals, as well as recent graduates vying for administrative and project management positions. Targeted resumeView a sample A targeted resume is customized for a particular position. Often, it emphasizes specific skills that match those in the advertised job description. “Every resume, to some degree, should be targeted,” advises Wheatman. “People like to see things that are related to the positions [available].” Linear resumeView a sample A linear resume lists career progression, usually in reverse chronological order, with little detail. It usually has a lot of white space and can be quickly scanned by people or computers. The downside is it uses up space that might be used to expound accomplishments. Keyword formatView a sample Popular until around the year 2000, the keyword format placed significant words at the top of the resume, as early resume-reading software could only take in so much information. Now, the program has improved, so it is no longer necessary to place all the keywords up top. However, it would still be helpful to include certain words or phrases throughout the resume to improve one’s chances of being noticed. For example, NGOs use the term “program development” instead of “business development.” In order to know the keywords in your particular industry, read job ads, descriptions of positions in your field, news articles about industry trends, annual reports, websites of potential employers, and other resources. Academic CVView a sample An academic CV, which is usually three to 10 pages long, is a comprehensive document that emphasizes an applicant’s educational background, training, certifications and other credentials. As the name suggests, this type of CV is used by individuals who are seeking employment in academe and those applying for academic fellowships or research grants. Professional resumeView a sample The professional resume is basically a shortened version of the academic CV and is usually three to four pages long. This format typically begins with educational and professional training, followed by a summary of accomplishments and qualifications, and, finally, details of professional experience. Those in medicine, law and the sciences may use this CV format. Portfolio This nontraditional format would include work samples, but recruiters usually do not require these items. Video and multimedia formatsView a sample Some organizations have started accepting other formats such as video resumes or multimedia CVs from applicants. However, the development world still lags behind other fields when it comes to scanning and using multimedia and video resumes. Still not sure if your CV is in the correct format and will make you stand out? Devex offers a CV formatting service for individual professional members. The Devex team can reshape your CV into the USAID format to help you get the USAID job you want.