Should You Use a Chronological or Functional Resume?

• 2-minute read •
Too many people make the mistake of thinking that a resume's purpose is to get them a job. Actually, resumes open and close doors. Their main purpose is to make an employer interested enough to invite you in for an interview.

But how do you create that interest when you don't exactly fit the mold? Just as people come in different sizes and shapes, so do resumes.

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Should You Accept the First Offer?

Whether you've just been laid off, feel stuck in a dead-end job or your local economy is less than booming, it's often tempting to accept the very first job offer you receive.

But smart job seekers know that they must assess all their options before making such a decision.

Money Matters

If you're taking the first offer that comes along because you're in dire financial straits, chances are, it's not more money you need. Rather, it's a better money management strategy.

People who are more financially secure are less likely to feel pressured to accept their first job offer. Many financial experts suggest that a crucial part of financial security is having at least six months' salary in the bank. This will get you through tough times and prevent you from accepting a less-than-ideal offer.

First Offer or Last Offer?

What else prompts people to accept the first job offer they receive? Typically, it's fear. Nervous job seekers will often wonder, "What if nothing better comes along?"

If you're being afflicted by this fear, evaluate your job search efforts to date. Have you done everything possible to attract all potential opportunities? Are you contacting recruiters? Is your most current resume posted on Yahoo! HotJobs? Does everyone in your network know you're looking for a new opportunity?

To truly assess all of your options, make sure you're leaving no stone unturned in your search.

Don't Settle for Second Best

Some job seekers cringe at the thought of accepting the first job they're offered because they fear their dream job is still out there. "What if something better comes along?" they worry.

You can put these worries to rest by creating a "new opportunity checklist" at the beginning of each job search. What are your must-haves? What are you nice-to-haves? Weigh your first -- and every -- job offer against your checklist. What's there? What's missing? What additional information do you need to make an informed, intelligent decision?

Also, assess your post-interview mood. Did you leave feeling excited about the possibility of working at that particular company alongside

the people you met? If you're not feeling very enthusiastic, you might be settling. And, as a result, you might find yourself searching for yet another job sooner rather than later.

The Wisdom of Rejection

An often-overlooked benefit of evaluating and rejecting a job offer is that you can discover what's really important to you.

You might notice some of your nice-to-haves are actually must-haves. You may come to learn that you don't want to change industries. You could determine that you're interested in relocating to another part of the country.

Whatever your realizations, exploring your opportunities will give you the confidence to accept or reject your first job offer. And it is confidence -- not desperation -- that drives the best decisions.

How Long Should You Wait for an Offer?

You have an interview or two for a position you really want, and everything goes well. It's a regular love fest between you, the hiring manager, and your future boss. Your heart skips a beat when you're told, "We'll have an offer to you by the end of the week."

But what happens when a week goes by and you don't receive an offer? Should you sit by the phone and wait or throw in the towel?

"Neither!" says career counselor Robin Ryan, author of "60 Seconds & You're Hired!" She believes professionals should continue their job searches until they receive and accept a formal job offer. "Even if you're certain an offer is coming, do not stop job hunting. These things have a tendency to fall apart."

Take Action

Don't wait too long to follow up after an offer fails to materialize. Ryan advises, "Contact the person who said you'd be getting an offer no more than a few days after you were to receive it." Ask leading questions about its status. She suggests, "Ask your contact, 'Where are you at with this?' or 'When will this come through?'"

Ryan adds, "If you're told that the process is going to take a bit more time, ask, 'Are you talking weeks or months?'"

Know that if you are being stalled, Ryan feels it is risky business to idly wait on an offer. "If it doesn't come through and you haven't been searching elsewhere, you're going to get really depressed," she states.

Poof! There It Isn't!

There are a number of things that can delay a job offer. Some are tied to how large a corporation is and how elaborate the hiring chain of command is. If you're applying to a Fortune 500 company, the process as a whole may take longer than at a small business. However, job offers can fall apart at anytime -- and at any size company.

Reveals Ryan, "A hiring manager may be stalling you while an offer is out with someone else for the same position. You also may be promised a job only to learn that the funding for the job is no longer there." She reminds job searchers that mergers, too, may kill a position's creation or eliminate an established job altogether.

Hold or Fold?

If you feel that your job offer is stalled indefinitely, you may be tempted to try to force a potential employer's hand by saying that you have another offer (when you don't). Best-selling author Ryan says, "Never bluff! Many companies -- especially bigger ones -- will call you on it and tell you take the other offer."

Rather, says Ryan, inform the recruiter, "I'm continuing to interview, but I'm still very interested in this job." She urges candidates to try to find out what is really happening with the position and get a commitment from the company.

If the offer does vanish, Ryan reminds workers to remember, "There's more than one dream job out there."