1.   If you are trying to change to a completely different field you should use a functional resume.

2.   A functional resume also works well for job hoppers, or for people who have spotty job histories.

3.   A functional resume summarizes qualifications by education and experience with little emphasis on employer history.

4.   Functional resumes also can help those who have frequently switched jobs or who have gaps in their resumes that they may want to gloss over, Collard said.

5.   People use functional resumes when a chronological approach might work against them.

6.   She recommends functional resumes if clients will be talking directly to the people who make hiring decisions.

7.   The chronological resume is most common, but a functional resume has several advantages, like disguising periods of irrelevant employment or unemployment.