For an ex-offender, using the best resume to get the job is as important as a good interview. You need to do two things with your resume:

While there are many suggestions on how to write a resume, there are not as many for using the best resume for an ex-offender. When an ex-offender is creating the best resume for their use, there are a few general guidelines to follow:

• Use Action Verbs - words such as 'accomplished', 'achieved', 'maintained' and other verbs which focus on accomplishments with noticeable effects on your work. Use these words with a measurable description of achievements. (EX: Increased repeat sales by 10% per month over 6 months)
• Avoid stale copied words - words which appear from a corporate or resume handbook will show; as will buzzwords and technical jargon unless you are very familiar with these terms
• Be Honest - never deceive employers; exaggerating, misstatements, and omissions will be found out over time and will cost you work

When choosing the best resume for a job, an ex-offender is wise to have multiple resumes. This allows you to highlight different skills and abilities on each depending on the field of employment. When creating a resume use these simple guidelines:

• Target the Job - determining the type of job you want will help you know which type and what copy of your resume to use
• Choose Proper Formatting - ex-offenders should use either the Functional Resume or the Combination Resume for best results
• Keep it Simple - most effective resumes are only one page long and are very simple and easy for the employer to understand

With regards to using the best resume for an ex-offender, there are two types which may be useful.

• Functional Resumes - this resume type is good for people with multiple jobs or a variety of skills; this is also good for changing careers or for employment histories with multiple gaps
• Combination Resumes - this resume type is a mix of both functional and chronological resumes. This resume puts emphasis on your achievements and gives a job history in a reverse chronological order.

When do you want to use each of these resume types?

With either type of resume, using the best resume for an ex-offender should involve targeting to specific jobs or industry when applying for a position. In this way you can put more weight on your accomplishments and less on your criminal history.