Many résumés contain keywords that potential employers are looking for, make heavy use of active verbs, and display content in a flattering manner. A résumé is a marketing tool in which the content should be adapted to suit each individual job application which is aimed at a particular industry. Sending resumes directly to employers became increasingly popular as late as 2002. Job seekers are able to avoid the job application process and reach employers through direct email contact. There are two main types of resume - a reverse chronological resume, and a functional resume. The reverse chronological résumé lists a candidate's job experiences in reverse chronological order, generally covering the previous 10 to 15 years. Positions are listed with starting and ending dates. Current positions on a résumé typically list the starting date to the present or to the current year. However, This kind of resume format is most commonly used by those who are not professional résumé writers.
The functional résumé is used to focus on skills that are specific to the type of position being sought. This format directly emphasizes specific professional capabilities and uses experience summaries as its primary means of communicating professional competency.