A recent survey developed by Accountemps and conducted by an independent research firm found that 75 percent of senior executives surveyed prefer the chronological résumé.

"Chronological résumés allow job seekers to present their career progression to prospective employers in a straightforward, easy-to-follow way," said Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps and author of "Job Hunting For Dummies, 2nd Edition."

"Functional résumés, which emphasize skill sets rather than jobs held, are popular among professionals in career transition or who have had lengthy gaps in employment, but they are not a favorite of employers. It is often better to address a career challenge directly than try to write around it," Messmer added.

I tend to agree with Messmer. I like to list the jobs I've held and the things I've accomplished. But I know what you're thinking:

"What about this (potentially large) gap in my employment?"

You can't deny it, but take heart, in this economy, your competition has gaps, too. What can set you apart from your competition is how you've filled the gap. While looking for work have you also been volunteer? Served on a committee or local board? Freelanced or provided contract services? Have you been working in retail or food service? True, those types of positions are not typically résumé-worthy. But when you're unemployed, such endeavors show you have initiative. They say you're willing to work Plan B, while you work on achieving Plan A.

At Acccountemps, the experts suggest that for employment gaps, job seekers offer a brief explanation in their cover letter. I also don't think it hurts to note on your résumé that you were downsized. There's no shame in doing your job well and being let go none-the-less. Honesty, as our mothers taught us, is always the best policy.

"Whether chronological or functional, the information contained in the résumé needs to be clear (I would add accurate and true) and provide a compelling story about the job seeker's work experience and abilities," Messmer stressed.

To give the reader a quick synopsis of who I am and what I'm looking to achieve, I like using a summary. And the career experts at the Rockport Institute (rockportinstitute.com) suggest, if you're using a chronological résumé, always include an objective or summary, to focus the reader.

Here are a few more tips from the Rockport Institute to help make your résumé stand out in the crowd, whatever format you choose to use.

1. Keep the structure clean and very easy to read. Keep it symmetrical, balanced and uncrowded. Keep as much white space between sections of writing as possible. Keep sections of writing no longer than six lines, and shorter if possible.

2. Be consistent in the use of italics, capital letters, bullets, boldface and underlining.

3. Remember to think of the résumé as an advertisement. It should grab the readers attention, but professionally not overbearingly.

4. Proof carefully. Make sure there are absolutely no errors—no typographical errors; no spelling errors; no grammar, syntax or punctuation errors; and certainly, no errors of fact.

5. Include all the basic, expected information: name, address, phone number that you will always answer, and e-mail address (typically at the top of the first page); followed by a listing of jobs held (in reverse chronological order if using the chronological format), and educational degrees leading with the highest degree received. Additional, targeted information should also be included. Much of the information people commonly put on a résumé can be omitted, but these basics are mandatory.

6. In listing jobs, include a title, the name of the firm, the city and state of the firm, and your years on the job. Jobs earlier in a career can be summarized, or omitted if prior to the highest degree, and extra part-time jobs can be omitted. If no educational degrees have been completed, still include some mention of education after high school (professional study or training, partial study toward a degree, etc.).

7. A good résumé should be targeted to your goal—the ideal next step in your career. To accomplish this, you must be clear about what your goal is and what your ideal position or positions would be. Next, determine what key skills, areas of expertise, or body of experience the employer is looking for in their ideal candidate. Tailor your résumé structure and content around this target, proving that you have their key qualifications.

8. Highlight strength. Make careful, strategic choices as to how you organize, order and convey your skills and background.