Choosing the Best Resume Format for 2023

While the chronological resume format is the most commonly used, it’s important to choose the best format for your career history and experience level.

The chronological is perfect for you if you have a strong employment history and career progression. However, a functional or combination resume would be a better fit if you are:

• An entry-level candidate.
• Making a major career change.
• Covering up serious gaps in your employment history.

If you apply to multiple jobs, consider several different resume formats. Choosing a format targeted to each job is a good idea.

Based on how much work history you have in the various roles you’re applying to, you want to choose a resume format tailored to your experience level.

You could be applying for positions outside of your previous industry of employment or are returning to the workforce after a break, so you should change the format of your resume accordingly. For more help, feel free to look at our resume format examples.

In our builder, you can change your resume format in one click simply by choosing a different resume template for your document. There are 30+ templates to choose from in our Resume Builder. You’ll find templates in all three formats!

You can also customize your document by adding relevant resume format sections.

On the left-hand side of the editing dashboard, click the plus sign that says “Add a Section.” That will direct you to the menu with available add-ons such as Accomplishments, Certifications, and Websites. You can also select “Add Your Own” to create sections like “Summary of Qualifications” or “Professional Skills.”

Absolutely. Resume formats matter because they help you organize your resume sections in the appropriate order. More importantly, resume formats help you showcase your unique strengths and minimize your weaknesses.

To format a resume in our Builder, simply follow all the Resume Builder prompts until you have reached Step 6: Finalize. There, you’ll see the Builder allows you to add custom sections such as the summary of qualifications or additional skills sections.

A text box will open where you can format your sections using bullet points. Once you’re done, click the Finalize button to go to editing mode, where you will see your full-page resume.

If you want to keep adding custom sections, you can do so on the “Add sections” tab on the right.

In editing mode, you can also move your resume sections, so your skills sections can take precedence over your work history.

Our Resume Builder will automatically create a chronological resume, but you can easily customize it into a combination or functional resume. Learn how to properly order and format your sections in our combination resume and functional resume writing guides.

The best resume format will spotlight your strengths and minimize your limitations. Depending on your years of experience and career stage, the best format for you will be either chronological, functional or combination.

Chronological resumes are the best format for experienced job seekers with 10+ years of experience and consistent careers since it focuses on your work history section.

Functional resumes are the best format for students, recent graduates or those with little to no work experience. It downplays the work history section in favor of an expanded skills section where you list your achievements.

Combination resumes are the best format for mid-level applicants or those seeking a career promotion. They have an equal focus on skills and experience so you can show you’re a well-rounded professional.

No. A resume format is a layout organization for all your resume sections, whereas a resume template is simply a design skin. You can use all our resume templates for all resume formats, and it will not affect the order and formatting of your resume sections.

The only ATS-friendly resume format is the chronological format since it’s the format that’s been traditionally used for years. Because applicant tracking systems are programmed to read chronological resume formats, the ATS can have difficulty scanning and analyzing the information on your resume.

No. The industry you work in does not affect the resume format you choose to use. The most important thing to remember when selecting your resume format is the years you’ve worked.

Recruiters tend to prefer PDF resumes because it’s a file format they can access through multiple computers and share easily via email without worrying about someone modifying the resume. A Word resume is an open file that almost anyone can access and edit without your permission, whereas a PDF works like an unalterable image.

You can learn more in our article about the three resume file formats you can use.

When listing your work experience, you should only include the most relevant roles for your desired position. You should omit any role that doesn’t align with your career, which might mean removing the first few jobs you had during school to get you by.

If this leaves a gap in your work history, consider opting for a functional resume.

A resume should look polished and well-organized, which you can achieve with any of our professionally designed resume templates. Your resume should include all five essential sections: contact information, summary or objective, work experience, skills and education. You can learn everything about how your resume should look in our how to write a resume article.

The best resume format for students is the functional format since it minimizes the work experience section and focuses on your skills instead. The functional format works best for students writing a resume with no experience. However, suppose you’ve worked for quite some years in retail or fast food. In that case, you can get away with applying for a similar job using chronological or combination formats.

The resume format most recruiters and employers prefer is the chronological format. It’s the most traditional format and depicts a clear timeline of an applicant’s work history, which helps recruiters determine if you’re prepared for the job.