How to Choose the Right Resume Format

Not all resume formats are created equal. Choosing the right format can make or break how a hiring manager views your qualifications and work history, so it’s critical to choose the one that’s right for your level of experience. Sometimes called a resume outline, the resume format you choose will determine which parts of your background get the most attention. Transferable skills should be the highlight for some applicants, while others will want to draw attention to an impressive career trajectory or a long work history. This page will guide you through the three resume formats: functional, chronological, and combination to help you choose the best format for your experience level.

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3 Things to Consider When Choosing a Resume Format

Before you begin writing your resume, you should figure out which resume format is the best fit for your experience level and the role you seek. Here are three things to consider that will help you decide which format to choose:

1. What’s your experience level? Different resume formats highlight different aspects of your background. If you want to demonstrate that you have a strong career progression, choose a chronological resume format. With some work experience and a strong set of industry-specific skills, a combination resume is a great choice. If you are new to the workforce but want to emphasize the skills you’ve developed in school, a functional resume format would be a better fit.
2. Do you have a consistent work history? If you have gaps in your employment history, this should be a consideration when choosing your resume format. If you have been laid off, let go, or have taken time off for personal reasons, a functional resume format would emphasize your skills rather than your work history. Or you could have a small gap in employment and want to apply to jobs related to your previous field. In that case, highlighting your transferable skills with a combination resume would work best. Alternatively, the chronological resume format is a solid choice for a professional with a robust work history and an impressive career trajectory.
3. Is it ATS-friendly? A well-organized resume is critical to getting your resume past an applicant tracking system (ATS). ATS software, used by the majority of mid- to large-sized companies in the U.S., is designed to weed out unqualified candidates by scanning resumes for keywords. Choosing a resume format that is well-organized, easy to scan and that puts your most impressive achievements front and center is critical to making it past the ATS and into the hands of a human recruiter. Using an ATS-friendly resume format appropriate for your experience level can increase your chances of getting hired by putting your most relevant skills and experience front and center.

How is a chronological resume organized?

Here’s how the sections of your chronological resume should be listed:

Resume Format Chronological Professional Summary

Resume Format Chronological Work History

Header:

Include your name, email address, phone number and location. Your mailing address is not required on a modern resume but highly experienced candidates should consider adding links to their LinkedIn profiles or their professional website, if applicable.

Professional summary:

Your professional summary is your elevator pitch, a two-to-five sentence teaser that highlights what you bring to the table. Name your most sought-after skills and experience here.

Work history:

This is the primary focus of a chronological resume format. This section should be listed in reverse-chronological order with your most recent job at the top of the list. In a chronological resume, this section should be detailed. Use data and metrics wherever possible to show the impact your work has had on past employers.

Skills:

List your most relevant hard and soft skills in this section, paying close attention to those called out in the job ad.

Education:

List your last degree (i.e., MBA, JD or BA/BS). If you don’t have a college degree but have a lot of work experience, feel free to leave this section off your resume.

Dos and Don’ts for using a Chronological Resume Format

Do use a Chronological Resume Format to:

Utilize an easy-to-scan resume format.
Show a strong work history.
Demonstrate your career development.

Don’t use a Chronological Resume Format if:

You have little to no work experience.
You have large gaps in your employment history.
You have changed jobs frequently.

Key elements of a combination resume:

Here’s how you can list the sections of your combination resume:

Resume Format Combination Professional Summary

Resume Format Combination Summary Qualification

Header:

Include your name, email address, phone number and location. Mid-career applicants should consider adding links to their LinkedIn profiles, professional website or online portfolio, if applicable.

Professional summary:

Your professional summary should be two to five sentences that highlight the most impressive skills and experience you have cultivated up to this point in your career.

Summary of qualifications:

Your summary of qualifications should include information about your degrees, relevant training, academic achievements, and a high-level overview of your professional skills.

Key skills:

Study the job ad to determine what the most critical hard and soft skills are for the role. Then, add in any other relevant skills and training that will make you stand out. Since a combination resume focuses on skills and experience, feel free to make this a comprehensive list.

Work history:

List your work experience in this section in reverse-chronological order with your most recent job at the top of the list. This section should be detailed, so be sure to include any metrics that will highlight your professional successes.

Education:

List your advanced degrees in reverse-chronological order. If you don’t have a college degree, list high school in this section. Otherwise, leave it off.

Dos and Don’ts for using a Combination Resume Format

Do use a Combination Resume Format to:

Showcase both your relevant skills and your work experience.
Demonstrate your transferable skills when making a career change.
Show off career progression when you’ve worked for one employer in a variety of different roles.

Don’t use a Combination Resume Format if:

You are just beginning your career.
You have limited transferable skills.
You want to focus the reader’s attention on your education.

How is a functional resume organized?

Here’s one of the ways you can organize the sections of your functional resume:

Resume Format Function Summary Statement

Resume Format Functional Professional Skills

Header:

Be sure to add your name, email address, phone number and location. Your mailing address is not required on a modern resume.

Summary statement:

The summary statement or career objective on a functional resume is your introduction to an employer. Unlike the other two resume formats, which use a Professional Summary focused on what you can offer an employer, here it’s OK to mention the type of role you seek since many users won’t have an extensive work history.

Skills:

Professional skills:

In this section, refer to three top skills you possess and make sure they are based on both hard and soft skills. They can also come from a formal job description. All skills selected should be as relevant as possible. Then break down in sentence form, a list of at least three job duties associated with each of the three skills you chose.

Work history:

Here, note any relevant work experience you have had, even if it isn’t directly related to the role you seek.

Education:

List your degrees in reverse-chronological order, with your most recent degree at the top of the list. If you did not get an advanced degree, list your high school education and any professional certifications you have completed.

Dos and Don’ts for using a Functional Resume Format

Do use a Functional Resume Format to:

Showcase your education and skills over work experience.
Deemphasize large gaps in your work history.
Make a career change into a new field.

Don’t use a Functional Resume Format if:

You are looking for a new job in your current field.
You can provide employers with details of your professional achievements.
You are not an entry-level worker.

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Resume Format FAQ

Which format do most employers prefer for resumes?

The chronological resume format is the most commonly used format. It is also the one most recruiters say they prefer since this format makes it easy to scan an applicant’s employment history and career progression. However, you should choose another format if you are an entry-level candidate, making a major career change, or if you have serious gaps in your employment history.

Can I use more than one resume format?

Typically, you will send only one resume per application. However, if you are applying to multiple jobs at once, you may consider several formats. For example, you may have experience in one field and less in another. In this case, you would send a chronological resume to the former and a functional or combination format to the latter.

Are skills necessary on a resume?

Yes. Regardless of which resume format you choose, every resume should have a skills section. While the skills section in a functional resume will be longer than the skills section on a chronological resume, it’s critical to list your hard and soft skills for every role for which you plan to apply.

How to Choose the Right Resume Format

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