Your resume is important for introducing you to prospective employers. The goal is to showcase your qualifications, skills, and career accomplishments to make the case that you’re a worthy candidate for a given position. One of the first things you’ll need to do to create a compelling resume is decide which format will help make you shine.
Structuring your resume in the right format can help ensure you present yourself to recruiters in a clear, engaging way. For the majority of people, the chronological resume format is the best one to choose. But there could be situations where it might make more sense to structure your resume differently, such as if you’re changing careers, have a nontraditional working background, are in a creative field, or have other reasons.
In addition to the chronological resume format, other format options include functional resumes, combination resumes, targeted resumes, and creative resumes. This guide will break down each format to help you decide which one is best for your job search.
A chronological resume presents your job history, starting with your most current position and working backward. This is the most common resume format for people with a traditional job history, as it is experience-focused and demonstrates your career growth and professional accomplishments.
Job seekers who have had a fairly consistent work history should use a chronological resume. It’s the type of resume that recruiters and hiring managers expect to see, so it’s easy for them to scan to get a sense of your professional accomplishments.
Your chronological resume should include the following sections to help create a narrative that tells your professional story:
Your Name
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
New York, NY 12345
LinkedIn | Portfolio
A digital marketing leader with over 10 years of experience defining brand strategy and executing high-impact campaigns for enterprise clients. A proven track record of spearheading digital marketing initiatives to drive audience engagement and enhance market penetration. Adept at collaborating with diverse cross-functional teams, stakeholders, and C-level executives.
Digital Marketing Director, Avant Marketing Solutions Inc., New York, NY
October 2017 – present
Digital Marketing Manager, Brooklyn Marketing Professionals Inc., New York, NY
May 2013 – October 2017
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Digital Marketing
Columbia University, New York, NY September 2009 – May 2013
Digital Marketing Certification, HubSpot, July 2014
A functional resume is a skills-based resume. Unlike a chronological format that lists your jobs in descending order, a functional resume groups your key skill sets together. It allows you to elaborate on how you applied those skills in various work settings. While it’s not as common as chronological resumes, it can be useful for people with nontraditional work histories.
A functional resume can bring skills to the forefront for people who want to change careers, have had large gaps in employment, or have limited experience. Just be mindful this type of resume format isn’t the norm, so you run the risk of recruiters not preferring it or ATS that aren’t adept at reading it.
The bulk of your functional resume should be your main skills, with examples below each. Set up your functional resume with the following sections:
Your Name
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
LinkedIn | Portfolio
City, State Abbreviation zip code
Dedicated and results-oriented customer service representative with over seven years of experience. Proven track record of delivering solid support for Software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies. Strong foundation in communication and multitasking. Thrives in dynamic customer-centric roles, providing unparalleled service remotely.
Customer service:
Effective communication:
Troubleshooting:
Associate of Science (A.S.) Business Management, September 2020 – June 2022
Portland Community College, Portland, OR
Customer Service Representative, DataWave Solutions, Medford, OR
November 2018 – September 2020
Customer Service Representative, Cloud Innovations, San Jose, CA
May 2014 – November 2018
A combination resume format is what it sounds like – a hybrid resume that has elements of both a chronological and a functional resume. It brings the skills section to the forefront but also includes a detailed but somewhat condensed professional experience section.
A combination resume can be effective for new or recent graduates who don’t have a long work history to showcase but want to emphasize skills and then list part-time jobs or internships. But it can also be useful for someone who’s been working for a long time and has had many jobs since the combination resume allows them to condense past experience.
Your combination resume should be broken into these sections:
Your Name
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
LinkedIn | Portfolio
City, State Abbreviation ZIP code
Results-driven bank teller with more than 10 years of experience, excelling in customer relations, institutional banking, and commercial finance. Recognized for effectively delivering banking solutions that help clients meet their financial aspirations. Holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting.
Bachelor of Science in Accounting, August 2010 – May 2015
Boston University, Boston, MA
Lead Bank Teller, US Bank, Columbus, OH
June 2018 – present
Bank Teller, Chase, Columbus, OH
August 2015 – May 2018
A targeted resume format is when you create a resume tailored for a specific job. Ideally, always tweak your resume when possible to highlight the specific skills and qualifications listed in your job posting of interest.
Creating a targeted resume can benefit you anytime you’re applying for a position you are well-suited for and really want. If you’re applying to dozens of jobs, you may not have time to do this for every one, but it’s a must when contacting dream employers.
A targeted resume should include the same major sections as a regular resume template. The details within will be customized for each prospective employer.
Your Name
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
LinkedIn | Portfolio
City, State Abbreviation zip code
Accounting professional and CPA with six years of experience preparing financial reports, reconciling accounts, and harvesting revenue loss by identifying banking errors. Works closely with the chief financial officer (CFO) as a financial adviser and key voice in strategic budgeting.
Senior Accountant, Epitome Products, El Paso, Texas
October 2019 – present
Staff Accountant, KMH Associates, Concord, New Hampshire
June 2015 – October 2019
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Accounting, September 2011 – June 2015
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Creative resume formats are design-focused and unconventional and typically used to stand out visually. It might look like an infographic or an advertisement with various imagery, colors, and fonts. These formats are best if you are sending a physical paper resume by mail or handing one to a recruiter, or uploading it as a PDF to your website.
If you’re applying for a position in the visual arts or a similar role, you may wish to craft a creative resume to showcase your design skills. However, it’s wise to also have a traditional, text-based version of your resume if you’re applying to jobs online.
A creative resume doesn’t have a specific template, though it should include the major elements on any resume: contact information, profile, key skills, education, and professional experience.
Your Name
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
LinkedIn | Portfolio
City, State Abbreviation ZIP code
A digital creative director with six years of experience specializing in user experience (UX) design, brand graphics, and social media asset creation. A proven track record of designing engaging newsletters, social graphics, and other brand assets for health care clients to increase user engagement. Adept at collaborating with key organization stakeholders in marketing, sales, site development, and leading large-scale branding initiatives.
Digital Creative Director, Enterprise Healthcare, Atlanta, GA
August 2021 – present
Associate Creative Director, Blue Eagle Marketing, Atlanta, GA
February 2017 – June 2021
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Marketing, August 2012 – May 2016
Emory University, Atlanta, GA
To decide which resume format is best for you, do the following.
Does your career history consist of successive jobs without any major employment gaps? Have you mostly worked in the same field? Are you fresh out of college or have you changed careers? Depending on how you answer these questions, a particular resume format may suit you best.
Some types of jobs and industries are more “traditional” and expect things to be done in a certain way. For example, if you’re looking for a government job, you wouldn’t use a creative resume format. In the case of some employers, such as a web design startup, a visually interesting resume might help you stand out.
As your career progresses or if you’re seeking a particular type of role, you can experiment with different resume formats as needed. For example, you might start out with a combination format when you’re a new graduate, but after a job or two, a chronological resume would be more appropriate.
No matter which type of resume format you choose, the content itself is ultimately most important. Every resume should contain your current contact information, a summary of your qualifications and strengths, key skills, employment history, and education. The format will simply determine which of those sections are emphasized and their placement.
ResumeTemplates offers free, HR approved resume templates to help you create a professional resume in minutes. Choose from several template options and even pre-populate a resume from your profile.
A resume should be as long as necessary to tell your story. In general, aim for a one-page resume, or if you’re a more seasoned professional, it can be two or more pages. The goal is to include only relevant information and be concise.
Rather than add an objective that discusses career aspirations, modern resumes include a profile section that summarizes the candidate’s qualifications and accomplishments.
Many employers and recruiters rely on ATS to scan and filter resumes by searching for specific keywords. These systems only read text and cannot understand graphical elements. As such, having a text-based, keyword-rich resume is best practice when applying for jobs online.