Best Resume Formats With Examples, Tips, and Guide
Whether you follow a linear job path, pursue entrepreneurial projects, change careers later in life, or are new to the workforce, there is a resume format that can work for you.
The most popular resume format is reverse chronological, starting with your most recent job history and working backward. However, functional resumes, combination or hybrid resumes, and targeted resume formats exist.
This resume formatting guide will break down each of the standard formats, their pros and cons, and which types of professionals might be best suited for each one. You’ll also see an example of each to help you decide which type might be right for you.
Why Choosing the Right Resume Format Matters
Your resume is a snapshot of your professional accomplishments and a summary of your skills. How you package this information is essential.
The role of resume format in job applications
To create a solid first impression with hiring managers or recruiters, find the best resume format for your needs. Depending on your career history and the type of job or industry you’re aiming for next, a particular resume format might be better than others.
How employers review resumes
One crucial consideration when formatting your resume is that it will probably be screened by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) before it reaches human hands. The format you choose could impact readability and, therefore, whether or not the ATS passes your resume on to the next level of review.
Choosing a format with clearly marked section headings and bulleted lists can make it easier to read and more recognizable as a resume.
Types of Resume Formats
Chronological resume format
This format is a standard look for most resumes and the type recruiters see most often. After a summary at the top, the resume starts with your current or most recent role and works backward, sharing key accomplishments from each job.
Pros
- Widely accepted format among job recruiters
- The reverse order shares a narrative of how you've progressed in your career
- Ample space to describe your contributions to each job you've held
Cons
- You may have difficulty filling the page if you lack a job history
- Nontraditional work, such as side hustles, freelancing, or volunteering, may require a more skills-based format rather than a job history
- Career changers or military-to-civilian resumes may fit this format better
Use a chronological resume format if:
- You’ve had one or more successive traditional jobs
- You’ve been in the same or similar field for your past jobs
- It’s an acceptable format in your industry — you can do some research for resume examples for your field
Example of a chronological resume
The typical sections in a chronological resume are as follows, with the most significant content block being the professional experience section:
- Contact information
- Profile
- Relevant skills
- Professional experience
- Education and certifications
Sample text for the Professional Experience section:
Senior Sales Analyst, Amazon, Seattle, WA
June 2018 – present
- Performed quantitative analysis of sales data to provide actionable insights to management, contributing to a 15% increase in annual sales
- Implemented a new sales forecasting tool that improved the accuracy of sales projections by 25%
- Collaborated across teams to streamline sales processes and elevate customer service, resulting in a 10% increase in customer satisfaction scores
Here’s a chronological resume example:
Your Name
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
New York, NY 12345
LinkedIn | Portfolio
Profile
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.
Key Skills
- Brand messaging
- Cross-functional leadership
- Data analytics
- Digital marketing strategy
- Search engine optimization (SEO) marketing
Professional Experience
Digital Marketing Director, Avant Marketing Solutions Inc., New York, NY
October 2017 – present
- Oversee all aspects of digital marketing campaigns for enterprise client accounts valued at $400,000 to $1.5 million, define brand strategy in alignment with business objectives, and implement data analytics to monitor and enhance campaign performance
- Manage, build, and develop a marketing department with 25 team members, establish a collaborative, forward-thinking work culture, and provide coaching and mentorship
- Implement a wide range of digital marketing strategies to increase monthly web traffic for clients by 20% to 45% on average
Digital Marketing Manager, Brooklyn Marketing Professionals Inc., New York, NY
May 2013 – October 2017
- Managed and executed over 40 end-to-end digital marketing campaigns for large business accounts, analyzed competitor pages and marketing trends, and conducted link-building keyword optimization to increase organic click-through-rate (CTR) by 3% to 5% on average
- Led initiatives to revamp brand messaging and SEO marketing strategy for a client account valued at $700,000, resulting in a 35% increase in monthly web traffic
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Digital Marketing
Columbia University, New York, NY September 2009 – May 2013
Certifications
Digital Marketing Certification, HubSpot, July 2014
Functional resume format
This resume format shifts the focus to your skills rather than the positions that you held.
The resume leads with a skills section and shares bullet points about accomplishments related to the skill. Then, in a smaller section toward the bottom, there is a quick list of past jobs.
If you have two or three skill groups, this could be an excellent way to highlight that. For example, you’re a per diem health care professional and an adjunct professor and want to list your patient care and teaching skills.
Pros
- It's ideal for showcasing different categories of skills (i.e., technical, customer service, administrative)
- It can keep the focus on what you're capable of rather than where you worked
- It can help you stand out from other job seekers
Cons
- This is a lesser-used format that may not be a good fit for many types of job seekers
- It may need to be more recognizable to recruiters or ATS
- It could make you think you're trying to hide something about your job history
Use a functional format resume if you:
- Are confident this is the best way to showcase your skills
- Are a new graduate who doesn’t have any job experience but has acquired skills through school and activities
- Want to downplay job gaps
Example of a functional resume
When organizing skills-based information, it will generally contact the same sections as a chronological resume, but with a different order and more details in the skills and education sections:
- Contact information
- Profile
- Relevant skills
- Education and certifications
- Professional experience
Sample text for Skills section:
Customer Service
- Achieved a 97% customer satisfaction survey rating and helped retain loyal customers with timely solutions
- Educated new users with product demonstrations and translated complex technology concepts into accessible language
- Implemented conflict resolution techniques and exhibited empathy to diffuse customer frustrations promptly
Verbal and Written Communications
- Coordinated with the IT team to develop the online knowledge base and FAQs for recurring issues, resulting in a 25% faster resolution time.
- Hosted live webinar training to end-users for new product launches
- Provided status updates to customers waiting on escalated issues
Here’s a functional resume example:
Your Name
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
LinkedIn | Portfolio
City, State Abbreviation zip code
Profile
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.
Relevant Skills
Customer service:
- Assisted customers with complex cases, reducing escalations by 19%
- Communicated customer requests to the product team, contributing to efforts to put the users first and improve software performance
- Dedicated two hours each week to learn about proprietary software and current blockers, making it easier to solve problems and keep customers happy
Effective communication:
- Interacted with customers via their preferred method of communication (phone, email, or live chat) to maintain a 98% satisfaction rating
- Translated complicated concepts, making it easier for customers to understand
- Created a Slack thread to maintain constant communication with over 20 staff from the product and sales teams
Troubleshooting:
- Discovered a recurring login problem attributed to outdated browser compatibility, leading to a 17% reduction in login-related support tickets
- Created a step-by-step guide for customers when the product experienced a temporary service interruption, allowing them to continue working with limited disruptions
- Satisfied a customer who was struggling for weeks with data syncing by identifying and adjusting an issue with their firewall settings
Education
Associate of Science (A.S.) Business Management, September 2020 – June 2022
Portland Community College, Portland, OR
Professional Experience
Customer Service Representative, DataWave Solutions, Medford, OR
November 2018 – September 2020
Customer Service Representative, Cloud Innovations, San Jose, CA
May 2014 – November 2018
Combination (hybrid) resume format
Sometimes called a hybrid, the combination resume format blends elements of the chronological and functional formats. It balances skills and job history more evenly rather than focusing on one over the other.
Pros
- For people with a limited job history, you'll have more flexibility with this resume format
- You can share skills you've attained while also highlighting your job achievements
- You have more opportunities to use keywords that ATS might be looking for
Cons
- Repeating the same skills in your job section could become repetitive
- It may run longer than a chronological resume
- Some employers prefer a standard resume format
Use a combination resume if you are a:
- Student or recent grad who wants to share project details
- Career changer who wants to emphasize your transferable skill sets
- Creative freelancer who works on various types of projects
Example of a combination resume
With a combination resume, it’s all about integrating skills and experience effectively. It allows you to emphasize whichever section is most important to you. For example, a new graduate might focus on an academic project or an internship, while a career changer may get detailed about their skill sets. The sections can be moved up or down accordingly.
Sample text for the Education section:
Academic Projects
Corporate Financial Analysis Project
Course: Advanced Financial Accounting – Spring 2023
- Analyzed and interpreted financial statements of Caterpillar Inc.
- Conducted ratio analysis and evaluated financial health and performance trends
- Presented a comprehensive financial report with strategic recommendations
Here’s a combination resume example:
Your Name
City, State Abbreviation Zip Code | (123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | LinkedIn | Portfolio
Profile
Innovative senior mechanical engineer with more than seven years of experience in the HVAC and mechanical systems sector. LEED-Accredited Professional certified in HVAC Excellence. Focused on lowering energy consumption within new and pre-existing HVAC systems. Strategic leader with proficiency in Revit, HeatCAD, Chvac, AutoCAD, and Bluebeam.
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Mechanical Engineering | Wentworth Institute of Technology, Boston, MA | September 2012 – May 2016
Certifications
- Professional Engineer (PE), Massachusetts Board of Registration of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, 2021
- HVAC Excellence Certification, ESCO Institute, 2020
- LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP), Green Building Certification Institute, 2019
Key Skills
- Analytical thinking
- Budget management
- Client relations
- Energy modeling
- HVAC system design and development
- Team leadership
Professional Experience
Senior Mechanical Engineer | CTI Heating and Air Conditioning, Boston, MA | March 2022 – present
- Lead a team of 12 engineers, acting as a mentor to ensure individual growth and overall project success
- Manage and allocate budgets for pre-construction proposals totaling up to $15 million
- Work with construction managers to establish GMAX construction costs
- Maintain a 95% on-time project delivery rate for all of the firm’s HVAC engineering efforts
- Optimize project designs utilizing Revit, HeatCAD, and Chvac to carry out simulated load analysis
- Increased project acquisitions by an average of 28% each year since 2022
Mechanical Engineer | Johnson Solutions Inc., Salem, MA | January 2016 – February 2022
- Designed and developed HVAC and mechanical systems from proposal to construction across industrial and commercial sectors
- Provided weekly update reports for 20 projects at a time, ensuring all systems met customer requirements and standards
- Collaborated with cross-functional team members to solve engineering-related issues
- Led over 40 energy modeling projects to lower energy consumption for clients by an average of 15%
- Utilized AutoCAD and Bluebeam to create detailed designs and documentation
- Improved client follow-up procedures in 2018, leading to a 22% year-over-year increase in repeat business
Targeted resume format
This is a version of your resume that is highly customized for a specific role. Ideally, when you send a resume, you’d tailor it for each organization or position you seek.
Customizing your resume for a specific job application is an innovative practice for a couple of reasons. You can:
- Incorporate keywords from the job description to help it successfully pass ATS screenings
- Illustrate why you are a good match for the particular employer and the role
- Demonstrate you have the required skills listed in the job posting and share how you’ve gotten results for your past organizations
The only downside is that creating a targeted resume every time you apply for a job can be time-consuming. Also, you must be mindful that you are sending or uploading the correct version.
Example of a targeted resume
In addition to your master resume, you can tweak customized versions depending on the role you are vying for.
For example, say that a job posting for Northwell Health Medical Center seeks a registered nurse (RN) with experience in cardiac care or a telemetry unit who can demonstrate a strong bedside manner and empathy.
This is sample text for a profile section specific to this employer:
Detail-oriented RN with six years of telemetry unit experience, specializing in cardiac and respiratory conditions, seeking a position at Northwell Health Medical Center. Dedicated to excellent patient care and support through strong interpersonal communication and an empathetic bedside manner.
Here’s a targeted resume example:
Your Name
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
LinkedIn | Portfolio
City, State Abbreviation zip code
Profile
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.
Key Skills
- Accounts payable/receivable
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Data analysis
- Financial planning
- QuickBooks
- Tax accounting
Professional Experience
Senior Accountant, Epitome Products, El Paso, Texas
October 2019 – present
- Decreased company financial errors by 10% during a two-year period
- Collaborates with company president and CFO to address strategic financial planning and arrange effective audits
- Prepares monthly closing and profit loss statements for C-suite leaders and board of directors
- Improves client relationships by resolving past-due and missed payments
- Expedited QuickBooks processes, training accounting support staff to utilize the program more efficiently
Staff Accountant, KMH Associates, Concord, New Hampshire
June 2015 – October 2019
- Prepared debit and credit documents for a client base exceeding 200
- Assisted with weekly account audits
- Analyzed all client transactions with clients, vendors, and employees to ensure accuracy
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Accounting, September 2011 – June 2015
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Certifications
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA), New Hampshire State Board of Accountancy, 2015
- QuickBooks Certified ProAdvisor, QuickBooks, 2017
How To Choose the Best Resume Format for You
Deciding on the best resume format involves thinking about three key factors.
Consider your career stage
A strong resume should concisely contextualize the value a job seeker can bring to a role. However, filling up a resume when you’ve yet to gain job experience can be challenging. In that case, a combination format might work well so you can demonstrate skills learned from academic projects, extracurriculars, or internships.
At the other end of the spectrum, experienced professionals who’ve had numerous jobs or tried different careers might feel like they have too much to cram into a resume. This could be another case for using a non-traditional resume format like a hybrid or functional resume.
A chronological format is a safe bet if you’ve had two or more jobs relevant to your desired role.
Industry and job type considerations
Different industries sometimes prefer other formats. For example, a field in which project-based work is more the norm – like engineering, interior design, or consulting – might be more open to more creative resume approaches.
However, a traditional field like accounting, retail, or health care is a better chronological format.
Use personal strengths and background
Ultimately, each person’s background is unique, so your goal is to leverage your strengths using the correct resume format. Consider your breadth of experience and decide if it makes more sense to spotlight your skills, job experience, or both.
Tips for Formatting Your Resume Effectively
In addition to choosing the ideal format for your situation, here are some dos and don’ts for formatting your resume.
Dos
- Use basic, professional fonts
- Maintain uniformity in headings, fonts, and bullet styles
- Utilize clear section headings and bulleted items to make it easy to read
- Have white space between sections so the document isn't too text-heavy
- Proofread for errors and inconsistencies
- Employ resume templates and builders to simplify the writing process
- Seek feedback from peers or a career advisor
Don't's
- Use complex designs
- Choose decorative fonts and imagery
- Forget that an ATS may be reading your resume
- Keyword stuff your resume to the point of sounding unnatural
- Include irrelevant information like hobbies or interests
Additional Resources
Resume templates
- Basic Resume Templates and Examples for 2024
- Combination of Resume Templates and Examples for 2024
- Functional Resume Templates and Examples for 2024
Online resume builders and tools
- How To List Skills in Your Resume Skills Section
- How to List Work Experience on a Resume
- How To Write a Convincing Resume Profile
Career advice articles and guides
- CareerOneStop.org
- Department of Labor O*NET Career Exploration Tools
- Resume Vs. Curriculum Vitae: What’s the Difference?
Frequently Asked Questions About Resume Formats
Employers generally prefer chronological resumes since they are the most widely used format and offer a predictable structure. Other formats may be acceptable in certain situations, however.
Generally, a resume should go back about 10 years for seasoned professionals. Younger job seekers can return to their first jobs, internships, and volunteer work if they are new to the workforce.
Job seekers should never list their age, ethnicity, marital status, or sexual orientation on their resumes. Also omit non-relevant items like hobbies, outdated skills, and the phrase "references are available upon request."
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